Hurricane Sandy

Considering the weather on Saturday, which was sunny, dry and warm, it was hard to believe that a monster storm, "Frankenstorm", was bearing down on the Eastern US. 

That's One.Big.Storm!

 

Sandy was her name; wind and rain was her game!  She was predicted to make landfall somewhere around New Jersey.

I don't know what it means but it's a very pretty map.

Although she was turning inland south of us, we were still getting the storm warnings about beach flooding (we don't live anywhere near the beach) and limbs and trees down due to high winds.  We do live around lots of trees. So, we took precautions...

X marks the spot

Bill taped all the windows in the glass room.

wood pile

I filled the wood rack in the cellar.  If we need a fire, the less we have to go outside, the better.

We put away everything in the yard that could potentially blow away or blow into a window.  Then we waited...

It was raining lightly when we got up this morning and the wind was blowing, but nothing significant.  After taking Titan to the vet for kennel cough, a nasty sounding bug that keep the three of us awake all night, we settled in for the afternoon/evening of strong wind and somewhat heavy rain.

Bill made a meatloaf and I did a little cleaning.  The plan was to get everything we wanted to do, done before the power went out.  He and Titan took a nap and I sewed and sewed and sewed.  We ate early, while it was still light out, just in case.  The lights flickered a couple of times but as of 10:30, the lights remained on. 

I feel lucky, there is severe flooding along the New Jersey, New York shore which will result in millions of dollars in damage.  Unfortunately, this storm made landfall during an astronomical high tide, pushing water levels to historically high levels.  We won't know until tomorrow how much damage has actually been done.  

As often as I am jealous of those beach homes, today is not one of those days.  

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

It's Not McDougals

Wendy and I spent last night and today visiting with Greg, Vanessa and our beautiful Ella Bella.

Beautiful Ella Bella

We arrived a little before dinner and enjoyed a delightful Tuscan Bean Soup made by Greg.  After dinner Auntie Wendy and I played with Ella in her awesome playroom, then got to snuggle and read some bedtime stories.

This morning Ella showed me the new tree her daddy planted for her

See, I can touch the top of the tree

My daddy and I love the outdoors

Three Wehmeyers

Then we tagged along for Ella's dance lesson

Sharing the back seat with Auntie Wendy

Bring on the music

Ella changed her clothes, we went to lunch and headed North in two separate cars, equipped with GPS, to pick apples.  

As it turns out, due to a number of reasons, the apple picking season ended early this year so we drove for nearly an hour before reaching Honey Pot Hill Orchards.  This is a 200 acre farm growing apples and pears, offering hayrides and a hedge maze.  We didn't realize it  also includes more than one entrance and more than one parking lot!

We also discovered that going to the ONE orchard that still offered apple picking, on a warm and sunny day on the biggest weekend during foliage season was not just our idea but an idea shared with hundreds, if not thousands, of other people.  OMG!

Lots of cars

and lots more people

Since we were in different cars, we ended up coming in from different directions and parking in different lots.  We discovered that Wendy and I were at one of the entrances and Greg, Vanessa and Ella were at the entrance on the opposite side of the farm.  It was a disturbing and annoying complication to our apple picking plans.

After something like 30 minutes and several phone calls, we caught up with the other three, determined that Wendy could not participate in the hayride because of her allergy to hay and started walking toward the trees with apples. 

CA-BOOM!  What the heck?  It's probably nothing...CA-BOOM!

This is not promising.  Ella really doesn't like LOUD noises and this is LOUD.  

There were old planes flying overhead and lots of canon and rifle fire for the next hour or so.  It turns out Stow, MA was the site of the reenactment Battle for the Airfield.  This is the only event of this type - in the world!  What are the chances that the reenactment of a WWII battle is taking place practically right on top of us???  Quite frankly, it was not the atmosphere we were looking for.  Ella was quite upset, Greg & I were cranky and the air reverberated with the sounds of war. 

Sort of smiling & pretending to have fun

On top of that, the sky had turned dark and was threatening rain.  That would be the icing on the cake!  Thankfully, it didn't take long to fill our bag with apples

These apples are BIG!

and before long we were headed back to the cars.  Greg, Wendy & I walked, while Vanessa and Ella took the hayride.

Waiting for the hayride

It wasn't what we anticipated but it was an ADVENTURE and a story we can share for years to come.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)