"The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart." Robert Green Ingersoll

Last week, it seemed that we could barely contain all the happy, good news coming in to the Rancho, but Mother Nature has never been a lady who likes to take the back seat, so we were given a rather cruel reminder yesterday who is really in charge, and it is not the one writing this blog.

 With all olive trees in full blossom, warnings as to a storm began to trickle in at the beginning of the week.  We took notice, since April has not smiled down kindly upon us in the past.  All weather casts said there would be rain, but in the Bay area, they said wouldn't get this far south.  The predicted winds were checked, all below advisory level. Shouldn't worry, right?

 Needless to say, the weather people were again wrong again as winds over 50 mph ripped through the olive trees in full blossom and then rain pummeled our hill, just in case there were any blossoms left. 

 We could only stand and watch.  It was April of 2014 all over again.  There isn't anything we could have done, even if we knew weeks or months ahead of the storm.  It isn't as if barriers could have been erected to protect the trees.  They're on one of the highest points on one of the highest hills.   Perhaps advance knowledge or an accurate forecast might have allowed us to mentally prepare for what was going to happen to our 2016 crop.  
At this point, we're not sure whether we are more devastated than the trees or vice versa. Today, as we've surveyed the damage and saw the ground littered with blossoms, there were just no words, so we will leave you with this quote, "Farming is a profession of hope."  

Comments

  1. EileenApril 29, 2016 at 6:04 PM

    I just found your blog and am so enjoying your accounts. Except about the damage to your crop. So sorry.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rancho Azul y OroApril 30, 2016 at 8:40 AM

      Thanks so much, Eileen. It's always a learning experience -- and never dull. We have a FB page, which we update daily, with photos (https://www.facebook.com/ranchoazulyoro). Thanks for your interest!

      Delete

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