Brown Should Still Be the New Green

Last night was the full moon. It was so beautiful, my husband and I drove up to the hills to watch the moonrise. September's moon is known as the Harvest Moon. It is a time of thanksgiving and enjoying the harvest. I cooked up some sweet potatoes and turkey for dinner, just like the traditional Thanksgiving but a lot more informal. I didn't cook a whole turkey, just some ground turkey, but it still counts.

It's another beautiful overcast morning. The sun is just now peeking through the clouds, but the clouds still reign for now. I wish so much that it would rain, we are in a severe drought. The governor foolishly announced last year that the drought is over, after a few winter rains, and so now people are not encouraged to save water like they were previously. 

Fountains have turned back on, lawns are being watered again, brown is no longer the new green. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, our part of the state is only in the "abnormally dry" category, not even "moderate drought." I'm no expert, but I would disagree with this assessment. I can't even remember the last time we had rain. The Central Valley is listed as being in "moderate drought." Well that at least makes sense. 

Two days ago my husband and I went to a natural spring in Stanislaus County called Adobe Springs. We filled up a big jug of water to give to his parents. That water tasted so clean and fresh, it was amazing. There is a bottled water company that uses Adobe Springs as its source, though I can't remember the name of the company. I was amazed that this spring is still flowing, I wonder where it comes from. The water is high in magnesium.

.Today's tea is lemon verbena and peppermint, mixed with a little gunpowder green for a pick-me-up. Lemon verbena and peppermint are calming, cleansing herbs, and I am in great need of cleansing, spiritually and mentally. The waning moon is a time to banish all that's unpleasant, unwelcome, and unhelpful. I plan on banishing negativity, fear, and the drought. As if I had any control over it! But it's worth a try. I've said my prayer to bring rain for a week now, and now it's time to focus my energies on getting rid of the drought.

If only these morning clouds were pregnant with rain. I feel they are just teasing me. We are still saving water in this household, I don't care what the governor says. In November, we will have a new governor anyhow. Hopefully he will reinstate the drought guidelines for us. Brown should still be the new green.