After the floodwaters were a foot deep in our red cabin, it's hard for me to put stuff in there for storage until we can get it fixed up again, because I can't shake the feeling that it could all get wet if we have another flood.

But today I decided to make more room in my garage and hauled some framed pictures and spare vacuum cleaners over there. I put the curtains back up so that people couldn't peer in the windows and see the stored stuff, and put the patio furniture and wind chime inside, just like it was a normal year.

Then, I stood there and shed a tear for how things turned out, and the loss of our little refuge. It will be years and many tens of thousands of dollars before we have it back again.

Part of the reason for all this activity was to exercise the old pickup to keep the battery charged, so it was a good excuse to drive up and down the road.

Miss Eloise, hunter of rodents is having a great time these days. Yesterday there were two cute little chipmunks up in a bush eating berries, and pretty soon there was only one. She was waiting under it for the second one, and he was up in the branches, staying absolutely till in case she'd get tired and leave, but I don't think she did get tire and leave: now there are now chipmunks.

The other night I was looking for her to come in, and saw a mouse lurking near the back door waiting to come in. Where was little miss? Out scouting somewhere. I told her about it when she got home.