Sneaky Sticker Shock

After an oil change this morning, I had to stop and gas up and... I must not have paying attention lately because gas prices have jumped sky high.

Also why I was putting gas in my mileage-friendly Honda vs hubby's truck for an evening trip to Green Bay for a friend's retirement.

I looked it up – on my trusty, historical-record-type blog, of course – and the last time gas prices were of concern or of note was in June of 2022 when we hit $4.87 per gallon of the regular unleaded variety. God bless you diesel people. Ouch.

We did have fun at our friend Scott's retirement party. We both worked with him at Rapids newspaper and then again at the publishing house in Iola. He and his wife Sandy are the ones from Green Bay that we meet up with each summer for at least one golf round on a nice course somewhere!

On the way home, we had to keep a sharp eye out for deer and orange construction barrels. It's that time of year.

You'd think this would be a nice sunset reflection on a lake. But nope its a flooded farm field near Shiocton. Nearly half of the 400 homes in the village were evacuated two weeks ago as the Wolf River reached record levels with that constant rain. The road was dry today. But there is going to be quite the agricultural impact on that area of Wisconsin, I'm sure.

Got home in time for me to get 8 hours of sleep before I sing in church in the morning. Then BINGO. I gotta play for gas money now!!

Our Daily Bread

I'm late to the Gratitude Month party! But this is the column I wrote for our monthly church newsletter on the subject. Since it's finally November (plus some), I can share....

Our Daily Bread

At least once a week – without fail – we pray the Lord’s Prayer. But sometimes we get so used to praying it that we end up reciting it instead. Do we ever stop to think that we’re merely asking God to provide us our “daily bread” – our daily needs – and nothing more than that? Could we live with just what we need?

This fall, like usual, Mother Nature hit our country with a variety of tropical storms and hurricanes. And this year, at least two big ones that caused extensive flooding and damage and led to power outages and destruction of homes, business, even national treasures.

I personally am grateful I got to spend a week in the Asheville, N.C., last year – including a day at the impressive and historic Biltmore Estate – before this year’s storm put the city and an extravagant piece of history under water. You can’t take anything for granted – even after a century.

My heart goes out to the millions in the Southeast who lost what we would consider our daily bread – our necessities: Shelter, water, food, clothing, electricity, and more.

I feel blessed to be part of a church and community who immediately rallied to send aid to the victims. Semi-trucks parked around town were quickly filled with donations of water, blankets, and clothing. It’s amazing how caring and selfless we can be when responding to a crisis. 

Galatians 6:2 instructs, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Christians tend to respond to disasters by extending hands of help, offering prayers, and providing comfort to those in need. But what about the disasters that don’t make national headlines?

Each year, as the holidays approach, we get a wake-up call about the growing population of people in our own community trying to get by without their daily bread. And the many opportunities we have to band together – like we do with natural disasters – to help those suffering personal disasters.

The Red Kettle, our Charlie Brown tree, Operation Christmas Child, and more. These are evidence of the growing needs of many of our neighbors. 

Let’s enter Gratitude Month with appreciation for our daily bread and see how we can respond with faith, hope, and love to those who go without.

The Sky is Falling! Or is it?

We had a bit of a Chicken Little freakout moment when we arrived in the office today for the first time since Thursday. I guess a lot can happen in that span of time – including a leaky pipe somewhere that results in very soggy and saggy ceiling tiles.

Was the sky falling?! We were more than a little concerned the leaky tile on the right was about to burst with a gushing waterfall. But when our maintenance folks arrived on the scene, they determined it was soaked but there was no more water leaking.

As I videoed them poking a hole in the tile and nothing burst on the scene but soggy particles, I told the guys, "This doesn't make very compelling video!" It sure didn't. But after expecting the worst, I'm also glad there wasn't a huge mess.

Made me think of how many times I'm more like Chicken Little and wondering if the sky is going to fall rather than realistically looking at a situation and seeing it's not as bad as it appears. 

Nine out of 10 times I stress first, then take a deep breath and assess second. This is when hubby says I'm being dramatic. Guilty as charged. 

Lord, help us to trust that You have our best interests at heart. That not every perceived mountain is much more than a mole hill. Pour out Your calming spirit on all of us and restore our trust in You! Amen.

Water Under-Over the Bridge

I feel bad for all the areas of the United States dealing with drought-like conditions while we had another inch and a half of rain overnight. And now we are in a flood warning. And it shows.

Morning walk around Lake Wazeecha and the dam on the west end could hardly keep up.

Much of our walking path on the north side of the lake is under water. you can see the lake in the distance. About halfway between here (the road) and there is where the walking path (both paved and gravel) usually goes. How crazy!

And if you can see the item floating and actually stuck on the sand bar on the east end by the bridge, that's someone's dock.

And back at Blue Jay Drive... The usually low – and sometimes almost dry – Bloody Run Creek is inching into our back yard.

Hubby usually mows up to the row of trees. So that's a lot! Not enough to go fishing or skinny dipping. But more than usual. Probably means the mosquito population will triple in the coming days. Uff da.

August will have to do a March lion and lamb thing. August came in like a lamb and goes out like a Sea Lion.

Be careful out there!

Be Careful, Mother Nature

Mother Nature's on somebody's list around here. This is the "we are not amused" look I get when we have open windows and fresh air one day... And the next we're housebound again and it's rainy, foggy, and gloomy. 

Kitty doesn't like it. I'd watch your back, Mother Nature.

I can hear it pouring out right now, but there was just enough of break in the clouds for me to sneak a short walk at lunch. I learned a few things.

One, I'm glad Carter doesn't have his car parked in the front yard like the "old days." Mother Nature is building some sort of lake out there. Also, although you can barely see it in the picture, there was fog coming up from all the snow banks today. Kind of weird and kind of cool. I probably should have captured that earlier in the day when you could see it better.

The other side effect of melting snow is the big reveal of what's underneath. Mostly dog poop. And this sure sign of spring: the Fireball Flower. (Whisky and WATER anyone?) There was also a Busch bush and some other leftovers from kids or snowmobilers (or rowdy walkers) who did not give a hoot – and polluted. 

I'll have to bring a bag and some gloves next time. I've sure everything has been cleaned in the rain but, eh, I've become a bit of a germ-a-phobe in the past year.  Plus, even though Mother Nature doesn't give a hoot about Sylvester's feelings, I care about Mother Earth. 

And I'm concerned she has a drinking problem.

Oh That's Why We're Called Rapids

How high's the water, mama?
Five feet high and rising
How high's the water, papa?
Five feet high and rising
                    – Johnny Cash

If we wanted to, we could rewrite Johnny Cash's song and say 14 feet and rising. Though the Wisconsin River was allegedly going to "crest" at that depth today. One drive along the river this afternoon and I was quickly reminded why they call it Wisconsin Rapids.

It was like everyone who had free time in the late afternoon was taking a field trip down to the river's edge just to see how much flooding there was and see how impressively (and scarily) fast the water was flowing.

This park was formerly the location of the East Side Pool – back when Carter was a baby.

No pool, but plenty of water these days.

Kayaking, anyone?

See that railing? There is a sidewalk and walking path on this side of it. Somewhere.

Pretty sure no one's walking there dog that far out. Normally, of course, that's situated right by the sidewalk.

 Got some media coverage today.

 Smartly wearing boots and on the correct/safe side of the fence.

Yes, this is what we mean by rapids! 

Inching its way up to bridge level.

Down on Second Street. Now I've heard of water flooding and crossing the road but hadn't see it until today.

Homes on the left had water up to their front porches. The park on the right was nowhere in sight.

How scary see actual waves coming toward your house when you're not on a beach.

Water reaching some of the side streets there, too. Since it goes up hill from there, though, it didn't get too far down the street.

This duck is not going to find food in the street.

 See the painted stripes under the water? These ducks are hanging out in a parking spot.

See the duck on the left? Pretty far off the river path.

River may have crested but it could rise again because... snow. See it in the foreground? There's still some more melting to come this weekend.

View from the side street looking down the hill to the river.

 Canceling all playdates at Lyon park on the south side of the Expressway Bridge.

What bench?

Not a nice day for a picnic, either!

Inching toward the road here, but was over the road further south. I was smart and did not drive there.

You may notice water to the south toward Port Edwards. There were also sandbags, too. That same area was hit a few years ago and lots of basements flooded and some walls even caved in. Messy stuff.

More media checking things out. Does my blog count as media?

"Where the sidewalk ends." Gonna have to walk on water to get to that bench out there!

Pretty crazy stuff! Hopefully no major damage to homes in the area or injuries. There's definitely power behind those rapids! Be careful out there and smart!

From Water Works to Wicked Windchill

It's no surprise Wisconsin is known for its ability to experience all four seasons in a week. On Saturday, it was mild enough that no jackets were required. On Monday, it rained so much the ground couldn't absorb it fast enough so there was mild flooding in the area – like every ditch and yard I saw – and the occasional "High Water" signs erected.

When I drove by our friends' house last night, I actually put the car in reverse so I could take a quick picture out the window. Their old truck with Christmas lights was reflected in the new lake in their front yard. That's what happens when it rains and rains on the 13th day of Christmas!

Believe when I say every wet surface I encountered on my commute yesterday is solid ice today.

Starting out the day around 40, temps have plummeted all day – while the wind picked up.

On our way home from Stratford tonight after a tough Lady Royals loss, we could feel the wind moving the vehicle a bit. When I checked, the mercury had dropped down to 18 with a windchill-induced "Real Feel" temperature of 5 below zero. No the warm fuzzy we needed after that game!

Let's hope both the temperatures and the team turn around for the better by Thursday. Go Royals! (Go Heat Mizer!)

Can't Soak It All In

We've been begging for rain for weeks and now it came. All. At. Once.

It's like the faucet opened on Sunday afternoon and no one can shut it off. Yes, we need the rain. But not so much so fast. The soil doesn't have the capability to soak it all in!

Just to the south of us in the Wisconsin Dells area they have had 10.4 inches of rain (and counting) in the past 48 hours. They're dealing with some flash flooding right now. Lots of places are.

Thankfully, so far, we are OK on our waterfront property. Which is only "waterfront" when there is a ton of rain so the Bloody Run Creek actually has water. It is not often the case.

And naturally, golf league was canceled this evening. Not completely because of the rain, but the accompanying sound and light show. If I could escape lightning while kayaking I am certainly not going to push my luck and golf in it!

So I spent an evening in. Sorting through a ton of photos from volleyball last night. And now will start studying. Fantasy Football draft tomorrow night!

The Swedish Chef Mafia has work to do!!

Be safe – and dry – out there.