Pouring rains overnight and through much of the morning ended in flooding yesterday. Schools were closed, power was out in some places, and many roads were impassable.
We headed down the driveway when the rain settled to a light sprinkling to check out our conditions. The prom tuxedo was due for return.
The creek on our farm was looking pretty wild.
Our driveway crosses the creek and I always worry that our bridge will be washed out, but it was okay. In the other direction, our creek was all the way over the road. We’ll have to see when the water goes down how much damage has been done to the culvert.
This is me, standing in the road there.
To leave our farm, we have to either ford the river or drive a rock-based road through three creeks and over the hill. Obviously, the river crossing was out. We headed off in the other direction to check out the first of three creeks we have to drive through to go out the road.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not driving through the creek when it looks like this.
The tuxedo wasn’t going to be back on time.
We had brought the dogs on our walk. Dookie-the-farm-shih-tsu was looking particularly fabulous.
We passed the Ornery Angel’s place on the way to the first creek in the road. Rat Dog spotted us and tried to join our walk. He turned tail and ran when he saw I’d spotted him.
He fears my fiery glare. Goodbye and good riddance, Rat Dog. You are not invited on our walk.
We headed back down the long stretch of road in front of our farm.
I love our farm. I’m so lucky to get to live here.
We decided to take a closer look at the river next, to gawk at its angry splendor. Coco and Dookie stopped on the way to enjoy the moment and the flooded culvert.
Dookie’s idea of enjoying the moment is not the same as the Giant Puppy’s.
Sometimes the Giant Puppy is just a bit much.
Dookie: “Why me, God? WHY ME?”
Don’t worry, little farm-shih-tsu. The Giant Puppy has a short attention span. She’s already distracted.
There are giant puddles to be romped in. Giant puddles and–
Rat Dog!
Go away, Rat Dog!!! I mean it!!!
We continued on to the river.
I spied it from the corner of my eye.
A force darker than the storm clouds that bring high waters.
I looked to my left to find it….
….tracking its prey….
….skulking….
….in the tall, tall grass.
Persistent little bugger.
RAT DOG!
That’s it. Sorry, Coco. Some things just aren’t meant to be. As sure as there will never be a spring without a flood…..
….there will be no Giant Rat Puppies!!!!!
Kath says:
Poor Rat Dog. He just wants a little lovin’
On May 5, 2009 at 3:18 am
Wendy says:
What a beautiful place you have, Suzanne! Even during a flood it’s gorgeous!
On May 5, 2009 at 4:04 am
CindyP says:
Lots and lots of water, oh my! Maybe you need to put a lift kit on that Explorer…put you high above the water! 😆 Just kidding, that’s not too farmlike!
One thing is sure, Rat Dog is persistent, he really, really wants Giant Rat Puppies (white or red, he doesn’t care…) 😆
On May 5, 2009 at 4:31 am
CindyP says:
Look at all that spinach!! WOW!!!
On May 5, 2009 at 4:32 am
Kathryn says:
I adore Coco’s smile in that picture! She must have been having a wonderful day.
On May 5, 2009 at 4:45 am
The Retired One says:
I thoroughly enjoyed your little story with the pictures to go with it.
Wow, that is some flooding and current running through your place.
Our lake finally melted so our shoreline is flooded right now, but that happens every spring. No currents like you have in your pictures!
Your dogs are so cute!
On May 5, 2009 at 5:55 am
Lynda Dunham-Watkins says:
Your farm is beautiful even with the flood waters. And the dogs….you gotta love them. Ours keep us with smiles on our faces. Thanks for sharing. That’s a lot of water!!!
On May 5, 2009 at 6:14 am
Bev says:
The dogs looked like they had a great day. Hopefully the water will subside today and you can get the tux back.
On May 5, 2009 at 6:14 am
Christine says:
Poor Dookie. My Mom’s farm shih-tsu looks just about as lovely. She’ll be getting shaved soon.
Honey, you really need to get yourself some bridges. You don’t want to be stranded like Willa and Penn.
On May 5, 2009 at 6:24 am
Bev says:
Good one Christine
On May 5, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Leah says:
did you call the tux rental place? Maybe they wont charge you sate fees under the circumstances.As for ….there will be no giant rat puppies! Thank goodness! :snoopy:
On May 5, 2009 at 6:26 am
Kate says:
I hope you’re able to escape soon! But in the meanwhile, enjoy your beautiful piece of heaven. I was always so excited when the forest flooded behind my parents’ home, building rafts and going ‘fishing’ with a string tied to a stick.
On May 5, 2009 at 6:29 am
Dawn says:
Don’t you just love it when the creek runs wild! And what great excuse to stay home….except for the tux rental!
On May 5, 2009 at 6:35 am
Dawn says:
This weekend I made those stupendous wonderful Cinnamon Streusal Biscuits and Aunt Ruby’s Lemon Cake–umm,umm good! Thanks for those recipes!
On May 5, 2009 at 6:37 am
epon4 says:
Rat Dog is a special breed of dog that my oldest daughter likes to call a “Kickme”. 😉 (yes, I know that is awful)
On May 5, 2009 at 6:46 am
Claudia W. says:
Beautiful place. Nice walk. I would love to be flooded in sometimes.
On May 5, 2009 at 6:54 am
KentuckyFarmGirl says:
Loved your flood tour Suzanne and the dogs are absolutely adorble, except for rat dog that is. So far the rivers and creeks have stayed in their banks here but the road is nearly impassable with potholes. County maintenance must be on vacation!
On May 5, 2009 at 6:54 am
Remudamom says:
Three words for Rat Dog. Air Soft Gun.
On May 5, 2009 at 6:55 am
Ms E says:
I think Rat Dog is just socially ambitious and hopeful he can “improve his circumstances”!
On May 5, 2009 at 7:03 am
becki says:
Kidnap Rat Dog and have him fixed. I think that can be done now on male dogs with just an injection.
On May 5, 2009 at 7:18 am
amber says:
:heart: just wanted to tell you Aunt Ruby’s Lemon cake is wonderful.I made it for a mothers banquet at our church, everyone loved it! thanks for the recipe.
On May 5, 2009 at 7:41 am
Angie says:
Water, Water, Water. Love the green! The dogs seem to have fun – for the most part – LOL
I picked up your book this morning!!!!! 🙂
On May 5, 2009 at 8:00 am
Julie says:
We had a flood like that last week, we came home from work to check the animals on our farm, I told the kids to go get the canoe!!! We could have just had a float trip thru the farm to check on our cattle, goats, sheep, ect….. We do have a lifted truck to get through the water when our roads flood, and play in the mud! Yee Haw What fun!! Beautiful place… I do the same just stand there and think I LOVE MY FARM!!!!!
On May 5, 2009 at 8:06 am
trish says:
Coco sure has the life!! I think Rat dog is cute. and Lonely!!! :hug:
On May 5, 2009 at 8:53 am
Gail says:
With all the green of spring and even with the rushing water, your farm looks so peaceful and beautiful. I think everyone needs to be stranded at home every now and then. Love that Dookie! Coco is still
all puppy and she sure enjoys her romps and exploring.
On May 5, 2009 at 8:55 am
Su says:
The farm is just gorgeous, flooded or not.
Poor Cocoa, what’s a giant puppy to do, with such a persistant suitor!!
On May 5, 2009 at 9:29 am
shirley says:
I noticed two things in your photos. The sheep aren’t clumping, and the ducks aren’t swimming!
I feel sorry for RatDog.It’s a doggie version of Beauty & The Beast.
On May 5, 2009 at 9:41 am
Ruth C says:
I spied dotting sheep!
On May 5, 2009 at 10:02 am
Sheryl says:
LOL! Poor Dookie! He sure needs a summer haircut. He is so cute!
I have a shi tzu/bichon cross with shi tzu hair that often looks like that. He got a haircut for Easter.
That’s a lot of water! We have a lot of water too. I sure wish some of it would dry up.
I LOVE my farm too and would LOVE to be stuck there for a few days.
On May 5, 2009 at 10:10 am
Estella says:
Even with all of the water and Rat Dog your farm is gorgeous.
On May 5, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Stephanie in Seattle says:
We had the same weather over here in Seattle last night. Thankfully there was no flooding near my home. Has the lower meadow ever flooded over completely? Do your dotting and clumping sheep have an escape route? Most importantly, how are you going to keep the Rat Dog away from Coco when she is on guard duty with the sheep?
On May 5, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
I’ve never seen the meadow flood over, though we were keeping an eye on it yesterday.
I’m hoping to arrange to have Rat Dog fixed…… I’ve made some inquiries into it and his owners seem amenable….
On May 5, 2009 at 3:04 pm
SuzieQ says:
Unrequited love..so sad…Maybe if you give him some cookies you can make a deal with him? :woof:
On May 5, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Donna says:
Coco, the precious pup!!!! I was just going to mention yesterday or day before…to be looking for some rain comin your way, cause we sure got it here!!! LOL
On May 5, 2009 at 5:39 pm
catslady says:
I can’t believe you have spinach already!!!!!! I’m glad we don’t live that close to water lol.
On May 5, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Birdi says:
The spinach is beautiful! Are you going to cook it or have a salad? Delish either way! Yay! Harvesting is always the best! Congrats! :woof:
On May 5, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Jodie says:
I like the option of neutering rat dog. He’s just lonely and wants to be friends with Dookie and Coco. :snoopy: A dog with friends is a happy dog. I wish I could afford another one, as my adopted dalmation/terrier mix is eating our house, piece by piece. The new game when I come home from work is to play ‘what did the dog eat today?’. My husband is home all day with him, but he still eats shoes left on floor, sheets, blankets, glasses cases, books (ack yes he ate a hard cover library book corner and nibbled a paperback book too!)
On May 5, 2009 at 7:27 pm
dalgal says:
Jodie – sadly I know that game too.
On May 6, 2009 at 9:50 am
Patricia says:
Great pictures! Just have to know, now that I’ve seen them…your farm is Limberlost, isn’t it? It looks just like I saw the farm in the High-Stakes Homecoming!
On May 6, 2009 at 6:31 am
dalgal says:
What a beautiful farm you have! Everything is so lush and green! Its all so wonderfully woodsy, I would love to have a place like that!
On May 6, 2009 at 9:49 am
Jessimoos says:
Oh Suzanne, I have been enjoying your blog/posts for months now and I just now realized I should subscribe! HA! This story is one of the many favorites I have, but I have to say this is in the top 5. He may be a nuisance but he sure added to the walk that Rat Dog. Coco sure enjoyed her time as well! :snoopy: Thanks again for sharing :yes: Yours Truly: Da’ ‘Moos
On March 10, 2010 at 3:49 am