The Flood, Vegas and other January Fun

 The beginning of January started out very wet for us at Hartland.  We received over 5 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.  Hartland had record flooding due to a culvert blowing out up creek from us in the National Forest and causing a flash flood in the middle of the flood.  It caused the waters to come up, around and through the main office.  Thankfully after the waters receded there was no serious damage around camp.  The road to the valley was also closed for a day due to mud slides.  We are thankful for the moisture, but that was a lot at once.  Here are some photos and videos with commentary.  

This was at the beginning of the rain

This is the highest point of flooding

Here's the planter that appears in the above video with only the top showing.

They are trying to pull a log out so it doesn't damage the dam.

Water coming around the office

The breeze way next to the office

You can see the high water line where Zane is standing

Where the creek flows under the road at the north end of the pond

The water flowing on the south side of the dam and main camp bridge

The next day the water was back down a bit, but normal this time of year is a small creek

A large log jam from all the debris coming down 

So thankful for God's protection over all our homes and Hartland.  

Zane and I have been enjoying some art boxes that I got as a Christmas gift from Let's Make Art.  We did a cactus picture and Zane did an amazing job.

Zane's

Zane on the left, mine on the right

One evening we went to the gym to do the climbing wall with friends.  For the first time Zane made it all the way to the top and rang the bell!!

Watching and learning from Melody

Racing Sydney

Ringing the bell!!

All tuckered out

Towards the end of the month Casey and I headed to Vegas for an overnight adventure.  For a Christmas/Anniversary gift Casey got us tickets for Cirque du Soleil Mystere.  I have always wanted to see a show and it was so amazing.  I loved the acrobatics, gymnastics and the drum routines.  We walked the strip and got to see the fountains at the Bellagio.  We also enjoyed some amazing food.  It was a great little getaway.

Mystere getting ready to start

Bellagio Fountains

The Happy Couple

The incredible desserts at the buffet

At the end of the month we celebrated Callie's first year with us.  She is still an indoor only cat but we hope to slowly transition her to an inside/outside cat this spring.  She has bonded with me really well and loves to play with Zane.  

Sleeping in her favorite spot by the fire.

That's all for January.  See you next month.