The way things are

  We had some rain earlier this week. Only the second time in all of June and July that amounted to anything. The weeds are about all that's left of green in the lawn. The grass is crispy, tinder dry straw. There are fire bans throughout Ontario which means no camp fires or bonfires. It means the pile of brush waiting in my own burn pile will have to sit until the ban is lifted.
  I feel for the farmers who don't have irrigation systems. It will have a dire impact on the local potato harvest and everything else. Low wheat, corn and canola yields mean prices will go up at the grocery store. That doesn't need any more help. The much needed increase in the minimum wage, and all this nonsense with the U.S. and their trade sanctions, tariffs and taxes isn't helping either. Some products haven't gone up in price but the package size has been drastically reduced to compensate. (My rant for the day.)
  The drought has made me more conscientious about selectively watering the gardens, especially the plants and flowers bees like. The grass can die. Without water, these flowering plants won't produce nectar. Without that, the already at risk bee population will suffer.
  There are four milkweed plants in the front garden. A present from God. They are the foundation of the Monarch butterfly life cycle. The eggs laid in Canada are the Super Monarchs who migrate to Mexico. It takes three generations to migrate back. These black and orange beauties are another species at risk. Due to the drought, and despite watering, most of the milkweed flowers up and withered but thankfully two have produced seed pods. It had been in the plan to plant more next year. Hopefully these seeds will be viable.
  Lord, forgive us for how we abuse this beautiful world You created. Forgive us for our lack of care, of ignoring the global butterfly effect. Forgive us for not living as a global family. In Jesus's name I pray.
  "Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."" Mathew 13:31