"First Texas Hill Country Snow August 2008'

This morning as Gypsy, my 10 year old English Pointer, and I sat down on the cabin porch to ponder the sunrise, we saw small white flakes floating in the air and landing like snow all around us. We thought it looked just like snow, but since it was already 80 degrees we knew it wasn't. What is was was ash from all the fires burning around the Texas Hill Country since we got some desperately needed rain. As the ash gently drifted through the air it landed on the leaves on the trees and plants and the porch and furniture. There was a slight smell of smoke in the air and the distant hills we observe every morning were cloaked in a soft gray smoke. For many months we had been under a burn ban, so many folks took this opportunity to get rid of the brush piles they had created when cleaning up their yards. Everyone pays close attention to burning here because, we are so remote a fire would be devastating. Gypsy didn't mind the white snow flakes and the thin layer of smoke engulfing our small part of the world. We try to enjoy all life offers good or bad. Fall is coming and our days will be cooling after a very hot Summer. There is change in the air as sure as shooten, and we are taking aim on lots of time on the porch on those cool mornings to ponder things like fire ash that looks like snow.
We will continue to embrace what is given and rejoice in our good fortune.