The flooding of the lower acreage is passé. We expect it when we have many days of rain. We have had MANY days of CONSTANT rain.
Here is what the field looked like on Saturday. Notice that field fence by the canoe? That is the fencing Michael and I replaced in December. It sits on top of a type of dyke. There isn’t any land to distinguish where our year round pond sits.
Take note of where the canoe is. It plays a part in my story.
This flooding is more expansive than previous times that we have experienced. The grassy knoll isn’t completely covered but more so than in the past.
Is there something more interesting to this story? Yes. It involves the boys and the canoe. Joshua wanted to get to the canoe and decided that a plastic tote would work as a make shift flotation device. It capsized. Into the water he went.
All was fine. He eventually got to the canoe and the boys, including their friend Dylan, went paddling around the Great Lake of Salt Creek Farm.
I had seen the boys paddling so I knew where they were. I was on the computer reading a bunch of material that I needed to have read before fruit tree pruning class on Sunday. Suddenly I hear screaming as well as Michael yelling. Freaking out, I ran to the back deck and see Nicholas in the water and the canoe a significant distance from him. Michael twice asked Nicholas if he was OK. No answer so I (panicking) yell, “If he can’t respond he is in trouble.” Then I tear off through the house and out to the shore closest to Nicholas. Michael is already, fully dressed, swimming out to him.
When I reached the shore I see that Dylan is in the canoe and Joshua is in the water hanging on to the canoe and trying to steer it towards Nicholas. Nicholas, thankfully, had flipped over onto his back and was trying to rest a bit. His pants, long sleeve shirt and thick sweat shirt had made it harder to swim than he was used to.
They made it to shore safely. Floating on his back, Nicholas was able to kick to the shore with Michael next to him in case he needed assistance.
My boys were safe. Now the questions began. Apparently there was a wager for $10 that my boys could swim to the shore from the halfway point between the grassy knoll and the opposite shore. There has been A LOT of discussion about this whole situation.
God was keeping my guys safe.
And that is a little bit of our life with boys here on the farm.
Stay dry,
Karen
Oh my gosh!
This is so dangerous! When I was reading about Joshua swimming after the canoe, my first thought was, “How safe is it to swim in a flood? There may be shrubs or sticks invisible under the water that he can catch on and get stuck.”
I am so glad the boys are safe.
May be the the boys shouldn’t be doing dangerous things, especially on Friday the 13th 🙂 ?
Thank God, they are safe!
Kimberly
Oh I know.
I’m thankful they were in a swim club for years back in Portland. Joshua is a very strong swimmer. Nicholas is good as well but loaded down with too many clothes.
It was a good lesson for them and I still thank God that it turned out the way it did. I know it could have been different.
We still talk about it. I’ll have to mention the brush that could have been underwater. We talked about the fencing that was invisible because the water was so deep but not the logs, branches etc. that could have been there.
One thing I have learned about boys is they naturally do dangerous things. They just need to think first and not to stupid things. I pray daily for them. Always have, always will.
Thanks for caring,
Karen
Thank you Lord!
Oh yes!
He is good!
Love,
Karen
I just thought of something else.
The ground is usually very cold in the winter. Even on a warm day, the ground is still very cold. Especially in February, the earth has had two months of winter to cool off.
What it means, is that when rain water trickles down the ground it cools off. I would imagine that flood water in the winter would be much colder that water in a permanent lake or river.
This means hypothermia, muscle cramps.
May be I should stop feeding your worries. It sure helps that they are good swimmers.
Have a safe weekend.
Kimberly
Michael commented on how cold the water was.
The interesting thing is I’ve overheard them talking about the incident between the two of them.
I think it made a lasting impression on them.
I’m praying for fewer stupid choices on their part.
I seem to pray for safety more now that we live on the farm. Dangers abound.
Thanx for the extra discussion topics.
Enjoy your weekend,
Karen
Oh Boys! They are determined to give you and Michael heart attacks.
Take Care,
Lisa
By the way, the $10 should probably go to you and Michael to help pay for added laundry expenses.
Good idea! Laundry and to clean out that huge bath tub that they soaked in to get warm and remove the scum/dirt.
See you Sunday,
Karen
Another one to put in the “Seemed like a good idea at the time” file… :o)
XO,B
That file is already so BIG.
xoxo,
Karen