Wednesday, August 31, 2011

time to change my blog background...

Yes, it is that time of the year...  The kids don't go back to school until next Tuesday -- but I am beginning to organize a bit anyway.  I love how the garden looks along the paver path from the driveway to the picket fence gate and beyond.  It has taken many years -- but now it looks just right. 

blog background 8/31/11

The "turtle plant" on the left and "coral bells" on the right are very content.  We brought both of these plants from our garden in NY -- they are now the "old ladies" in the garden.


And, what was once an empty and dusty place,




 is now a peaceful, shady, lovely garden.


This took much more time than I expected -- and at points was frustrating and miserable.  Now I feel comfortable and can work on the little details (my favorite thing to do).  I am happy.  :-)




Tuesday, August 30, 2011

smart puppy advice...

We were very lucky this time.  But after seeing what is happening with the floods in Vermont, I think it's time to look over our homeowner's insurance policy -- you know -- just in case...


Sunday, August 28, 2011

by the dawn's early light...

I ventured outside this morning to see the extent of damage here from hurricane Irene.

I found this guy taking his morning swim in our pool.  Last night during the height of the storm our pool had waves thrashing in it and looked like it was on a cruise ship during a storm.


The sunflowers did okay.  The rose of sharon bush (small bush near fence) is a little droopy.


Rick's "drainage system" in Ozzy's area did very well.



As expected, the east side of the conservation area is filled almost to the brink.

 

And, one of my fears during the night did not come to fruition.  The west side of the conservation area has less water than it did during our storms last week.



I was awake most of the night tracking the storm and watching for tornado warnings.  We had a few go south of us -- and a few go north of us.  We had a lull in the storm for about a good 90 minutes -- Nicholas and I sat together by an open window during that time.  It was serene, and at the same time a bit eerie as we enjoyed the calmness while watching what was coming at us on the radar on weather.com.  At around 2 a.m. the wind was at its strongest and the noises it made unnerved me.  I woke up Nicholas and Sofia and brought them downstairs to the first floor along with their pillows and blankets.  We set up camp in the front room and I continued to monitor the storm on weather.com until I fell asleep a bit after 4 a.m.  The last thing I remember was that there was a tornado warning in Freeport and Hempstead, Long Island.

Even though last night was one of the worst night's I have ever had -- I am thankful that I can say -- "It could have been alot worse".



Saturday, August 27, 2011

she's here already...


Stay safe...

waiting for irene to arrive...


The outdoor furniture has been put away.  The sunflower plants have been secured.  The pool has been drained slightly.  I have packed the freezer with ziploc water bags to make ice -- in case for when the power goes out.  I am doing some laundry...  Paying some bills online...  Nicholas is playing an Xbox game.  Sofia is all ready with her parlor game for when the power goes out.  I need to cook some food -- so I am hoping the power will not be going out anytime soon.  Rick is doing some sheetrock spackling in the basement.  I am hoping we do not get water in the basement. 

I do not want a visit from Irene.  I want her to go away.  I want to be able to say:  "that could have been alot worse"...

Friday, August 26, 2011

the calm before the storm...

I needed to take some photos today -- just in case -- so I can "remember" how pretty it was before.  I am nervous about this storm.

view from driveway towards side yard

east side of front yard 

west side of front yard



water, water, everywhere...

Here is what the downpours from Sunday, 8/21/11 produced in our normally dry conservation area.

view to the west

west - center view

east - center view

view to the east

All of this water was gone by the next morning, 8/22/11.

I am not looking forward to what will happen when hurricane Irene visits us in a few days...