Sept 11-24 Tropical Storm Imelda

A lot has gone on in the last week or so. I spent a lot of time at the deer lease before the storm. Susan was down at Adams. I told her she should come in on Monday because we might start getting some rain on Tuesday. It turned out to be a good thing,  On Wednesday morning the disturbance went to a tropical depression and then a Tropical Storm. The winds were not a problem it was the rainfall amounts. We got quite a lot of rain Wednesday but did OK. Wednesday evening we got 6 inches in one hour.  When we went to bed we were still fine with no water in the yard. Around 1:30 am the rain started again and it just kept on and on.  When i got up at 5 the water was all around us and on the porch.  We got everything we could off the floors. Sometime at daylight we got another high rate of rainfall about 5 inches in one hour. This was enough to start getting water in the house. We got probably a 1/2 inch thruout.  We decided to see if we could get to town and stay with Mom till it was over. Nope, we were blocked from town as FM 770 was flooded and Fm 563 was also flooded.  I went to Hyltons and filled my truck up. There was a county constable there and I talked to him. He said everyone was basically unable to travel anywhere in Liberty County.  The rain had now stopped to just a fine mist. We went back home and waded back into the house. At this point the water had stopped coming in house.  We had electricity but no water or sewer.  Water was over the water well pump and septic tanks.  We started cleaning up floors and drying things out, We were very lucky as nothing else was damaged in the house,  I went ahead and took the carpet up in our bedroom and my study. I just opened the windows and cut strips I could handle and chucked them out the window. We put all our fans on and started drying floors. By late Thursday the water had receded around the house. I recorded 27.5 inches in a 24 hour period.  Friday morning we went to town and took a shower and I pick up a pressure switch for my water pump. Mike Kristi and the girls came over and they started taking up flooring and baseboards and setting up more fans and air blowers they brought.  My water well pump did start (it had been under water) but is was cycling too fast, i found the pressure tank was waterlogged. The air bladder was busted. I finally found one in my size in stock at Home Depot in Summerwood.  Late that evening when Adam got here we went and got it. Saturday morning Kevin, Adam and I finally got tank replaced and water system back on.  By Sunday morning we could finally flush toilets.  Life was good again.  We are very fortunate as all we lost was flooring and a little drywall in the house.  We are back to normal thanks to all the help. The adjuster is supposed to be here Tuesday.  My RV, Tractor and Ranger were at the deer lease so they survived. All my generators and pressure water were under water.   I'm flushing them out and drying them hoping for the best. My air compressor did work and My yard tractor was okay,  All in all we are in very good shape. just a few pictures to get an idea.

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Sept 3-11 Grandparents Day and Its Still Hot

It has been the hottest September we have had in awhile. At last I don't have to worry about mowing the grass every 5 days.  I have been going to the deer lease but don't get much done after 11:00. Kevin has been doing a lot of clearing brush and starting on his little cabin. Both Peyton and Luke had grandparents day at their schools so we went and had lunch with them. Also Ashley started school volleyball so we now have games on Tuesday,Thursday and Friday nights. Susan left yesterday for Adams and I'm heading back to the deer lease.

Aug 30-Sept 2 Labor Day Weekend

Friday night we went and watched Mackenna play volleyball. They beat Atascocita in two straight sets. Saturday was a pretty slow day as I got the yard mowed and watched college football games most of the day. Susan pretty much sewed all day as she has some projects she is trying to finish. Sunday , John/Jennifer and the kids came over for a little while, John is taking the tractor for a few days to move some dirt. I finished mowing a few places and just watched more college football. Monday, Kyle/Kristin and the boys came over. The boys played and Kyle put a new secondary clutch on my Ranger.  Kevin was here also and he ran his dirtbike and his racing atv for a few spins.  All in all we had a nice weekend.

Mackenna

Maggie and Max

Holly Susan John

Peyton Luke

New clutch

Peyton is helping Kyle

Luke

Kevin and Peyton chilling

July 6-August 26 Its been a wet Summer

We didn"t take any trips this summer as we took an early month long spring trip. Its probably a good thing as we had so much rain. I had to mow almost every 5 days all summer. The grass has slowed down only in the last two weeks .  We had one storm which took the top and some limbs out of a big oak tree. I just dragged everything into the pasture and repaired the fence. When it gets cooler I will cut some firewood.  Susan and I both had several Dr appointments and Kevin had surgery.  School volleyball has started for Mackenna (sophomore} and Ashley (8th grade) starts next week.  Peyton (1st grade} and Luke (pre-k) have started school. I went to Mack Creek and mowed the camp, then I moved the trailer in for the season. I have spent a couple of days there clearing a few roads the loggers left debris on.  I will start staying a lot more after Labor Day. I sure hope it gets cooler.

Peyton

Luke

A little firewood

Mackenna

Moved in to Mack Creek

Mackenna

Sammi

Ashley

Cleaning up

July 3-6 4th Of July at the Lake

Our plans changed a little. We headed to Waco to see Kevin. He called last night and said he was in the hospital due to heat exhaustion and his kidneys not functioning. He was completely dehydrated and they were pumping fluids in him. He was much better by the time we got up there. His kidneys were almost back to normal  and his blood sugar was down. The doctor said it looked like they might let him out the next day if he kept improving. We stayed a few hours and then headed to the lake. Mike/Kristi and the girls were already there. It was a long day and we were tired . It was close to 8:00 pm by the time we got there.  .Mike, Mackenna and I did take a little boat ride as the sun set. July 4 it was a nice morning, I got up and sat outside watching the sun come up. The lake is still high but the water is down so you can use the boat dock. The Monks came this morning( friends of Mike/Kristi) and they have two/kids.  They all skied and tubed most all day having lots of fun. Susan and I just chilled at the house. We had burgers and sausage for supper. The Monks brought fireworks to celebrate . Kevin did get released from the hospital today.  The doctors wont let him go back to work till Monday. Friday morning Kristi took Ashley to A&M for a volleyball camp. The Monks had to leave for home. A little later Kerry/Mel and two of the girls came up for the day. They are buying the lot next to Kristi"s  everyone is excited about that. We had a pretty quiet day. I put some boudain stuffed pork loins on the smoker for supper. Another day of tubing and skiing for the girls. Late that night GregMelanie and their two girls came up. Saturday was a big day of swimming and boating activities. Sunday morning we got up early to head home. As we were leaving we had a flat on the car. Glad Greg was up because I had never changed a tire on the CRV, I couldn't figure out where to put the jack or how to rig up the handle. Got the spare on and headed home.We had a good time.  Tomorrow I will put some new tires on Susan's car.

4/23/2019 Dequeen Lake,Arkansas

Monday we spent the day just picking up and packing everything so we could leave first thing the next morning. Our original plans were to go to Daingerfield State Park for about 3 days and then head home. We changed to going to Dequeen Lake, rest a day, and then head home. We pulled out about 8 on Wednesday morning and headed out. We had a little light drizzle for the first hour and then it quit. The drive between Fayettville and Fort Smith is sure pretty. Lots of hills and hollers. We had a nice easy drive stopping once to get fuel and a bite to eat. We arrived at Dequeen lake at about 1:15.  Five to six hours is about as long a I want to drive anymore. We will rest up tomorrow and then head home Thursday morning. We have stayed here several times over the years. The lake is pretty high right now and not as clear as usual.  We had a really nice evening and I cooked pork chops on the grill.

the water is still high

the water has gone down some

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They are rebuilding a few waterfront sites