Flood Damage!

When it began to rain yesterday, I began to worry a little...

Because while our gardens always benefit and look even more amazing

after a good rain, what was happening was no ordinary rain event...

It poured for hours upon hours... And in the evening, it poured some more!

And, while having a creek behind your house does lend a

certain charm to the landscape... I've never trusted it!

I've never trusted that this babbling, seemingly calm
little creek wouldn't one day rise up and sweep away...

Everything I love in the garden. Because

remember... It's never been about the house!

We live outside!

We decorate our yards like most people decorate their homes!

On Sunday we even added new fish to the koi pond...

Last night I knew I'd never see them again!

On Sunday afternoon we watched the neighbor's children gather eggs...

You know I've always wanted chickens. So when the neighbor built this

coop, brought in adorable chicks and promised never to add a rooster,

I was pretty much in chicken-heaven! I mean, it meant hearing sweet

clucking sounds down by the pond, fresh eggs... But none of the work!

Last night we all stood together hoping some would survive the storm...

This morning when I saw my neighbor with her little boys and one of them

told me they were looking for their chickens that flew away, I wished them luck...

Indeed, there's a lot of sadness to go around. At 1AM this morning

I was scooping my beloved koi off the lawn and rushing them

back to the mud-hole that was once their tranquil home!

Last weekend I was so excited about crazy hosta-season...

And, I made mention of my wish to change

the lighting fixtures around the pond...

I'll tell you now... Be careful what you wish for!

Of course, I do feel a bit silly crying over hostas, chickens and fish when there

are neighbors up the street flooded out of their home and, neighbors next

door that can't flush their toilets until their septic line is put back together...

I do realize we got off easy being on this side of the creek. All we need

to repair our septic run-off line is a new fitting and a foot of new pipe...

And, the propane guy said the damage to the line that

feeds the kitchen will be fixed by late this afternoon!

And best of all... The gardener I love is already

hard at work putting things back together for me!

All he asks, he said, is that I remember...

That from destruction always comes new life!

Do me a favor... Spend a little time outside today and hug your garden for me!