I wear two hats with different names: Madison Woods when I’m wearing the artist hat, Roxann Riedel in real life and real estate. I'm a rock-smashing paint-making artist & a sales agent for Montgomery Whiteley Realty. Hailing from the wild Ozarks in Kingston, Arkansas where my husband and I work toward a sustainable lifestyle.

You can text or call to reach me by either name (see above):
(479)409-3429, or email madison@wildozark.com

The Impermanence of Things

We’ve had a lot of rain in the last days here in the Ozark Highlands. 7 inches in a few hours Monday night. That’s too much rain for our little creeks and hollers.

Lots of folks have lost homes, cattle, hay harvests and rigs they need to work.

My parents spent a terrifying night among the rising, rushing flood waters surrounding their camper. I couldn’t get to them to help and they couldn’t get to the house. So they spent the night in their truck, parked on a nearby hill hoping it, too, wouldn’t wash away.

Here at Wild Ozark we’ve lost a lot of our driveway and pretty much all of the nursery. The nursery was pretty small but it was the start to a business dream of mine.

The air compressor settled just a little downstream.
Daddy’s air compressor settled just a little downstream.

More rain is heading our way tonight and tomorrow. I’m going out to get more dog food and drinking water.

I won’t be at the farmer’s market for the next couple of weeks. The seedlings, potting supplies, pretty much my whole business is gone.

Recovered my shovel, at least.
Recovered my shovel, at least.

I’d thought the entire season might have been ruined, but that was while I felt pessimistic.

Now I’m working on a plan.

I won’t be there with plants anytime soon, but…

I’ll think of something else.

One of the nursery losses that bothers me most is the raspberries. I enjoyed watching them grow and mature and finally get ready to make the first batch of home-grown goodness. But those I can replant.

06-16-15 flood took raspberries

The driveway will be a bit more of a challenge.

Where the creek is claiming the driveway
Where the creek is claiming the driveway.

But at least it’s not our lives or our home. My children and grandchildren are safe. My parents survived their bout with the “little” creek.  Even Turbo is looking a lot better after his snakebite incident. And hopefully my parent’s camper won’t wash away completely in the next round.

dirty little turbo

My thoughts are with those who lost far more.


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