Dust in the wind

Today was windy. I mean really windy. My dad used to say a windy day would blow in a storm. Actually, there were severe warnings out today, but nothing materialized.

If I were to choose my least favorite weather it would be wind, whether it comes with rain, snow or sunshine, especially if I am working. An older lady meant me at the mailbox and the wind nearly blew her over.

On our way back from Arizona in January, we visited the Gray County Wind Farm. There was an informational area that told about the farm. There are 170 vestas (windmills) covering 20 square miles. It named the top 20 states with wind generation potential. First is North Dakota with Texas second and Kansas third. Fourth is South Dakota followed by Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota with Iowa coming in tenth. Missouri barely made the list at 20th. Obviously, the great plain states are windy but we knew that.

My Dad and Mom farmed through the dust bowl years. They learned to plant wind breaks as well as alter farming practices to conserve the soil. There was some dust in the air today as it is dry here. We did get a little rain last weekend which helped.

Kansas and dust must have been the inspiration of the song Dust In the Wind by the rock band Kansas:

Now, don't hang on

Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky

It slips away

And all your money won't another minute buy

Dust in the wind

All we are is dust in the wind

Click here to hear this song.

What was that scream?

I saw the lamb and her mother as I drove up the driveway to deliver a package. Actually, I stopped to watch her dart about the pen. As I stepped out of the truck, I heard a noise that made my heart jump. With the truck running, it sounded just like a baby screaming. It wasn't. It was the same newborn lamb I had seen a bit earlier and she was looking for her momma. As I left, she was enjoying her afternoon snack.