Lake Champlain Flooding

I realize that it's not of the same magnitude, the flooding that we're having up here along Lake Champlain or the many rivers in the Adirondacks. That is, it's not of the same magnitude...unless it's your house that is completely surrounded by water. I took a ride around Willsboro Point and Essex today. The small coves and bays of Lake Champlain that surround the peninsula of "The Point" have heaved up onto waterfront property and completely consumed some homes. Many of these houses used to be vacation homes, but many of them now are peoples' first and only homes. And yes, Willsboro Point does have some expensive homes, with pools and tennis courts and, of course, most of those homes have been spared damage as they sit high above their cove or bay. But a lot of these houses are just houses, like mine, only far too close to the lake, at least they were this year. Lake Champlain is at historic high levels, drowning houses on both the New York and Vermont sides. The lake is supposed to grow even higher tomorrow. But we have a forecast of some relief from the rains coming up, and most of the melt is complete. I hope this is so, because even for those of us who aren't in danger from the high levels of the beautiful rivers and lakes up here in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, we have had enough of the rain and the wet. Today was a lovely, sunny day...for most of the day.

Here are some shots of the damage along the lake.
















This horse seems completely oblivious to the drama going on a few hundred yards away.














A house, er, estate that is seemingly untouched by the lake nipping at its feet, though if there's a basement, boat races could be underway down there...it's something to do, inside, out of the rain.


My "Ghost House". It makes me want to cry every time I pass this house and watch it fall further into ruin. Sigh.










The Essex Ferry, just a 7 minute drive from my house, had only recently re-opened after a late winter closure due to ice on the lake. As you can see, there is no getting to the ramp that would lead you onto a ferry.






At least Mister Robin seems happy with all this wet.

I Like My Blog

I just haven't had a lot of time for it lately. I want that to change. Facebook is partly to blame. I can quickly go there, dump a short paragraph on what I think of something, attach a link or photo, and it's done. Somehow, I feel the blog deserves more time and thought. And I just don't have enough time for thoughtfulness. I am working far more than I had planned, but I am hopeful that this has changed and I will be back to having time for contemplation and time for writing, which I miss desperately. Of course, the gardening season is upon us, and being in the garden has many benefits, including that essential contemplation time.

And I have a new camera, so you will be seeing more photos here, like this:


My goodness these boys are scrumptious.