Fighting back the water

This blog's not gonna make sense unless I explain something first. That is, this area is arid. By arid I mean dry. Sometimes very try. But that's not to say it's not green and teeming with wildlife and plantlife. Not all, we're overun with countless varieties of game and wildflowers out of ears. There are so many different types of flowers that I've named 'em "here'sanotheroneofthose" and "Ilikethesebigonesthebest."
But back to fighting the water... See, it's like this. This area takes less than a 1/4" to spawn new wild growth. Unfortunately, it takes even less to spawn a potentially watery mess for me around our "people's place."
This old earth is hard. You'd think it would immediately soak up any moisture. Not at all! Rain, of any amount, floats on the ground before disappearing. And if we get pummeled by a quick moving, violent storm---we gotta be on water patrol.
When you come visit, you'll more than likely never see all the 'water traps' we've created to tame the much needed aqua. But, I think for me--it'll be an endless chore.
For example; Recently, we had two nights of heavy rain for a total of 3 inches. It came so quickly and violently, it literally picked up my mulch path and moved it to the parking lot. Thank goodness we have some wonderful help out here. I wasn't here that week and Tina (this is her first mention in the ranch blog) had to rake ever bit of it back into its borders. The water also removed almost every bit of sand that we'd place beneath two of our four flagstone patios. Believe, it was easy getting the sand down the first place. To have to make repairs proved a real back breaker.
So while we in this area pray for rain, I almost fear it too.
Bill Robertson