It starts with a single drop, then many drops and finally a cascade. Rain moved back into Southwestern Virginia Sunday. Some of it fell frozen to the ground, leaving a slick layer on the roads but the temperatures rose through the night and what continued to fall was just wet.

Three years ago, drought parched this area. Last year saw the mountains drenched with rain. This year appears to be starting out the same.

But Mother Nature has a nasty habit of sending false signals. A wet February could be followed by a dry March. By summer, lawns could be parched, wells could dry up and people could be longing for just a few drops of rain.

Only time will tell and nature will remind us, once again, that we are just temporary occupants, not masters, of this planet.