The Gift of Water

We live out of the grid and [town] water supply. So, we value water highly – to the point of praying for water and thanksgiving for water. Our water comes from the sky, after some physical events like the Sun heats the oceans and evaporates surface water into clouds; high and low atmospheric pressure cells push and pull clouds this way and that way; at some temperatures and electrical reactions the clouds condense back into water and we have rains.   

This is our main dam. (In Australian bush language, ‘dam’ means the whole water reservoir including the water retaining wall, which is the ‘dam’ in ordinary dictionary sense of the word.) 

With water, our ‘pitayas’ (dragon fruit cacti) show their appreciation. All cacti (singular form is ‘cactus’) though would survive dry, hot, desert conditions. But when we treat them like wet-land or rain-forest plants, they will in return treat us like children of gods.

Their fruits are juicy and sweet and in reasonable quantity, not bad for diabetic, nor bad for blood pressure. The fruits contain no cholesterol. The petals can be eaten as vegetables. Their flavor is somewhat ‘bland’ but with a ‘chili dip’ (nam prik) or in a hot-sour-soup' (kaeng som) - we can make a tasty dish ;-) The peel (skin) of the fruit is also edible though (we found) it need cooking for a few minutes to soften.   

Life is like that. We struggle when conditions are bad. We get innovative with abundance (or over supply) in good conditions.

[Edited out typos 21/2/2024]

We can afford to be more generous with wildlife that come to take refuge (in bad time) with us. 

Front: Pacific black duck; ones with stripes: Whistling ducks; grey black birds: apostle birds

This looks quite good for us. But things are always changing. It is best to be ‘mindful’ and ready.