The Wind . . .

She's ablowing and ablowing! The wind is ripping along, I watch my neighbors Willow Tree swish back and forth and back and forth. Even the Red Oak out side the front window is twisting to and fro even though it has no leaves.

I can even hear it, not a moan but a definite whisper as it gusts along. The Holly bushes short and stiff in the flower bed are charging around in resistance to the wind.

But no clouds, so I guess that is a good deal. Usually this time of year we get severe storms along the dry line. Fast moving thunderstorms that have hail and sometimes tornadoes imbedded in them. The dry line is sort of a Texas phenomena, it is quite definite for in front of the line is calm and the humidity is up and behind it the humidity is down and the weather is violent. There can be a difference of 40 to 60% drier, very noticeable. These storms sweep out of south central Texas fueled by moisture out of Mexico from the Pacific Ocean. This is not a jet stream effect, it is the natural flow of winds west to east across Mexico into Texas.

Another source of fuel for storms are the predominate winds out of the south flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico heading north. This feeds the tornadoes of Oklahoma and further on into the Ohio valley.

We are really located in the bottom of the Great Plaines where the wind always blows. So we get a lot of it. We are also on the edge of desert country, so it is dry in that we do not get a lot of rain. And when El Nino is predominant, we do not get much rain, lawns dry up, the place turns sort brown.

It also means our man made lakes start to dry up. Dallas/Fort Worth depends on man made lakes for water. Even now some metropolitan cities are negotiating with Oklahoma counties for water. These are counties that bound the state line. The target I am sure is access to Lake Texoma - a man made lake that is the Red River Valley north of D/FW area. Lake Texoma is a favorite spot of boaters and fishermen. They do not like anybody screwing around with their lake.

Our little lake, Lake Weatherford, is down 6 feet already. And the rainy season is fast closing. That means water will be pumped into Lake Weatherford from Lake Benbrook. Both are man made lakes, but Lake Weatherford, smaller, is up stream and therefore a more "senor" reservoir. I have already seen Lake Weatherford down 9 feet, seems odd to see a boat suspended in its boathouse of dry land. Water is a big deal around here. And pumping cost money, that means the City of Weatherford will raise the already expensive rates. And as usual, once raised, will never be reduced.

We have a well down about 200, so far the aquifer has held up. It is known as the Pulacsi or Pulacksy Acquifier. There are two strator of lime stone to be penetrated to get to it. The next aquifer is down 600 are more feet. It costs about $20 per foot to drill the well, to put in the pump, pressure tank, and electrical service. After is was all done ours cost about $5,000.00 but due to the cost of city water we have amortized that cost in three years. Some of our neighbors pay $300 to $00 a month just water their yards.

There is talk of regulating the wells. That takes special legislation to do so. For in Texas each landowner owns his water rights on his land. If he wants to put in a well he can, there is some limitations in cities but that does not hamper us much. So we have the well and soon we think others may be to late to drill as the cities and state want to cut them off.

And the wind blows drying out the lawn. Got to water to keep it green. But at least we can water the lawn with our private well.