Hot Dry Summer This Year

Peaceful Forest Homestead

This is the driest summer we have had since we've lived here on our homestead. The ground is so dry and brown and crackles as you walk on it. Even when other people used to talk about having a drought I would feel thankful that we had not had that problem.

It's scary to me because we live in the middle of almost 4,000 acres of state forest land. We have three horses and if there was a forest fire we would have to get them out of here. At this time we do not have a horse trailer. We have discussed finding a used horse trailer in the future. That way could get them out of here - probably kicking and screaming the whole way.

Neither one of us would be willing to leave any of our animals behind to save our own skin. We have a commitment to all of them. So we are working on solving these type of problems before they are a problem. Then if something does happen we would know what to do immediately. It would have to be big enough to hold three horses at the same time. The only other thing I could think of would be for my husband to ride one horse out and lead the other two out with blindfolds on. The horse he would have to ride out would have to be our smallest one, Tawny. She is part Thoroughbred and Shetland Pony but is more Shetland. She is one tough cookie. So she would be the most dependable. The other two would be nervous wrecks if there there was a fire around them. Very nervous girls.

Ludlow Creek State Forest

Hopefully we will never have that problem. It could be a realty since we live surrounded by trees and a thick forest. Dry leaves throughout. Praying I will not see a fire in the forest. 

Copyright © 2005 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2005 Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2024