Your robe’s frozen sleeve
reaches the creek once again,
my unending friend,
you carry both storm
and heaven on your shoulders
when I reflect up—
face unwavering
beneath sun and starlit night
always in the morning.
______________________________________
It’s been interesting weather, now half-way through our rainy season, over 18 inches of rain after a decade of drought. Already whispers from the loudest drought complainers for relief as these hills leak crystal rivulets again.
We lost a month in time in January to the Atmospheric River during branding season, and now with nearly 3 inches in the past 3 days and 3 inches more forecast for the next three, it will be at least a week before we can get to our upper country to brand the last bunch, putting us close to the middle of March. These calves will be big, a handful.
The Paregien Ranch ranges from 2,000 to 2,600 with its own light blanket of snow now, time-released moisture soaking into the clay and granite ground that leaks down the smooth rock waterfalls of Ridenhour Canyon, adding to Dry Creek that peaked at 684 cfs last night, that probably washed out some of our watergaps replaced after January’s peak flow over 3,500 cfs.
Job security, but patience until we can get there—you can’t fight Mother Nature, just try to adapt and face the consequences—fully enjoy her luxuriant and persistent presence after so much needed moisture.
drycrikjournal 
How do you compute cfs on a creek?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cubic feet/second measured at the gauging station on Dry Creek across from the house installed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to assist with water management at Lake Kaweah. Lower flows can be measured by wading the creek with a stick to compute with some complicated math.
LikeLike
Thanks for the info.
LikeLike
Sublime poem, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I can’t help but feel humble and helpless, calm and thankful for this delightful situation.
LikeLiked by 2 people
One of your most heartfelt poems ever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot, Pearl… one of those mornings!
LikeLike
beautiful picture of the green and the frosting on top!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lisa, to have the abundance so picturesque is reassuring.
LikeLike