The slow rise

I opened the floodgate on our culvert last night to drain the pond forming in our front yard. The gate will now remain closed until after the river crests. The river has risen up above the mouth of the culvert this morning and we don't want the water to back up into our yard. The metal machine shed above houses my parents' boat and my canoe. If the need (and river) arises, we can use the boat or the canoe to make our escape. I doubt it will come to that.

For now, the floodwaters can be appreciated for the habitat they are creating for spawning fish and migrating flocks of waterfowl. A pair of wood ducks were dabbling just a stone throw from our bathroom window.