April 26, 2011

  • Visitors, Both Welcome and Not So….

             grosbeak

    We have enjoyed having a couple of rose-breasted grosbeaks visiting us these last few days. Wish they would linger longer….they add such a splash of color, and it’s funny to see what LARGE seeds they tackle with their gros beaks.

             addie and millie

    Addie is SO excited about the newest addition to their family. It was fun to have them visit last Saturday. Aren’t these little girlfriends adorable?

             millie

    Wyatt spent Friday with us since there was no school that day. He kept us entertained.

             big hackberry

    We all love this BIG hackberry tree in our back yard. 

            hollow

    When we moved here 24 years ago, the tree had been damaged, perhaps by lightning. As time has passed, it’s scar has opened more and more and seems to be revealing a hidden totem pole. At least, that is what Wyatt and I think.

    Those visitors were MOST welcome.

               ~~~~

    Then we had an unwelcome one.

               flooding behind house

    The creek behind our house rose and rose until it came up to the big rocks. Our back yard and horse pasture are under all that water.

              behind our barn

    It came TO the barn beside our house but not into it.

              high water

    In six days, we had more than 17 inches of rain, a record-setting event. Yesterday, as it continued to pour and pour, we watched our lake waters rise and gush down the spillway at the edge of the dam.

               spillway

    And then, there was more than the spillway could handle, and soon it came over the top.

               overflow

    So we prayed it would hold, and it did. And we are thankful for the engineering skills of a fellow, many years ago, who knew what he was doing when the dam was built.

    Today, the sun peeked on us for a while. It has once again hidden itself, and the sky is dark. But the hours without rain (since midnight) have allowed the high waters to begin to recede. Life will return to normal, but we’ll talk about the Easter Flood of 2011 for a long time.

     

Comments (4)

  • Wow, Janet, so thankful that your house and barn weren’t hurt. I’m also thankful you got pictures. Good story, and I am in love with the puppy.

  • So far, my creek has stayed inside it’s banks, but it’s all the way to the top, and up to the very edge of my road.  Hoping we don’t get the rain they’re predicting.  When it gets over the road, I’m just “in here”.  I’m the very end of a dead end road, and can’t get out.   

    Cute kids and puppies!!!

  • Are you going to train that pup to do what it is intended to do and herd cattle? Do so hope the storms coming through there again tonight don’t raise the water again. We are having some rain now but have only had about 5-6″ total I think. We had those huge amts. a few years ago. Not a good thing.

  • I think water levels are hitting record heights everywhere.  This is impressive to see, but I’m glad you’re OK.

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