Anniversary Adventure Weekend

This past Saturday I was scheduled to have a book signing at a lovely little place in Eagle Lake, Texas called the Vineyard II.

Since hubby's and my anniversary was Friday, we decided to make it an anniversary weekend. However, anniversary weekend quickly turned into adventure weekend.

Friday morning, the day we were to leave, we not only awoke to rain, my sister-in-law sent us news that one of the roads we take to the ranch was closed due to flooding and we'd have to find a different route. Okay, no impossible, just a little inconvenience.

During the four-hour trip, we had rain off and on, but nothing too bad. And we were thrilled when we checked the TxDot website later and saw that the road that had been closed was now open. Woo-hoo!

Our excitement was short-lived, though when the storms descended on areas that had been spared the previous day. By the time we arrived at the ranch, the skies had opened. Lighting and thunder flashed and boomed all around us.

We had parked in the barn and, shortly after I shot this video, we made a mad dash for camp house.

From the porch, we watched our island slowly disappear.

Roughly 4 inches of rain in 2 hours. That coupled with all the rain south central Texas has had in recent weeks and the water rose quickly.

When the rain finally stopped, we went out to explore.

Remember that island?

Our little pond was coming out of it's banks. Where this video starts is the actual pond, but the water was flowing over the spillway so hard you can't tell where one leaves off and the other begins.

By the time we were ready to go meet family for dinner, our front gate looked more like a lake.

When the water is higher than the boots, you either leave the gate open or ditch the boots all together and roll up your britches.

By the time we returned from dinner, the Colorado River was coming out of its banks.

And when we got back to the camp, the area just inside the gate that is normal all sand, now looked more like high tide.

Yes, there's a road under there.

Thank goodness were in a very tall, 4-wheel drive pickup or we would have never made it.

The heavy rains do bring out the best in nature.

And the worst. (a closer look)

But without fail, God always does something really cool after the storm.

By the next day, the sun was shining and the waters had receded ever so slightly as we made our way to Eagle Lake.

I had cheese and crackers and patriotic M&Ms for those who joined us.

As well as a door prize.

And the ladies group from the Lutheran Church made things extra fun.

I hope they had as good a time as I did.

On our way home Sunday, we stopped in tiny Ellinger, Texas for kolaches just as their Memorial Day Parade was coming to an end.

There were antique cars, beauty queens and cowboys on horseback.

And, of course, veterans riding in the back of a military vehicle.

(I was a second or two too late for my best shot.)

Overall, it was fun weekend. Relaxing yet challenging, fun and memorable.

Definitely one for the record books.

So how was your Memorial Day Weekend?