An early morning thunderstorm. We're up earlier than usual, pondering a day away to help with a pasture sale in an adjoining state. Our arrival time is wobbly right now.
Oh, we both love rainy days, and thunder is the cherry plopped on top. It looks more like late afternoon than early morning. Guess the hummingbirds don't mind the rain, cuz one just came to dip its beak in our sugar water feeder. Bless its tiny heart.
A rainy day creates coziness within a home. What's better than a cuddly snug, a book and soft blanket.
People tend to complain about a rainy day. Sure, maybe rain spoils our plans, but there's more to focus on than just our personal desires. Have you ever taken the time to notice a few drops of rain on a leaf or a spider web? Right now I'm looking at the rain drops still clinging to the deck railing. As a little girl, water puddles were invitations for my bare feet to have some real cool fun. Being raised on a farm, I grew up never complaining about rainy days. I knew from childhood experience, praying for rain, and thanking High Heaven when it finally did rain. I grew up knowing that a good rain meant good growing weather, and I knew that a good shower washed away the grit and grime. Rain gives the earth a fresh, earthy scent.
NOTE: The Atacama Desert is considered to be the driest place on the planet. Since humans started keeping records, some places there have never received rain. This desert is on the Pacific coast of South America, north of Chile.
 |
SkyFi Photo from Space
Proof of Problem
|
The Atacama Desert has become a massive dumping ground for discarded fashion, with mountains of clothing that can be seen from space. Unsold clothing from the United States, Europe and Asia is imported to Chile, often through the tax-free port of Iquique. Merchants who can't resell the clothing dump it in the desert, illegally. Estimates of the amount of clothing dumped range from 39,000 to 60,000 tons per year. Some reports suggest it could be as high as 44 million tons. As a result, this desert now faces a crisis. The dumped clothing pollutes the desert, leaking chemicals into the soil and air. Burning the clothing releases toxic fumes that can harm the nearby population.
The more we learn about our planet, the more we appreciate what we have right where we are.
Today's post started out with one of Mother Nature's blessings......and closes with an example of man's destruction. Just stop to think about the number of people in the world that have only rags to wear. Then stop and think about the high-end fashion manufacturers that choose to throw their fashions away rather than give it to someone in desperate need.
Is my faith in humanity a little wobbly right now?
