Last night, it rained for hours. I stayed awake, I always do when it rains. I listened to the soothing sound of the steady rain and the distant hoots of an owl, as though his calls were carried by the raindrops themselves.
I opened up the big doors and the windows all the better to hear the soft rain. Then went back to bed to listen.
In the night, sounds become acute – I think it is our Neanderthal brain searching for danger.
Early in the night, the coyotes howled as they disappeared into the cover. We have seen a lot of fruit in their scat as we walk, my dogs and I. This means they are getting hungry and have resorted to raiding the trees down the back. They are loving the wild plums by the look of it.
They are also getting very close to the house this time too. I need to send Boo out to bark tonight. The coyotes are getting braver as my dogs get older, and soon there will be 50 chickens fattening up outside my study window. The coyotes appear every 6 weeks or so and stay about 1 week – they roam their territory on a set route. So they will arrive back here just as the chickens get really fat. Hmm.
The rain last night was like a gentle blessing. There is nothing quite like rain on a tin roof, but it does not lull me to sleep. Something to do with the negative ions that moving water engenders. Rain wakes me up – it makes me prowl. I listen to the crickets and the cat fights and wonder if those other sounds are frogs.
On our walk yesterdy evening when Boo and I get half way down the drive we let Ton go home as usual. Usually he sits by his lamp-post and waits for us to turn around then he up and begins to walk home himself. Leading the way from afar. But last night he was anxious, maybe about the coming storm and followed us to the road where he waited.
The light was low and did indeed start to rain soon after , so Ton guided us back up the driveway after our shortened walk. Smugly with a little I told you so, I imagine. I should have taken my umbrella.
Everyone was in bed by the time we got back to the barn. I think if I had my time again I would be a bedtime zoo keeper. I like putting animals to bed. Tucking them in and saying ni ni, hooney, hooney don’t get up – it is sleeping time.
By early this morning after a long while of comfortable reading and writing and listening to the rain and the sounds of the night, I slept. My phone leaving messages on mute that were flashing lights in code from my people in the world as they woke up and went about their days. Or finished their days and went about their sleep.
Farm to table dinner tonight for the family masses. Lots of cooking will be going on!
Have a lovely day.
Take care and Talk soon!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
24 responses to “In the Night, the Rain Came”
I wish it would rain here. The temperature has droped slghtly, but not the humidity.
Perhaps you could train up Wai and Tima to be secondary coyote guards – ha ha!
The best alarm animal is the peacock. But let’s hope the coyotes don’t get that far into the yard. They will move elsewhere soon – if they have not already.
Yes, they have great voices! Geese are supposed to be good farm guard dogs – they will attack to defend their babies and territory.
Good afternoon, c. This is such a lovely, cosy post. ❤️
Morning Misky!! It felt like a lovely cozy night. Tho I am a bit tired today.
You’ll sleep well tonight. ❤️
Oh Celi you got all the rain – not us. Enough to barely dampen the side-
Walk. Hugs to Ton ~ probably has lots of arthritis n bursitis like I do. Boo ~ get those coyotes outa there ~ I’m worried about the chooks. Maybe Wai n Tima should go out n stand guard!!!
Make some good stew Celi ~ we’ll be over!!!!
I am cooking up one of the hams – we have a few!
I love the night rains that come through, and like you hold onto the window being open for as long as possible as the evenings get cooler. The flannel sheets will come out in the next few months giving more time to listen for night sounds.
Yes this is such a lovely, tender post. We love the rain, its sounds. Grateful to see TonTon up and about. Both great dogs. Boo and Ton.
Ton is looking really good I think. He had weight on and is really shiny.
I love to hear the rain and hope your chickens stay safe
Donkeys are great guard animals too. They can be ridden as well. I don’t think I’d want to risk Wai or Tima. Maybe time for a new dog so Boo can help teach it.
I would love to have a donkey. Every now and then I look for a rescue donkey place around here.
Boo and Ton just stand on the porch and bark – they care not in any danger.
We had coyotes in the neighborhood in Chicago, they would come in the yards and kill dogs. I had to go out with my boys (had 3 dogs at the time (an 85 lb, a 75 lb and a 50 lb) and the next door neighbor had a dog of about that size range who just let it out (fences yard like mine) and it got killed. The coyotes were along the canal where my shop was too and they were there when we’d leave at night. Maybe they had to be ore aggressive in the city. I expected them to be here in this small town but haven’t heard or seen any except along U. S. 24, dead after being hit by vehicles. I noticed too that the raccoons are less aggressive here, which was a surprise. Hope you can find a donkey.
I believe that the aggression of the pack comes down to their leader. If she is rogue then there might be trouble. Particularly at calving. I have never heard of anyone losing a dog – though I have heard plenty of people around here blaming every disappearance on coyotes. Our cats are old and roam far hunting.
Like wolves people down here love to hate on the coyote.
I love the sound of the rain as well, it lulls me to sleep. I worry about the coyotes, your chickens, and the dogs. Do you think the coyotes would be brave enough to go after Boo? The wild intrudes on our safety.
I have never ever had trouble with my coyote pack. And I have raised hundreds of chickens out here. I am not that worried.
Ok, I will stop having gruesome pictures in my head.
Another memory triggered! A few years before my John died he was on a walkabout with his hunting dog, a Wirehair Pointing Griffon named Eli. Eli disappeared down a ravine and didn’t return when John called which was unusual. Just as John was about to look for him Eli came busting through the brush with a coyote on his heels. We assume it was a female protecting her den. When she saw John she went back down the hill and man and dog continued on their way. When they got quite far from the incident Eli stopped, glared back at the ravine and barked fiercely. Just tells you he wasn’t as big and brave a dog as he thought.
Time to add a younger dog to the gang?
Love the one with Mulberry over-hanging straw… Is it a ‘bird donation’ like mine is Celi? Their leaves are so glossy and interesting, aren’t they (and not to mention fruit stained fingers… ;/)
I love the sound of rain in the night too.
Rain in the night is the *best* sound, unless it’s cyclone season, in which case I’m lying there worrying about whether my garden is washing away and the chickens will have somewhere to scratch that’s not under water! We need rain right now for the new growth, but we also need it not to rain so the farmers can get the cane crop in. Our 4,000 litre rainwater tank is coming in very useful, especially with the battery pump attached so it stretches all the way down the yard.