Flood

Have had a problem publishing my blogs! It seems whatever the problem was or is has been resolved. I wish the rain would go away! My yard is a lake, Glen has been busy pumping the water from the yard into the ditch. Ranchers, lakefront homes are all affected, especially on Lake Manitoba, where many homes and cottages were ripped apart, attacked by the fury of the waves and the north wind. Ranchers have had to barge their cattle off Peonian Point as the area became an island.

Manitoba Spring

This was hay meadow

Hilbre Beach, May 28th, The water is over the beach area, and they tell us the crest won't be here till mid June. Cathie and I took a drive arund our area, and were astonished at what we saw.

Lake covers all the land we called hay meadow, Moar's quarter has one little corner left. Ranchers are having to use hay fields for pasture. Truckers are busy hauling cattle to pastures further a field. Then you have the folk with summer cottages at the south end of Lake Manitoba, they are busy sandbagging .

Manitoba has floods. Quebec has floods, Half the town of Slave Lake in Alberta burnt down (forest fire). The southern states (Joplin Missouri) destroyed by tornado. One ex Hilbreite phoned to tell his friends he was OK. Tsunamis, Oil spills, Earthquakes. What next?

Lake St. Martin

The white line is the road.

What you see is not the lake, but flooded pasture land.

Manitoba Flood 2011

Lake St. Martin

Went for a drive to the lake to the lake to check out the water level, IT IS HIGH.

In front of Art Sanders, the lake is lapping at his doorstep.

More of the same. Water, water everywhere!

Looking east from the road by Arts.

Flood

Blizzard on April 30th, my yard on May 1st, it melted and then we got rain, my yard above.

Manitoba is becoming Lake Aggazi, back to the ice age, when the glaciers were melting and our province was one big lake. In 1997 we had the flood of the century which encompassed the Red River and southern Manitoba. It is happening again only this time they claim it is a 'one in 300 year flood' and it is the Assiniboine River and the city of Brandon, farmers, market gardeners are effected. People, cattle are being evacuated. In our area Lake St. Martin is high, all the pasture land is in flood. One neighbor half a mile from the lake, has water coming up into his yard. Roads are quagmires, some ranchers are told to consider moving their cattle but how? Trucks would sink in the mud. The army has been recruited and are working in southern Manitoba. Our worry here is that the water which is being diverted into Lake Manitoba and then into our Fairford River and Lake St. Martin will be a big problem. Cheers for now!

May Day!

May Day in Manitoba! This prairie blizzard started yesterday afternoon, high wind and snow. Daughter Cathie and husband plus friends including yours truly went to the White Tail and Walleye Banquet in the evening. Dinner, awards for biggest fish, game bird, deer, elk. caribou and silent auction of some 100 items. Daughter won $25.00 worth of gas. Neighbor won a two niter stay at a Winnipeg hotel. I did not win! The trip home was not pleasant, we travelled in tandem and we just crawled but did get home safe, having big trucks help. All this snow is not going to help our flood situation and the ranchers with their cows calving, poor little calves must be cold for them. We were worried about Marcey and her adopted calf Bone, as they do not have a shelter to go in to (Glen is building a barn) . This morning they went to milk her, and couldn't find T-bone. There he was in the hay curled up beside Marcey snug and warm, what a good mother she is. He had also pigged out on Marcey's milk, not much left for the milker!We are hoping by Monday the sun will come out and melt this snow and warm things for us. Election Day tomorrow don't forget to vote.

Gramma Al.

Spring in Manitoba!

Snow is melting! Rivers are full and overflowing, Manitoba is in flood! Ice Jams, sandbagging, roads closed, are the order of the day. Many homes are flooded. The lakes are still frozen. In spite of the cold spring, birds are returning, blackbirds, robins and my favorites, the pelicans are here. I heard frogs on my walk today. You West coasters have been enjoying your flowers since February, your cherry trees must be in bloom, here we have pussy willows and my daffodills are just breaking ground. The flooding is now forecast to be worse than 1997, when we had the so called Flood of the Century, which centered on the Red River area and southern Manitoba. This time the whole province is suffering especially cattle ranchers as their pasture land is all under water. Picture is the Fairford River, it was flowing fast, can you see the ice?

News! My son in law bought a milk cow! Her name is Marcey, she is a Swiss -Holstein cross. They are busy milking, separating the milk. making butter, cottage cheese, yogurth, cream, and today my daughter found a recipe for clotted cream. I said I would make scones and I have raspberry jam, just in time for the Royal Wedding next week. One of our radio stations is having a gathering beginning at 5:00 a.m. at a local restaurant, first 50 who called got the invitation. Rules You must wear a HAT. There will be a prize for the best hat. I have invited a

few friends to come over at 4:00 am to watch the big event.
The picture Milking Marcey, Separating the milk, and the little calf is 'Tee Bone' who now has a meal from his adopted Mother twice a day. In Manitoba you are not allowed to sell any milk products you may produce. It is all controlled by a 'Marketing Board' .

All for now!