Flood of 2012

We've been having a lot of weather, lately.

 A view on Jan 19 from Fern Road, looking northeast. Normally there is no water visible.

 The water in the little slough by the neighbor's mules was up to the bridge. It looks like a small river coming down the ditch.

 This is what I call "Mule Slough", Jan 19. In the distance, at the barn, there is a mule standing on high ground.

 Same view, Jan 21.

 We raced home on Jan 18, knowing the roads were beginning to flood. We made it home OK, and the next day we were locked in. On Jan 20, we went back into town for a few hours. This was the 90-degree corner on Airport Road. The pickup went through it alright, but no way the car would have.

 Jan 22. Fern Road was basically passable, but things were still very flooded. Thought this "Keep Oregon Green" sign was ironic.

 The floodwaters were halfway up this fence. The farm was solid water.

 That sign says "Do not enter when flooded." And the pickup was barging through. But compared to what was there 2 days previously (when the water was up to the front door of the little yellow house on the left), this was nuthin'.

There's a farm with chickens, and when it flooded, the farmers put their birds up in to the top part of the shelters. Where you see green, it was a couple of feet of water.

Bag Lady

Aleaha and Miri have a gourmet grocery store in their playroom. This means they have shopping carts, grocery bags, and lots of play food. It's a perfect accompaniment to their very complete kitchen and dining room, where they play quite a bit, often inviting Mommy and Daddy to dine.

This all proved to be a great scene for Miri the Bag Lady. She's decked out in her Dora bathrobe, straw hat, cowgirl boots, sleeping bag-in-backpack, pushing her cart....

Playing in the Snow

We don't get snow very much, but it's always fun to play in it.

 Blackberry bush

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Aaaahhh - a little hot chocolate pick-me-up.

Life at the Barn

 MamaLlama and the goat-girls, standing at the tree where they get their pellets.

 Shorty comes to say hi. He practically gets into my pocket. Gee. maybe the pellets have something to do with that?

 Front of the barn. There are French drains running alongside and in front of the barn. And it's a Darn Good Thing!

 See them working! This was taken about a day later, when the snow melted and the rain came down really heavy.

That's a LOT of water. And that snag on the left...well, it was standing the day before. We are also very glad we thinned the big trees away from the barn, because the water + wind = uh-oh.

Meat. It's what's fer dinner.

This is a photo of our pork chops from 2011. (some people have asked to see what they look like - uh-huh....oh yeah!) Too bad you can't taste 'em via the web. They are AWESOME. Thank you, Daddy!!!!

Ho-Lee Mo-Lee!

Driving Miss Miri

We made the entire trip to EO on Christmas Eve without stopping once. Miri demonstrates some of the tricks to this fete.....lots of snacks and a new portable DVD player. Mommy resisted this techy-toy-of geeky-tots for a loooooong time. So glad I came to my senses! It was like a Christmas Miracle to have some silence in the car, while the girls watched a movie and listened on their headphones. Miri needed a little special adjustment for hers to fit, and Daddy suggested socks. Hey, ya do what works, eh?

Spoiled by the Loot

Christmas was fun. Just a few shots for now....



 Aleaha gathers all her new clothes. Quite a haul!

I asked the girls to look up at me for a shot, and this is what I got. I used that Demonic Eyes App -- oh wait, that's just a natural occurence with them.

Aleaha and Mommy had a little shopping excursion after Christmas, and in a special gift shop we saw these darling candles from yesteryear. (GrammaBon, remember these??)

Mommy's Helper(s)

After taking down the Christmas tree, we had to haul out the vacuum. Miri was quick to volunteer her help.

Note sparkly silver shoes. No need to give up fashion just because one is doing housework.

 

 She found some interesting things under the furniture.

And what about My Helper of The Past? She was too mesmerized by TV to join.

But she does like to have a job in the kitchen. Slicing mushrooms is one particular specialty of hers. Miri claps with approval.