Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Battening Down the Hatches

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Another foggy morning here in the Hudson Valley. This one seems a little ominous as we prepare for Hurricane Irene. So far, it looks like it will be traveling right over the NYC area and that includes the Hudson Valley. Yikes.  I dropped Don off at work this morning and got some canned goods and water. I needed a replacement 8 volt battery for our flashlight but there are no flashlights or batteries anywhere. I’m not kidding. Lowe’s, Home Depot, the dreaded Wal-Mart, Target, drug stores, supermarkets…..nothing. I managed to scrounge up a mag light at Home Depot, though it irritated me that I had to buy a whole new flashlight. I finally found D batteries at a gas station/convenience store near MHC. Now I’m exhausted. I haven’t even taken a shower yet.

We are admittedly nervous about this powerful hurricane. And that weeping willow in the above photo is always one of my biggest worries when we have high winds and lots of rain. Keep us in your thoughts as we head into Sunday. And if you’re in the storm’s track, please take precautions and be careful. I am holding all of you in my thoughts.

Riley continues to improve. The antibiotics seem to be helping his infection. He’s hungry and he’s back to scrounging around the kitchen floor looking for crumbs. That’s a good sign.

I’m running out of room for jumping jacks! I’ve resorted to ‘layered’ hanging. The wood looks like it is curved for some reason, most likely because of the strange angle from which I was shooting. I don’t have time to re-shoot it, so this will have to do.

Stay safe, everyone.

Comments

  2. Good luck!! You’re on the rainy side of the storm too. It’s unimaginable the amount of rain they’re predicting. Hope you stay dry and safe!

    I love your jumping jacks! You’ll have to fashion another rack I guess.

  8. HELLO MY FRIEND,
    I HEAR YOU……NJ IS SUPPOSED TO GET PRETTY BAD TOO…..HOPE IT ALL GOES OUT TO SEA. BEING MY DAUGHTER JENNY WHO WAS IN THE ACCIDENT AND IS BED RIDDEN, AND NEEDS SPECIAL CARE WE HAVE A HUGE GENERATOR FOR HER ROOM. WE HOOKED UP THE WELL WATER, REFRIGERATOR, FROM OUR KITCHEN SO WE CAN HAVE WATER, FLUSH THE TOILET, AND WE HAVE A GAS STOVE. THE HOUSE WILL HAVE NO ELECTRIC, BUT CANDLES WILL BE LIT. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW MUCH WE USE, WE DON’T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM JENNY, BUT AM VERY THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE. HAPPY TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT RILEY, STAY SAFE……..RIZZI

  9. So glad Riley is improving everyday! That’s great news….. of course a looming hurricane is not. Hope all goes well over the weekend and you will be in my thoughts!~Hugs, Patti

  11. We will be thinking of you and all our friends on the east coast. The weeping willow is so pretty…love them my neighbor had one when I was growing up and I was always sitting under their dreaming.

  12. Stay safe! You all will be in my prayers. I can’t imagine waiting for something like that! I am so glad that Riley is doing well. That must take some dread off your heart. Give you a reprive (sp). Hopefully he will stay stable for a long time. Murphy goes in for another test on monday. So far all tests are coming back good. No cancer spread yet. But lump will come out of anal gland on wed. Depending on what monday shows of course. Palpating lymph nodes near lump. Praying alot. Love your jumping jacks. They are wonderful! Stay safe and keep us informed as much as possible.

  16. I’m so glad that Riley is doing better. If you can, Texas will take the excess rain off your hands. I love your weeping willow and will think positive thoughts for it

  18. Claudia, I am so happy Riley is feeling better!
    We here are in the same boat (waiting for Irene) Went to the store today and there is hardly any bottled water left. I’m getting a bit nervous. We also have a huge tree in the back yard that I refused to let my husband cut down and now with all the rain we’ve had I’m so afraid it will fall down! You will be in my prayers this weekend!

    Blessings, Joanne

  20. Living in a hurricane area and having evacuated 4 times my prayers are with those of you in the path. Candles, matches, flashlights, lots of water/juice etc., battery operated radio. Some fill their bathtubs to use the water later in case water supply gets contaminated or if you have a well that needs electricity. I even bought a one burner propane camp stove and percolating coffee pot:) Have to have my coffee. If you have time fill containers with drinking water and freeze. Also if you have a gas grill with a burner you’re in business. Stay safe. Happy to hear your dear Riley is feeling better.

  21. I am thinking safe thoughts for you and Don and the dogs. Happy to hear that Riley is doing better. I hope that you have everything that you need to stay cozy during the storm. It sounds like you are getting a lot of good advice. Keep in touch if you can.

  23. Your jumping jacks are adorable! Love those! Hope you remain high and dry. And hope all trees stay in the ground, with all branches firmly attached. Take care.

    (stop by my blog if you have time. I’m having a giveaway over at Garden Of Daisies.)

  24. Dear Claudia, I will think of you, and keep you in my prayers-hopefully the storm will stay in the water side.
    Blessings,Dorthe

  26. Got candles??? Works for us. You stay safe!!! Hope you don’t lose any trees, that’s what made me sad when Isabel hit us in 2003 in Maryland..

    That’s good news about Riley!! :-)))

  27. Stay safe on Sunday, Claudia. Please don’t lift too heavy. So happy that Riley is coming around. The little jumping jacks are so sweet! I’m keeping you in my prayers and I hope that Don is not working on Sunday and will be with you so that you can ride out the storm together. I do hope with all my heart that your beautiful tree stays put. I have a special love for trees and that one is irresistible.

  28. Hi Claudia,
    Here on Ocean Isle Beach, NC, we are waiting for Irene. She will be here tonight and I hope she behaves herself.

    I’m hoping the best for you and yours as well.

    hugs
    Sissie

  30. Claudia,
    Thought of you today & saw this post. I love your willow tree & pray it & the rest of your family don’t have to do anything more than hunt down batteries.
    I’m sorry to read about everything your going thru with your parents (been there) & Riley. Keep your spirits up & know your friends are praying for you.
    Lisa

  31. Your in my thoughts and prayers Dear lady. I’m so glad Riley is rebounding, I just wish we had positive news for our girl “Princess.” She doesn’t seem to be in any pain, which is good, but avoiding the inevitable only seems to make us more complacent and possibly unprepared for the time to put her down.

    I love the image of the willow tree in the foggy mist. It reminds me of trips to Sequoia National Park in California when we lived in Visalia. Lot’s of pretty farmland, hills, rolling paddocks with horses trotting around and pretty weeping willows looking all mysterious in the fog.

    God Bless and stay safe.
    Meri

  32. Oh, the jumping jacks look fabulous. Should I send any more if I come across them in my searching for vintage goodies???? Did Don enjoy seeing them?

    Hugs,
    Meri

  34. Will be praying for y’all. We’re in central VA and expecting tropical storm levels of rain/wind. Hubby has to work 3-11p Saturday night (State IT Department) and I’m packing him up with everything he needs to spend the night there so he’s not on the road in the midst of this thing. Keep us posted.

    Hugs,
    Mary
    Redo 101

  36. Will be thinking of you and hoping for the best. Baby boy and his bride are in NYC – never thought I would have to worry about them being in the path hurricanes and earthquakes when they left Texas for NY.
    Glad Riley is doing better.
    Stay safe.

  37. Love the jumping jacks. Would you believe we have one just like the green one, 3rd from left on the top row? My mother & father in law got it for our son when he was small! I also have a snowman but he needs some serious re-stringing and a leg replaced by December!
    Praying for safety for all those in Irene’s path. We really need rain here in SE Tennessee, but don’t want to get it that way!!

  38. Claudia- Glad to Riley is improving- its so hard to have a sick pet because they can’t tell you whats wrong, but looking for crumbs sounds like a good sign.

    Stay safe this weekend.

  40. Wonderful news about Riley! Yucky news about Irene. Hope you won’t need the flashlight, and the willow will still have all branches intact after Irene passes through. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you in her path.
    I also just realized that I have a twin to one of your jumping jacks! I only get him out at Christmas, but am fairly certain they are identical!
    Stay safe!

  41. We always feel bad to feel good that the hurricanes pass us by in Florida. We understand that it means they are headed somewhere else with their terror and destruction. Be safe. Ann

  42. Hi dear – greetings and good thoughts coming to you from North Carolina. We awoke this morning to rain and gusty winds – garden, deck etc. covered in fallen branches and twigs, but thankfully no downed trees here. We’re 2 hours from the coast where of course it’s much worse – and we pray that NYC, your area, and all the east coast is spared heavy damage.

    Glad Riley is doing better – hope you are feeling stronger too. Hang in there and be safe.

    Mary

  43. I will be thinking of you as this storm passes your way. Two of our daughters are also in its path. Our third in SC missed it. She was on the edge. We are not even cloudy. We need rain desperately. Our fields are brown and our pond is dry.
    I am praying for you and your beautiful weeping willow. I’m glad Riley is better. How’re your mom and your dad.

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