Rain, rain, and more rain

These are pictures of our stream last year (August 2011). It's a seasonal stream as it slows to a trickle in the summer, flows steady during the winter, and surges during the spring melt.

Our waterfall?

At this point two streams actually come together and form a little pool when the water is higher.

The convergence of Matt's Stream and the Big Stream

And this is that same spot now. It rained hard for a full day and the steam swelled to snow melt stage.

Now that's a waterfall!

It was so beautiful that we decided to put off working (even though it was finally sunny) and go for a short hike.

The Big Stream

Matt's land shares a property line with ours so we walked up to check out his streams too. A perfect morning - cool, no wind, sun shining through the leaves, and an excellent excuse to be in the woods.

The stream coming down from the property behind Matt's

Full of rain run-off

These streams are normally fairly sedate. The burble happily most of the summer and slow nearly to a stop during August.

This fallen tree is new

 The rain had swollen them almost over night. We'll have to get a rain gauge so we can tell how much water comes down during the next storm like that.

Back on our property, toward the back edge

We didn't hike for long, but it was a wonderful way to start the day. I can hardly wait to get up there full time.

Matt's little stream

The house is positioned so that you can hear the water as it travels over the little falls. In the spring (and right now), it is loud enough that it obscures surrounding noise to the point that I can't hear the generator running 300 yards away. It's easier to hear from the Nest, but we actually moved the home site from the originally chosen position to one closer just so that we could hear the stream when we sit on the porch. We can't see it as the stream is down in a fold of the land, but the sound is enough to lull you into a state of total relaxation. Ah, looking forward to those afternoons on the porch!