I don’t know where this week disappeared!
It seems like it was just Sunday. The kids wanted to do something special for Mother’s Day, so we loaded the car and took off for Watkin’s Glen. It really isn’t too far from our home and it was a beautiful day to be outside! I had been sick for a little over a week. It seems I had picked up a strain of flu that likes to hang around for awhile. Although I didn’t feel “sick”, I felt weak and lacking energy. I spent much of the days lying in bed reading. So, the Mother’s Day outing was the perfect getaway!
On our way to Watkin’s Glen, we stopped in Penn Yan for takeout Chinese. Once we got to the park, we walked to a picnic table and enjoyed our meal. It felt so good to be outside breathing the fresh air! (Even when I felt really tired when I was sick, I put on my winter jacket and sat outside on the porch swing. The oxygen in the air felt so good!) Even though we didn’t spend a long time out, it was a perfect day!
Mark and I spent Monday doing things around the house, knowing that Tuesday was going to be a very busy day! We were up and out the door shortly after seven to take our pickup truck to the garage to have a brakeline replaced. It had rusted through and one day, the brake pedal went nearly to the floor when Mark stepped on it. He decided to have the garage do the work, so we had to drop the truck off by eight, then be on our way to take Mark’s mom to a doctor appointment. Everything went smoothly and we got home with just enough time to get ready to go out to Bill and Carolyn’s as we do every Tuesday night.
We hadn’t gotten together the previous Tuesday, as sicknesses were making the rounds….bronchitis, bad colds, and the flu!
Bill had made an awesome pan of Lasagne and Focaccia (bread) that was awesome! Sue brought an antipasto plate and there was so much yummy food! Afterwards, we were treated to a Black Forest Cake Bill made to celebrate Sue’s daughter, Dee’s birthday. As we were finishing up, “it” struck. My oh my! The thunder and lightening put on a spectacular show! The rain came down so fast and furiously and all of our cell phones kept making sounds to alert us to a flash flood watch. We weren’t too concerned, as Bill and Carolyn live at about 2300 feet above sea level. I did wonder about Naples as the evening progressed, but….
We were finally ready to leave a little after eleven o’clock. We had had a very long day. But, when we opened the door to go out to the truck, the lightning stretched across the sky, the thunder boomed, and the rain looked as though it had no intention to let up. We waited. And waited. Finally, things let up a bit and we made a mad dash for the truck. As we drove off, we were wondering what it was going to be like getting home. We didn’t wonder too long! As we drove down the short road to the next road, we passed over streams glistening in the headlights where the roadside ditches were now overflowing onto the roadway. We turned the corner and less than a mile up the road, a large log probably twenty feet long was lying in the road. There was other debris there as well. I got out of the truck and attempted to move the big log, but it would not budge. The water was over my ankles and I quickly moved the smaller debris and we were able to pass through.
We passed through several more non-intentional streams flowing over the backroads until we finally hit the major route between Prattsburgh and Naples. We were pretty certain once we were on the main road, everything would definitely be better. As we drove along, there were a few breaches where the road seemed to disappear under a briskly flowing waterway. We were determined at this point to make our way home!
As we got closer to Naples, everything seemed much better. There was no more water covering the road, and it seemed all was well. Once we got to the other side of Naples, however, the water was rushing like mad off the hill where County Road 12 rises sharply up from the Naples valley. Lights were flashing and volunteer firemen equipped with headlights on their hats seemed to be everywhere. We were told Route 21 through Woodville was impassable, so we were advised to take County Road 12. The firemen told us they had not received any calls about damage there. We drove up the steep incline and the only problems were where higher roads intersected the road and left deposits of dirt and rocks all over the road. We were so thankful to have the truck!
We got home and were so grateful! There was no damage at our house. Michelle said it had been a bit hair-raising, but all was well. Murphy was at home with the kids and he was a bit upset, but was fine!
We got alerts on the cell phones that flash flood watches are in effect through Friday of this week. Wednesday, I went out and got groceries. I have never taken the flood warnings seriously, as we live in a pretty safe place. After the trip late Tuesday night, I am a bit more inclined to listen! We are all still in awe of the fact that the National Weather Service can alert people via cell phones….
Today was Ben’s last day of his first year of college. He has done well and I think he is pretty happy to have it behind him. We went out to a restaurant to celebrate and then wandered over to Seneca Lake State Park for a bit. It was so windy and people were parasailing on the lake. Water was splashing all over on the breakwalls but it was warm and nearly balmy! We have a front passing through now that is giving us some more rain and then the temperatures will drop some over the next few days.
Well, if you do come across the time I am missing from this week, please let me know!!!
