Water. A precious gift and so often taken for granted. We are so blessed in this part of the world. We turn on a tap and water flows. Prior to living in the country, I rarely gave much thought to water. Yes, I did my best to conserve it, shorter showers, not leaving it running when brushing my teeth and doing dishes etc. I respected, appreciated, and was grateful for water when I lived in the city. Yet, I am much more aware of the sweet gift of water these days. Pure, clean, fresh and abundant water! Ravenheart is blessed with a wonderful well. Testing the water resulted in clean, safe drinking water, both from the kitchen tap and the horse hydrant. A front-load washer and reminding guests that "if it's yellow, let it mellow, and if it's brown, flush it down" are some ways we conserve. Protecting the ground water is a priority. No chemicals are used on the garden or lawn. Care is taken in maintaing the well and septic system. Softeners, iron removers, reverse osmosis, all new to me but now part of daily living as I perform my daily visit to the "basement" to check on the "systems".
So, yesterday when I went to the horse hydrant to fill a bucket for Spirit and no water flowed, I was shocked. What could be wrong. Panic set in quickly, as this is the main hydrant I use to fill the horse trough. With some research on the web I learn that a "frost-free hydrant" can freeze if the handle is left open slightly, no allowing all the water to drain down below frost level, or that filling small buckets instead of the large trough, can also cause it to freeze up. Since Spirit arrived (see earlier post), I have been hauling buckets to him, as he is in a separate paddock where there is no heated horse trough. I learn that filling one or two buckets, 3 or 4 times daily, can cause a problem. I learn that I could have just scooped buckets of water from the main horse trough and then filled it up, using way more water, which I guess is better. Oh, how I yearn for Spring!
The plumber will arrive this evening to check it out. I trust it will be an easy fix. In the meantime, I will be hauling buckets from the house. It is snowing today, so shovels full of white, fluffy snow is finding its way into the heated trough. Today I even appreciate the snow!
As I write this, I am listening to CBC Radio Saskatchewan on water. "Should it be a human right?" "Should everyone be on a water meter?" These are important things to ponder. All humans have the right to water. I am willing to share the water at Ravenheart. Maybe someday it won't be my choice to make. In the meantime, I will honour and appreciate the precious gift of water. A neighbour just up the road has drilled for water and found none, so they haul it in. This is a reality for many farmers and rural residents.
I offer this prayer...
We return thanks to our mother, the earth,
which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams,
which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs,
which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters,
the beans and squashes,
which give us life.
We return thanks to the wind,
which, moving the air
has banished diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars,
which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun,
that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,
in whom is embodied all goodness,
and who directs all things for the good of his children.
Source: Earth Prayers from Around the World - IROQUOIS PRAYER (adapted)
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