Still Here!
Amazing, innit?
The creek has receded from our street and we are, for the time being, high and dry.
Our neighborhood is pretty much cut off from the rest of civilization though. There is one main road out of our neighborhood (flooded, and pictured above) and two alternate, one-lane mountain roads as a last resort. They are both blocked (musdslides and flooding) The only way we are getting out of here is if
A.) The river recedes and the rain holds off a while longer
or
B.) Via helicopter or amphibious rescue vehicle.
Obviously you know what my preference would be. Lots of helicopters are flying around in the river area, near downtown Guerneville, which is about a mile away. I really don't want a ride on one though!
It's kind of funny because EVERYONE I know has been calling me, offering to "Come get us"... It's so nice to know that there are so many people who are concerned for our welfare. It's genuinely humbling and much appreciated.
But... there's one small problem and that is the fact that if anyone else could get IN, We could get OUT! Also theres the fact that access to these areas has now been restricted to residents only, and the powers that be are checking ID before letting anyone through roadblocks.
For literally an hour this afternoon I sat with the phone in my hand and as soon as I hung up with one person, another would call and say something along the lines of "Are you STILL there!??"
The last time I experienced something like this is when I was pregnant and nearly four weeks overdue with my son. At least I had a baby at the end of THAT ordeal. This time we just have quite a bit of mud! That really fine silt stuff. My garden will love it in the spring but it's a pain in the ass now.
There are a LOT of us in this area, and I don't think ANY of my neighbors have evacuated, except the new folks down at the end of the block and those poor folks have just moved here from Louisiana after being displaced by hurricane Katrina. I don't blame them for getting the hell out of dodge at the first sign of trouble!
Most of us have fallen into a bit of a routine. Once every hour or two, we put on our rubber boots, stylishly accessorized with jeans or sweatpants, flannel shirts and a rain jacket. You see lots of folks walking their dogs and carrying coffee mugs and shepherding little kids in rain boots and slickers. Then we go out walking in the neighborhood to survey the goings-on
People tend to congregate at the corner where the road is flooded, blocking us in, and we look at the water and talk about how high we think it will go, and who has spoken to folks on the "outside" and what the news is from the exit routes. Another big topic of conversation is how high the water was in the last two big flood years, 1997 and 1986. A great source of entertainment is watching the brave (or stupid) people try to drive through the flood waters and then turn around again.
Then, we all eventually amble back to our homes to wait. I swear, I've met more neighborhood people since 1:30 this morning than I have in the five years I've lived here.
I'm going to post this now and go put my cam batteries on the charger while I still have power. I'll try and post more later!
Love y'all, happy soggy New Year from Guerneville!
12.31.05 @ 03:03 PM PST [link]
The Water Is Wide...
The Water is Wide, I can't cross o'er
And neither I, have wings to fly
Give me a boat, that can carry two,
And both shall row, My love and I.
There's another song in my head. It USED to be one of my favorites, but it's hitting a little close to home right now!
It's a little after 5 am here and the river is just reaching flood stage. The most immediate problem is Fife creek, which has some serious delusions of grandeur and is RUSHING down our street! Our entire yard is pretty much under water and it is likely that evacuations will be happening later today. The sound of the water is what's scariest! Right now our cars and my newly restored, vintage travel trailer are still above water, but barely.
If the evacuation order comes down as expected, we'll probably have to catch a ride with a neighbor to a higher area where we can catch the buses that will be taking evacuees (!!!) to a shelter in Santa Rosa.
The animals are another story. I have to try and get the bunny into a box of some kind, and we can evacuate the animals with us... ugh. The cats are spazzing out and pretty freaked.
Two hours of sleep and I'm pretty well toast right now. Those of you who have my cell phone number (or the hubby's cell numbers) can get a hold of us later this afternoon, I'm sure!
If we're evacuated, I'm not sure how long it will be before we are allowed back in to the area.
I'll post again as soon as I can.
*mwah*
12.31.05 @ 05:54 AM PST [link]
Uh.... can I just say... fuck fuck fuckety fuck.
We all know about the songs that get stuck in my head, Even I know that the middle of a crisis, a FLOOD even, is not an appropriate time to get a SONG stuck in your head! But what can you do?!
As we watch the water rising and rising and rising... (the creek is now running down the middle of our street and a LOT of the yard is flooding... ) I'm reminded of the song we used to sing in elementary school called "I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor"...
Oh, I'm being eaten
By a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don't like it--one bit.
Well, what do you know?
It's nibblin' my toe.
Oh, gee,
It's up to my knee.
Oh my,
It's up to my thigh.
Oh, fiddle,
It's up to my middle.
Oh, heck,
It's up to my neck.
Oh, dread,
It's upmmmmmmmmmmfffffffff . . .
Kinda how I'm feeling about the water right now. *sigh*
Still have power though, whaddaya know! I'll keep y'all posted as circumstances allow!
12.31.05 @ 01:01 AM PST [link]
Stressed
Well, 11:15 pm... and the rain is still coming down heavily!
After looking at the flooding forecasts (which are grim right now) I called my ex-husband and had him come to pick up the kids and take them to his house which is a lot safer and drier right now.
The road in (where the creek is) was flooded, and he couldn't get through even in his Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which is like a small tank with 4wd. After borrowing a phone from a news crew parked neaby (!) He ended up parking the jeep and slogging across the soccer field of the school next to us and hopping a fence to get to our house. We bundled the kids up and they all went back over the fence and through the field to the jeep. I feel so badly about sending them off, but I'm much happier knowing that they will be safer. They were pretty freaked out about leaving me. I'll be waiting anxiously to see that they get to their dad's safely.
As for us, The hubby and I are going to stick it out as long as possible. Amazingly, the power continues to stay on! (yay!)
I do have a bag packed in case we get evacuated. I'm putting my photos and a few other things up high in some of the closets, and hoping for the best with the rest of it. It's just stuff after all, and my real treasures are on their way to higher ground with their dad.
And yes, I'm packing some knitting to take with me if I have to go! Handknit socks too. I'll have the cutest socks in the evac shelter! :)
Keep those fingers crossed for us, please, and if you're the praying sort, I'm sure that wouldn't hurt either!
12.30.05 @ 11:26 PM PST [link]
Second verse, same as the first!
HČOMG! It's still raining here and the water is getting HIGH!!!
The girlchild got a new digital camera for Christmas from Santa and we decided to go and take some pictures on our way home from the bank today (we made it back in JUST as our creek was beginning to crest over the road, it was CLOSE!)
Most of these pictures are the Russian River at about noon today. The water is several feet higher now.
Somehow, (miraculously!!!) we still have power and we are all on the computers and doing laundry and charging cell phones and doing all kinds of electrically dependent things for a while because we do think that the power will be out before morning (but ya never do know!) A lot depends on the wind. When the redwood branches start flying around in the wind, all bets are off!
We are stuck back at home now, warm and cozy. My 40 minute round trip to the bank was my small respite from cabin fever today!
The creek is realllllly high. Keep your fingers crossed for us please! I'll post more pics as daylight and electrical and net connection allow!
12.30.05 @ 08:25 PM PST [link]
Hell and High Water
Wow, it's getting kind of scary around here! We've had soooo much rain over the paste couple of days and lots more expected. I live along the Russian River in Northern California. The river is supposed to flood over its banks later today. The creek around the corner from me (Fife creek near Armstrong Woods) has already flooded (above photos) and we are effectively cut off from leaving for a while.
Living in this area, one is always prepared for bad weather. Staying here and being flooded IN for a week or more is no big deal. I just pray that the water stays down a bit!
I really don't want to get a ride off my roof from the nice people in the helicopters if y'know what I mean.
Quite frankly I'm still amazed that we have power.
It makes for some seriously nervous knitting time around here. I was so stressed out that I had to start something complicated to take my mind of the storm. (and uh, to keep me occupied if we get evacuated later...)
I'm making the Snowdrop Shawl from the Yarn Harlot site. In the "Happy Dance" colorway from knitpicks. It's very bright and colorful.
River forecast info is HERE. I'll wave at y'all later from the helicopter! (NOT!!)
I'll be back as soon as I can!
12.28.05 @ 05:14 AM PST [link]
I'm baaaack!
Whew! I'm back! A Merry Christmas was had by all!
I decided to share with you the two most memorable gifts that were given in my house this year.
This one is questionable as to it's inclusion in the "Good" gift category, although my husband definitely thinks so, as you can see.
My brother in law made my hubby a custom branding iron for his pursuits in all things barbeque... Monnogrammed steaks, anyone?
The iron itself is a thing of beauty, with hubby's initials, a gorgeous wooden handle. A true conversation piece.
Since it is winter, and the barbeques have all been put away for a while, he had to play with other brandable objects. This is the part of the story where things get a little scary.
Toast...
Our Christmas ham...
Just in case you were wondering, this is definitely an activity that is best left for OUTDOORS! The smell of charred ham took a while to get out of the house.
The branding iron was possibly my karmic payback for this gift that I gave to my five year old niece. It's a unicorn "hobby horse" that plays what is possibly the world's most annoying LOUD twinkleboingy music while it moves its head around and simultaneously plays galloping noises. It's the perfect gift! It's pink, it's sparkly, it makes noise, my niece loves it and it annoys the crap out of everyone else. My daughter found an old "dress up" outfit for my niece to wear with the unicorn, too! bonus!
My work here is done!
12.27.05 @ 04:15 PM PST [link]
