RAIN!

[magical thyme]

8. we normally have dry weather around this time of year

and I think our aquifers are ok. Not a lot of snowpack, but plenty of rain.

I'm slightly less afraid of drought right now than another summer without sun. The summer before last was horrible. Local strawberry farm that usually was posting for help this time of year instead posted that their strawberries were all picked.

In fact, everybody's strawberries just rotted on the vines. Crops were very poor. We only got a single cutting of hay, and for many farmers that was really only a half cutting, since many of their fields were too muddy to cut without ruining them (and losing their tractors).

Veggies are so expensive up here that growing your own makes a significant dent in the food budget.

Personally, I need a decent summer to get my mare finally started under saddle. She's been on the back burner for a couple years too many. It's now or never, and for her sake it's got to be now. A horse that can do a job or 3 (I'm hoping to also get her pulling a cart or buggy or something) has a much better chance at a good life than a pasture ornament or broodmare in these times.