Frogs and Toads

Last weekend we lapped up 9 inches of rain in Batavia. It was difficult to navigate to Walmart or to church because so many roads were blocked. The retention ponds were full, the main intersection near our home flooded, and water slowly started seeping into our basement. Why wasn't the sump pump running? The automatic switch had stopped working. Something was stuck or corroded and I don't know squat about sump pumps.

Paul and I got out our handy Wet-Vac and started sucking up water. What a job! Then we moved soggy boxes and more boxes. I found that the pump actually did still work, just the sensor floaty-thing wasn't working. I plugged that pump in and we kept mopping. (By the way, Bob Vilas has a great short online video on how to install a sump pump. I think I could do it!)

By the end of the evening, the rain had almost quit, and we decided to turn the pump off and check every 30 minutes for more water. While standing by the window wells, I noticed 3 toads (or maybe frogs) staring at me through the glass. One was actually between the screen and the glass. He (or she) had found a small hole in the screen and was looking for a route to freedom.

So now there are 2 toads looking at me pathetically and 1 who is bravely inching along the window, smashed between the screen and glass. I stood there for 20 minutes watching Braveheart move back and forth along the window. He tried turning over, squishing into a ball, spread-eagling, but the hole in the screen was always behind him. I was tempted to run and get my camera, but it seemed too terrible a struggle to record.

Finally, he started backing up, leg by leg, starting and stopping, resting for a minute, then backing up some more. As I cheered him on, he almost made it to the screen hole--but then, he STOPPED and--went forward again! Oh no! Go back, go back, Braveheart! You're almost there! No, he crawled forward into the depths of the screen.

I couldn't watch any more. I had to do something, so attacked the windows. They didn't budge, stuck, refusing to open (what if I have to get out?) The other 2 toads had not moved, still looking forlorn and confused, breathing, but lost.

Walking back upstairs, I told Paul about the sad toad situation. He had been resting after doing the 3rd water mop-up. For a moment, he just looked at me blankly--What are you worried about--toads? Then down the stairs, armed with a plastic bag, my hubby went once more. He dislodged the windows with one big oomph, caught the toads (Braveheart had actually escaped the screen--what a TOAD!), and set them free!

I know we can get out of our basement windows! The new sump pump is sucking away. The basement is dry again. I live with a toad rescuer! Hooray for Paul! Hooray for toads!

Return for a day

I am now ready to write something new, it's a rainy day, with no gardening duties in sight, and--it's time to go to work--to my real job. I have put off writing for more than a year, because I cornered myself into the gardening theme and it seemed daunting to relate every blog to gardening. So many wonderful and difficult times have come and gone, and I thought "I could blog about this"--but I didn't.

So much for guilt! Someone out there is saying "Just do it!" Well, okay, this is the start--confession. Have to leave now and put on my scrubs. I'll be back.