With rain on and off yesterday, and throughout the night, we knew before we even went to bed last night that high water might be a problem today.
The river ford this morning:
If the water’s up in the road from the ford, you know it’s too high to cross. Unless you want to buy a new car.
That happened to me one time. (In case you missed it.)
Unless the river’s up out of its banks, though, the creeks are okay. To leave our farm and find civilization, we have to either ford the river in one direction or go over the hill on a two-mile rock-dirt road through three creeks. It’s more convenient to cross the river–it’s our closest access to a hard road and the high school is in that direction.
This photo is taken from halfway down our driveway. The river actually borders our farm in some places.
However, that was not to be this morning. And so we set off in the other direction to drive through three creeks and go two miles over the hill in search of a hard road and civilization and high school.
We didn’t get very far.
That tree’s too low to drive under. There was much jubilation amongst the teenage children.
so
we
went
home
and
I made
pancakes.
And that’s just another day in the country.
Nita in SC says:
So how does the school deal with absences due to “hey, we just can’t get there?” Or are there so many people who live in outlying areas that the school just deals with it?
And – YAY pancakes!!
On December 1, 2010 at 8:47 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
There is a school excuse in the list for “Hazardous Conditions” and that’s what I use whenever we can’t get out because of water, ice, or trees.
On December 1, 2010 at 9:18 am
texwisgirl says:
Wow! Your kids really said their prayers well last night, didn’t they?! Does the county come clear that for you if you call them?
On December 1, 2010 at 8:53 am
I Wanna Farm says:
In Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle she wrote that when her daughter got her chicks in the mail and missed some of that school day, the school secretary was completely unfazed and just said ‘Oh, agriculture’ or something and excused it! lol They must be used to that kind of thing, floods and all, in those areas. I think you might needs to keep a small chain saw in your car, though, in case of emergency!
On December 1, 2010 at 8:55 am
Joni says:
I just love you and your stories. What a wonderful thing it is to high schoolers to have an unexpected day off!
We have snow today, but not a whole bunch…just little floating flakes that sometimes make it to the ground.
Have a lovely “day off”….heh.
XOXO
Joni
On December 1, 2010 at 8:59 am
Luann says:
TEA, I have to agree with your children! It is pouring here too!
On December 1, 2010 at 9:02 am
Kelly A says:
pshh Suzanne you three could have totally pushed the tree out of the way 😛
Someone going to go take a chain saw to it later today?
On December 1, 2010 at 9:31 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
It’ll get cut down! It’s probably cut out of the road by now, in fact. But we’re not going anywhere!
On December 1, 2010 at 9:56 am
Ramona says:
Pancakes sound a whole lot better than school……
On December 1, 2010 at 9:38 am
heidiannie says:
I like the rationale of going home to pancakes when all routes fail you! It should be your new motto!
On December 1, 2010 at 9:44 am
Amy Buchanan says:
Wow! You really do have to be prepared in your neck of the woods…well stocked pantry and freezers! I admire your tenacity! I just don’t think I could make it – as a matter of fact, if I knew I was stuck and couldn’t get to civilization I would probably have a nervous breakdown! 😕
On December 1, 2010 at 9:48 am
drucillajoy says:
wow…you guys must have all worn your jammies inside out last night…that’s what the kids around here do when there’s the possibility of a snow day…I tried it last February(I work at school) & it worked…enjoy your unexpected day off!
On December 1, 2010 at 10:04 am
Jo says:
Suzanne, you need to convince your county that you are an asset to them and West Virginia (with bringing people in to visit your farm from all over) and that they need to PAVE a road to your house!!! :hissyfit: :shimmy:
On December 1, 2010 at 10:18 am
Miss Becky says:
You guys need a Gator or something. My friends have one of those and they are awesome, they can get through just about anything. Except high water :bugeyed:
On December 1, 2010 at 10:43 am
Jane says:
That pix you took half way down your driveway is very pastoral looking and lovely. It reminds me a bit of England… except for the spindly trees!
On December 1, 2010 at 10:50 am
Linda Goble says:
We are having that kind of weather here today.Which is in Candor,New York. Unfortunately I can’t get my gift out today. It is already to go. Hubby told me to stay home. It is sleeting and raining right now. :hissyfit: I Planned on doing Christmas shopping also today.SO I guess I need to start cleaning so I can start decorating for Christmas. I hope you an the kids had a nice cozy day at home and enjoyed your pancakes.
On December 1, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Jane says:
Have you considered a snorkel for your car? I don’t know if it’s worth the investment, but they’re kind of cool. They’re usually on rally cars.. or any car that goes through water regularly.
On December 1, 2010 at 1:23 pm
SarahGrace says:
Due to all the rain, we were watching our creek too. It did go over the crossing last night, but we (and our car!) were tucked in safe. Last year the creek took us by surprise. Our brand new car (of one payment) floated away. We learned our lesson well. We have a new crossing this year and I can park near the house instead of the other side of the creek! Next year I hope to have a garage and some concrete. Until then I’m learning about how to lessen our sliding in wet grass. 😆
On December 1, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Jim in Colorado says:
Wow, here in Colorado, we have snow days, where the kids get to miss school. You get to have tree days. And YAY! for pancakes.
On December 1, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Wendy says:
Trees like that are not called ‘Widow Makers’ for nothing. Leave it to the experts.
On December 1, 2010 at 5:17 pm
paul says:
In my neck of the woods that tree is called firewood!
On December 1, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Vicki in So. CA says:
I hope you had a great day off and ate lots of pancakes! :hungry:
BTW, having only been in WV as a child, I don’t remember the size of the trees there. Scale is a hard thing to judge without people in the photo. What do you guess the diameter of that tree trunk at? Or height? I think the trees in your area are bigger than they look in the pics. I remember one photo you posted with a man (phone man? well driller? can’t remember) at the base of a tree near your driveway, I think. That tree was WAAAY taller than I had thought! :bugeyed:
On December 1, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Lisabeth Olson says:
Suzanne, I’d just really enjoy your day with you, :snoopy: but—for the first time in around 6 months my momma cat us using my lap for a mattress. And my hand for a pillow.
Did you use beer for the pancakes? :hungry: Ok so I can type one handed.
I really get alot of entertainment from your posts. I’ve learned to read the entire post before it goes away. For some reason I lost one about the Anery neighbor, only I’m not sure if you called her a witch or not??
On December 1, 2010 at 11:01 pm
glenda says:
Ahhhhhh, life in the country!
You have more nearby neighbors than I thought (looking at the first picture).
Pancakes sound good.
On December 2, 2010 at 6:56 am
SuzzyQ says:
Lucky kids;pancakes are extreme comfort food. What a nice mom you are!
On December 2, 2010 at 6:12 pm