High waters wash through here every winter, and yet I am impressed each time. Every time I take photos of flooding here on my property, I tell myself that the following summer I will take shots of the same angles for comparison. In the summer I forget of course. When there is no flooding, the scenes are not interesting. Take this one, for example, that I took to show how the chickens had eaten the grass down to the dirt. I ignored the scene behind the chicken house.
The worst flooding that ever happened, I was not here for. Tara was home though, and got a quick, low-quality video from their cheap phone back in 2015. It shows water flowing across the entire bottom portion of the property, from the creek, dumping into the pond! Astounding! It’s never been that high again. I won’t show the video because it’s tiny and grainy and unless you really know my property it would be hard to tell what you were seeing.
Speaking of the pond, here’s a comparison shot I have for you:
I maintain a healthy respect for Mother Nature as I walk around the land, looking at the changes wrought by winter weather. Rain turns the soil to mush, raging waters take the mush away, wind topples trees. Every year the pattern continues. I am lucky and have not had a big tree come down yet this winter, but I often get them crashing down in early spring when there are high winds, like February-April.
The flooding in 2019 was much more impressive than this year’s. If you want to see, take a look at the post I made then, which includes many of these same shots, plus comparison shots.
The video makes the flooding water seem impressive, huh? Especially since you can see the green grass of my lawn through the water, ha ha.
I took all these pics in the two days before we left for Boston. By the time we came back, the waters were behaving and inside the creek banks again. I wonder what fish in the pond or in the creek do when the water is so crazy? I have lots of crawdads in my creek, and I’ll bet they just burrow nice and deep into the mud and wait it out.
Conscious Engagement 
We live close to or below sea level but we never see flooding like that.
I am just below some mountain peaks, and at least once a year there is a heavy rain, following a snowfall in the higher elevations. I think what is happening is that the rain falls into the snow, which holds it until it can’t anymore, then there is a deluge that comes down from the peak.
I am glad you don’t see flooding where you are because with your low elevation it seems like the water would stay and cause a lot of damage.
Wow! Mother Nature having a bit of spill over. I hope the level stays in the feasible realms. It’s quite zen to watch the flow, I find.
Yes! It’s thrilling to stand down there and watch the water rage around me. Your hopes for “feasible realms” is an important consideration, and my background as a meteorologist helps with this. I understand that floodwaters need a place to go, and that seasonal floods are normal and natural. So I work with Mother Nature and do not place any permanent structures in the areas where the water can go. She can blast me with water each year and I think of it as a good scrub.
Sounds reasonable and collaborative. This is how you are as a person. 🙂 Lovely reply.
❤
It never occurred to me that you had that kind of water on your property!! I sure hope you have flood insurance for that once in a lifetime flood and that will insure it doesn’t ever happen. I’m trying to get caught up to send you a note. At least I have one now. Soon.
Ha ha!! You are so right! Get insurance to prevent the flooding. That is hilarious. Let me assure you that my house is high up the hill above the creek. It would take a flood of epic proportions to even damage the chicken house. But to get all the way up to my house, it would seriously take Noah’s flood. No worries, understand? We are good here. I should send you a note too. I hope things are still smooth there.
Whoa.
That is an appropriate response. 🙂
Haha … it kinda leaves one without a lot of words !
We certainly get the picture now
The picture is WET! ha ha
Wowza! That IS impressive! Mother Nature is awesome in so many respects. You have a terrific attitude about your frequent flooding – and that’s very cool!
Thanks Lenore. I had a career as a meteorologist and learned a lot about flooding over the years. I now see it as something I should expect and be flexible with. It’s Mother Nature being awesome.
I am always in awe of water at flood stage. Such power! I’m glad the water hasn’t reached your home! I have some friends who had a cabin on a creek … too much flooding and destruction led to the cabin being taken down. They have created a very cool space instead and despite annual flooding still, they do not have to worry about the cabin.
Yes, that sounds great: a place to enjoy still, but no worries about the cabin. I loved how the people in Japan work with their rivers. In many towns there are rivers right through the middle of town, but no structures next to the rivers. Instead, there are community gardens, so if the river ever floods, it just wipes out the gardens. I thought that design was brilliant.
Wow, that is a lot of water, Crystal. Like you I have a healthy respect for Mother Nature.
It was a lot of water! It is exciting to stand beside the waters and watch them move through. Being close, I can feel the power and I’m humbled. I think that respecting Mother Nature makes it more exciting to witness the things she can do. It reminds me of the desert swallowing the town in Turn Left at Lenin’s Statue, which I did finally read.
Speaking of reading, I’m finally getting to yours, too! It’s a lot of fun to go through and I’m fantasizing that I’m actually making plans for a trip and this will be my itinerary. I’m only to Day 4, but already dreaming. You did a great job and your photos are incredible.
I am delighted to hear that you are enjoying the virtual tour through the UAE, Crystal. And that it is serving as inspiration to dream of a future trip. I hope the format is enjoyable not just as inspiration, but also as an armchair traveller. And maybe you can tell your friends about it. I would really appreciate it. 🥰
I really enjoyed Turn Left at Lenin’s Statue, because it highlights a part of the world I don’t think I’ll ever travel to. Like you say, the power of nature is really humbling.
I certainly will tell others about it. Can you tell me again how to find it? For them, I mean.
Thank you, Crystal, that is so kind of you. It is in the shop section of our A Taste of Freedom Website, but here is a link to it:
https://www.atasteoffreedom.pt/asp-products/landscapes-a-virtual-journey/