When we saw the muddy waters of Lee Creek up in our fields on Friday, we knew it wasn’t just a matter of waiting for the waters to recede and get on with business as usual. When we got water in the basement, there was only one explanation for it. The end of the storm drain down at the creek was underwater. And that meant there was digging in our immediate future.

After a lazy morning, we went out to inspect the mess. Mr. FixIt said it was the worst he’s ever seen. When you live out in the country, you don’t have city sewer…you have septic tanks. And you’re runoff water doesn’t go in there. The house is situated on the opposite side of the creek where the storm drainage flows. Our property is pretty flat, so there isn’t much of a grade to draw that water down. Over the years, creeks move. They deposit dirt, rocks, and trees…here one time, there another.

At one point, the drain was about four feet above the level of the creek bed. Now it’s all but even with it, and the dirt covers the ditch when the creek rises. We were out there with a pickax, a shovel, and a hoe for a couple of hours. We’re of an age that hard labor is getting harder to do for any length of time, so we’ll get back out there today and work on it some more. Ahhhh…the joys of retirement, eh?

In the meantime, the grain mill hasn’t arrived, and we were out of bread. I still have a lot of store-bought flour, so I mixed up a triple batch of Japanese Milk Bread. Now we have two beautiful loaves of bread and a pan of cinnamon rolls. That should last us for a few days.

June will keep us busy, that’s for sure!

🤍

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

***Gratitude Journal***   Today, I am grateful I am here to serve my husband as his helpmate. Philippians 2:4 says: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. We are blessed to have each other to lean on and support.