Around here we are used to measuring rain fall in tenths, not in inches.

It has been a very wet spring, and since we (barely) finished seeding a week ago we have accumulated over 2 inches of rain. This is great for the crops, as long as it is followed by lots of warm sunshine and continued even moisture (as in, no long dry spells and no hail!)

The not-so-great impacts of all this rain were apparent on our drive through Eastern Montana last weekend. In particular along the Musselshell River, which followed our preferred road to Wyoming. We had to constantly check the road reports and make some adjustments to our route. On the way home we were able to take a shorter route, and found out that the road we took was again closed the next day. Not surprising since it rained. all. the. way. home.

This is a stretch of the Musselshell river. I'm not really familiar with the area, but I'm pretty sure this river is usually not much more than a meandering stream.

The water crossed the road in several places along our trip, but we were still able to go through it.

This poor old picturesque farm (that has probably been there for nearly 100 years) in Harlowtown, MT is quite a ways away from where the the river normally flows. There was also tall railroad bed between it and the river that should have been a great barrier. Nevertheless, it had water up to the red line when we traveled through on our way down. (I wish I had taken a picture of it then!) By the time we came back through the water had receded to this point.

This is another home that had water above their front door. There were many homes like this impacted by the flood, and it barely scratches the surface when you think about the floods along the Mississippi this year. And then you start thinking about the tornado and earthquake damage this year . . . and we have so so so many reasons to count our blessings.