Odds and ends and starts

 

1. Zeke doesn’t slice his apples or peel his oranges in the normal way … wish I had a picture to help explain … he likes to use a paring knife to cut little slivers and chips from each.  He’ll actually cut the peeling off the orange.  I think this is some sort of fascination with knives.  Maybe he needs a pocket knife.

2. The Missouri River crest was lowered 1 foot!!!  This is awesome news.  Also, it is theorized (they could check this … why they don’t is beyond me) that the river, which is usually only 20 feet deep at it’s deepest, has actually cut down to 40 feet.  The pictures are amazing right now, but THAT will be a sight to see when the water eventually recedes.

3. Progress is being made on the patio! 

4. I almost given up hope that my second clematis had survived our winter.  In fact, I was on my way out to plant sweet peas in it’s spot … and THIS is what I found.

5.  Three meals of lasagna for the freezer.  One will most likely end up being a meal for someone else … lots of babies being born in the next month or so.

 

6.  We are getting a dog.  A black lab cross, she’d about 2.5 to 3 years old.  Of course, this is all dependent upon our being approved (I didn’t know you had to be approved!). 

The kids (Angelina, Zeke, Graham) and I stopped at the Humane Society after swimming on Tuesday to check the dogs available.  We’d seen pictures on Monday at the grocery store that looked promising.  We came away interested in two that seemed to be of similar temperament and about the same size.

Yesterday, Eric took the kids to swimming and stopped by to see the dogs again afterwards.  We wanted the kids to be able to spend a little more time with the dogs …

Eric started the adoption process.  Our plan is to pick her – current name is Sheba, but we’d like to change that – up next Friday.  However, if we pick her up earlier that’s fine, too. 

Then, Eric and the kids stopped to purchase necessities and not-so-necessities!  He generally comes back with more than I would …which the kids consider awesome.

7. Dash mowed our lawn for the first time.  He didn’t have time to do the whole front, but the back looks much better now that it’s all one length.

22/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

On Thursday, Dash and Angelina competed in the 4-H Communication Arts contest.  Both did well … Dash received Honorable Mention in his division.

 

The lilacs are blooming!  One of my favorite scents and it’s all around the yard.  Before Monday’s storm, I brought a bouquet in to set on the table.

Angelina’s terrarium.  Found the froggie at a flower shop… it was cute, maybe a little big, but cute.

The crew gets out here about once a week.  The rain prevents much more than that, but they work hard for over 10 hours when they are here.  So, it’s coming along beautifully.  Given the rain we get every three days, they’ll be out in about a week and this project will be finished by August!  Guess we’ll be able to enjoy it in our long Fall days. 

If you don’t know me well, I’m getting a little sarcastic here…

Honestly, I am happy the project is progressing.  See, the lawn looks green in the background??  That is a truly wonderful sight after three years of black dirt peppered with weeds.

 

 

Flood Update:

My parents and brother continue to fight the good fight against the flooding in Bismarck.  The water has risen, but the dam spillway was opened for the first time yesterday, then shut so officials could examine the spillway.  It hasn’t been opened since it’s construction ended.  The spillway was reopened today, so the water will rise as the amount of water released is increased. 

Pictures of Missouri River Flooding

Access to my brother’s home, which had been closed, was re-opened tonight for a number of hours.  My brother and parents are trying to determine their next action.  It’s a difficult decision.

I pray for their health and that the property will be spared damage.

So far, so good

The flood fight in Bismarck, for my brother, is going ok.  They realized that their dike wasn’t as high as it should be due to a faulty measurement, so that was fixed yesterday for the most part (just a little more work to finish it up today).  My dad feels much more confident that the house could withstand a 23’ crest.  While the basement has remained dry, the sump did start pumping.  Hopefully they are being spared the rain that is falling all around our farm today.

The Missouri River hasn’t risen as fast as first  predicted because the increased water flow has been dredging the bottom and pushing soil/silt/sand down the river, thus creating more room for water!  Amazing.  Definitely a blessing for those who have been so worried and had almost given up.

Thank you for the prayers offered; they are felt!

Bismarck Flood

 

That middle little bump is where my brother’s house is located.  The dike is being built on Riverwood Drive; they are obviously on the wrong side.  The huge snowfall and now melt in MT and the rain there this past weekend has pushed up the release levels and shortened the time period in which to prepare. 

On the updated flood map, his home’s location is best seen on the second map.  Just look for the five little bumps under a sea of blue.

 

The water was at 15.5 feet when Eric sent this picture.  It’s forecasted to reach 19 feet, but that number is old and WILL go higher.  The top of the post in 20 feet. 

 

The house is protected to 22 feet.  But, access will be a problem.  How does one keep a gasoline-generator-run sump pump going if you can only access the property once each week (that’s the talk)??  How much do you move up or out?  How much do you try to salvage?  Do you try to stay in your house?  Lots of hard decisions.

Some have just packed up and left; with heavy hearts, I’m sure.  My brother and parents have chosen to do as much as humanly possible.  Thank goodness family live close enough to help out.

The sheer volume of water officials/the corp are predicting is truly amazing.  We toss around these big numbers … 85,000 cfs (that’s cubic feet per SECOND – I can’t even fathom how much water that means) … 95,000 cfs … 120,000 cfs.  That last number is what a friend of ours believes everyone should be planning to withstand. 

An interesting tidbit Eric learned today … if the water in Lake Sakakawea starts flowing over the dam on its own, it would flow at 600,000 cfs.  Try to imagine THAT amount of water.

I’m physically here at the farm, but my heart and mind are in Bismarck.

Flood update

Sandbags from Fargo were delivered to my brother's cul de sac today!  So, they were able to get a couple pallets.  Eric and Dash left around 5pm, so will be there to help build a sandbag dike around the house.  I did what I could and sent food.

They did have a 'person' who builds ring dikes stop by the house, and he thought they'd be ok.  I guess that gives a little peace of mind.  Thank you for the offered prayers.  We will continue to pray, as rain can certainly change the outlook.

Flood worries…

Bismarck Flood Map

My brother’s home (Eric) is in the unprotected area.  My parents have been in Bismarck for the last couple days doing what they can to protect the home and possessions:  move all belongings out of the basement, sandbag the window wells, etc.  Come Saturday, if needed, my hubby and Dash will head to Bismarck to help do whatever else needs to be done to salvage as much as possible.  The basement will at least get seepage, it’s quite possible electricity will be shut off, and access by car/truck may not be possible at some point (Riverwood Drive is only open to local traffic currently, with checkpoints).  All this in Bismarck, the capital of ND.