The Water Recedes and The Animals Settle Back In

It's been quite a week with moving animals back home, dealing with insurance issues, getting quotes, finding shower facilities and sending a few people at a time (so not to overwhelm any one household) to get showers, dealing with work issues, and trying to regain some sense of 'normal'.

As the water receded we frequently said how much 'nicer' this water was than in the last flood. In 2006 we had a great deal of nastiness in the water and it left a terrible residue and smell. Since the majority of the flood waters came from the streams from the surrounding hills (and not from the city upstream), the water was 'clean'. We actually had fish jumping in our lawn! Ian and Jonathan couldn't let all that water go to waste so they got their rubber boots on and did what all little boys love to do--splash around in a huge puddle!The day progressed and the water made its way back to the river bed.This was the view from our driveway across the road to Buck Horn Lake Road. I almost called our friends who live on this road and told them to get in their paddle boat and come on over for a cup of coffee!If you look closely you can see the water line on the hot water tank. (Right below the black label at the top of the tank.)
Things have become 'normal' in many ways. Every evening Captain expects me to make popcorn and lets me know if I'm late (he goes to the cupboard with the popcorn popper, looks up at the cupboard door, comes to me and makes sure I see him going back to the cupboard, looks at me, wags his tail and looks back up at the cupboard door.). As I make the popcorn, he takes his place at my feet and waits for a stray piece to fall on the floor. Occasionally one ends up under the stove and Captain is not one to let any popcorn go to waste...The chickens are more than happy to allow the sheep to share the goat/chicken yard until their pen is back in order. I guess these chickens have heard how soft merino wool is!Jessie (the non-smelly boy) went to our friends house with the girl goats to wait out the flood. Timmy (the smelly boy) spent his time at the farm up the road while in confinement with Licorice the black sheep in a calf hutch. Timmy and Licorice developed a bond that was quite pitifully broken upon their return to our farm. Timmy would loudly blat and Licorice would answer with a deep baa. Timmy was overjoyed to have Jessie return and now the boy goats are hanging out in the alpaca pasture waiting for their pen to be reconstructed (and less muddy).Rachael was taking pictures of the alpaca and Flash came over to the fence as if to say, "It sure is nice to be home again!"