Rain & Stone

Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then precipitated—that is, become heavy enough to fall under gravity.
-wikipedia

Guess when I told the kids rain was water falling from the sky, I gave a highly scientific answer.

According to Jim's Weather Station, (seriously, I just Googled rain and found this) Winchester VA has already received 6.41 inches of rain this month. That, in my opinion, sounds like a lot of rain. It's raining now. It rained all last weekend. It better not rain on Sunday, the kids and I have outdoor plans with my BFF and her family. I am so done with rain. It rained four days straight last week.

The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sure, Henry, unless I have plans.

Like milk does a body good, rain does a farm good. It nourishes the garden. Rain gives the trees a much needed drink. Rain keeps the grass green. It drowns snakes. (A girl can dream...)

Like milk cripples a lactose intolerant person, rain cripples progress at the farm. Can't mow or rake the leaves. Sucks trying to dig holes and plant new trees in the orchard in a monsoon. More leaves and sticks fall off the old walnut tree and clog the gutters. The gutters leak all over the place, regardless.

Seriously, ever been to the zoo or an amusement park with the mist tent or archway? Imagine that turned up to full blast and that's what it's like walking in the front door of the farm house right now.

The silver lining on the big ol' raincloud over Winchester? It's our stone mason. He has a ton of outside work. As he put it, lots of folks are suddenly deciding to seal up their chimneys or repair porches as they get ready for the colder months. That kind of work requires no droplets precipitating from the sky. Work at the farmhouse is perfect for days water meets gravity. It's inside work. Sure, he might have to dodge the doorway mister, but the rest of his time, it's spent dry inside. He's been able to get two full days in at the house so far, working repointing and repairing the chimney. All of the stone for the fireplace is coming from the property, and since the selection of stone was dwindling, Ghon got more, in the rain, last Sunday. Eric came down on Monday, and they both did more stone hunting.

(Excuse the picture quality. Ghon knows he needs to take pictures of everything - he was a good boy, but the cell phone quality was lacking in these pictures.)

Stone quarry identified.

Stone uncovered.

The crater left behind.

Eric and the loaded truck.

Stone anyone?

Myron should have plenty of stone to choose from.

It's been super exciting seeing the fireplace progress. We needed the concrete poured to get to this step. Once the fireplace is done, we can work on reinstalling the wood floor. After the floor is in, well, then we get to start framing in the room. I. Can't. Wait.

Perhaps it can rain a little more tonight. But not this weekend. The rain dance stops at noon tomorrow.