07/18/2026
Yesterday morning, our little corner of the world came frighteningly close to something much bigger.
Last evening, John took me to see where lightning struck a tree just beyond the brook on our neighbour’s property. Standing there, looking at the blown-out base of the tree and the 100–150 feet of charred forest floor, I couldn’t help but think about how different the day could have been.
The wind had already started to pick up. As one incredible member of our community waited for emergency crews to arrive, he carried bucket after bucket of water from the brook, climbing the hillside to wet down the forest floor and slow the spread of the fire. Those few minutes, those few buckets of water, may have made all the difference.
It’s humbling to realize how close our farm—and so many homes throughout Acaciaville and up on the ridge—may have come to disaster. Most people will never know just how easily yesterday could have become a community-wide tragedy.
Instead, today I am standing beside the brook, listening to the water flowing over the falls, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Grateful for the neighbour who acted without hesitation.
Grateful for the firefighters and emergency responders who answered the call.
Grateful for a community that looks out for one another.
And grateful for whatever greater hand watches over us when we need it most.
Sometimes the universe has a way of reminding us just how precious this life is. We get so busy with our day-to-day routines that we forget to stop and appreciate the beauty around us—the forests, the water, our homes, our animals, and the people who make a community feel like family.
Today, my heart is simply full.
To everyone who helped last night, thank you. You protected far more than a patch of woods. You protected homes, dreams, livelihoods, and memories that can never be replaced.
Please remember to be extra cautious during these dry conditions. It only takes a single spark, but it also only takes one person willing to act to change the outcome.
❤️ From all of us at Pot of Gold Farm, thank you.
