Footprints in time................

Mother Nature left her footprints in this huge field rock; it's beginning to break into delicate little squares. And it has beautiful lichen growing all over it. In the warm spring and summer this rock wall is full of sunning little lizards. For some reason I have always loved rocks, both big and small. If possible, I bring them home. Some I paint and some live by our three goldfish/koi ponds and some that are smooth and small are good to just lay around the house and feel them in the palm of my hand sometimes.
And Mother Nature left heron footprints in the mud at the edge of the pond today.........we have a gorgeous blue/gray heron who comes on a regular basis to find his breakfast and supper here most days. We are so blessed to live in the country with acres of land full of wildlife; forests and pastures; hills and vales; pond and creek. All we lack now is about 10 inches of rain...........that's how far behind this area of N.C. is in the ongoing drought. I pray our good deep well still has plenty of its wonderful sweet water underground but we are being cautious about using it, just in case.
I'm not planting spring annuals this year, or any baby dogwood trees gathered from the woods and moved to the yard like I usually do. I'm afraid to "waste" water to keep them living if we have another godawful HOT and dry summer like last year. Maybe I'll plant some cactus and desert plants that live in hot, dry climes!