Last Night

Last night we had thunder storms, hail and lots of rain.  All is good.  The rain brings out the night crawlers...fish bait.  We were out with flash lights picking them off the ground.  No digging for our fish bait.  Dad started these years ago by releasing some Night Crawlers from Illinois.  They have a flat tail, the only way to distinguish them from the natives.  We also have native cane worms, night crawlers, wigglers (our name for them) and red worms.

When it rains, you walk softly with a flash light.  You have to move fast to grab these before they quickly retreat to their safe spot.

We have enough for two or three meals...gotcha!  The worms will be used to catch fish and we will eat those.  Of course, I had to write a silly poem...

Last Night

Lightning flashed

Thunder rolled

Ate Chocolate Pie

Hail did blow

Ground's soaked

Worms crawled

Caught fish bait

Couldn't get them all

Chaos Rains

and chaos reigns.

We were the lucky ones.  Seven total inches of rain with hail and wind.  The garden was under water. Water gates moved down the creek along with a few flower pots from Marcy's yard but we were all safe. Erosion was our worst problem.  The waters receded almost as quickly as it rose.  We are on high ground.  If it had been daylight I would've been rubber booting.

Vilonia and Mayflower Arkansas were not so lucky.  Several states had tornadoes last night.  The season has begun.

Driving out this morning the water had receded along with our road

This was part of our road.

Ponds were over flowing.

There were ponds where no ponds had gone before.

Where was I going? you ask...

Toni helped haul two loads from his storage to go into the family shop to sell.  Soon, we hope, someone will love his old stuff and take it home with them...and then he can get more stuff!

Stopped at the traffic light on Norfork Dam Toni got out to check on me and my full pickup.  The load in the truck was riding very well.

We had followed a semi-truck out of Mountain Home.  He was driving so slow traffic was backed up for a ways.  We had just passed the Dam Bait Shop (I'm not swearing.  That is the name!  I would like to answer their phone, "This is the Dam Bait Shop.  What the hell do you want?").  We were headed up the Dam hill and I knew that truck could not pull it.  Slowing down it stopped completely.  I thought student driver but it was certainly someone who did not know what he/she was doing.  The truck stalled.  We have traffic backed up as far as I can see.  The truck's back up lights came on!!!  I look behind me.  Toni is right there. I can't back up and the truck keeps rolling backwards!

I look up the Dam hill (I enjoy saying that entirely too much) and there is no oncoming traffic.  I cut the wheels sharply and shot out into the opposite lane and flew around the truck.  The whole line followed me. As far as I know the truck may still be there.

We reached the shop safely and unloaded Toni's stuff.  We were good packers.  Every nook and cranny in both vehicles was packed to the gills.

Driving home I noticed the skies were clear and the neighbors cattle were celebrating with new green grass. I wonder what I will do tomorrow?

Two Thousand Three Hundred Posts

from me At The Farm.  Wonder how many words would that be?  If I had a dollar for every word...

Bonnie is not on my good side.  She is a water dog.  Loves hoses, any water she can find is okay with her

Bonnie sticks her head completely under the water and snuffles! 

In addition to her log collection Bonnie has discovered she can remove an entire pot of water lilies and carry them.  I think I will train her to harness and use her as a draft horse.  She is growing in leaps and bounds. 

The poor Koi, who did survive the winter by the way, are so shy they stay hidden.  I can't imagine what they think when Bonnie jumps in.

For all those who have been in the middle of these storms tonight.  I hope you are safe and dry.  Our valley is flooded.  We have had hail and have just been placed under a tornado WARNING.  I wish it were safe to photograph the water in our valley tonight.  Six inches of rain does a lot of damage.  Hopefully we will still have a road to drive on in the morning.  Hubby will be busy tomorrow repairing water gates, washed away roads, repairing fences, re installing culverts.  By daylight the flood waters will have receded.

I apologize for my lack of presence here.  My nephew has Bev and I hauling his items from his storage shed to the shop for sale. We have been working our behinds off.  Sunday through Wednesday we haul, Thursday through Saturday we will mark and label items and place around in the shop to sale.

I can't unfold my body very easily after the abuse of packing, lifting, carrying, loading and unloading.  I shall get tougher and we will get the job completed...one piece at a time.

Stay safe and be happy.  Soon I will be back full force for another two thousand three hundred posts.