hurricane — Page 2

Pre-Hurricane Sunset

August 22, 2021 at 9:36 am by Claudia

Last night’s sunset: the calm before the storm.

After heading directly for the Hudson Valley, it appears that Henri has veered off toward Long Island, so our forecast has changed. We’ll get some wind, but not nearly what was predicted. We will get heavy rains, which really haven’t started yet, but should commence shortly and continue through the day, overnight, and through tomorrow. I imagine we’ll get at least 3 or 4 inches, but who knows? Maybe more. The usual flood watches/warnings are in effect. We have a lot of rivers in the Hudson Valley – we happen to live across the street from one, and just down the street from another. And, of course, there’s the mighty Hudson River.

It will be wet and messy and last a couple of days. Now, we just wait and see.

Sending prayers to all those who are in the path of the storm. I have friends on Long Island and Cape Cod and the coast of Rhode Island and they’re all understandably nervous. Let’s send positive energy their way.

In the meantime, we will have to venture out tomorrow as Don has his eye doctor appointment, which has been delayed at least a month due to the doctor having a family emergency and then, to COVID in the office. His sight has been impacted so there’s no delaying this appointment. We will go.

We’re hanging out at the house today (of course) and I did run out and buy some primer yesterday. So I’ll either be painting Roseville or the dollhouse, depending on my mood. And reading, of course.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Soggy Saturday

August 21, 2021 at 9:55 am by Claudia

Well, my friends, there’s not a lot to report here. Very humid, some rain; before it got unbearable yesterday, we managed to mow the far side of the front yard and the area around the corral. We still have the upper part of the back forty to mow, but that will have to wait until next week as we have three days of rain – some of it very heavy – coming up due to Henri.

At this point, it looks like the worst of it will happen tomorrow, with the coast, Long Island, and Cape Cod getting pounded. I hope that changes and Henri turns to the right and goes out to sea. We will get heavy rain and wind tomorrow. As they say in the forecast, ‘tropical storm conditions.’ We’re going to the grocery store this morning (I predict it will be very crowded) to get a few staples.

This seems to happen every year now – or almost every year. For the first 10 years or so that we lived here in the east, this kind of storm rarely happened. Reader Vicki said to park our cars where there are no trees nearby – no can do. We have trees everywhere, as do most of the people around here who live in older houses. Newer builds to be out in the open with less trees around the house.

Anyway, I’m happily reading another Ruth Galloway mystery, The Woman in Blue, I may paint today (I’ve not felt motivated to paint in several days,) I have some cleaning to do, and as soon as I finish this post and have some oatmeal, we’re headed to the store.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

After the Storm and an Anniversary

September 11, 2017 at 8:45 am by Claudia

I got home yesterday afternoon and managed to mow the front lawn before something broke off the lawnmower. I wasn’t doing anything but mowing the grass: no weeds, no rocks, no nothing. What is it called? Planned obsolescence? Yep. Now the lawn mower most likely needs to be replaced. To say I’m ticked off is putting it mildly.

That’s why I love this girl. Built to last and last and last. (She’s two years younger than me, by the way, so she’s no spring chicken!)

I was so happy to see her when I arrived. So happy to see my house. I suppose it’s because my time in Hartford is almost over – not quite – but very close to being complete, that I just want to stay here now and not make the trip back there tomorrow. I’m such a nester. Ironically, Don was on his way to Jersey City while I was driving west toward home. He’s feeling lonely. I’m feeling lonely. What’s wrong with this picture?

Last night was the first time I really used the burners on the stove because the last time I was home, I made biscuits, but Don worked the cooktop. I just love having gas again. It’s so much easier to control, the food doesn’t cook too quickly, as I often find to be the case with electric. Don’t get me started on the electric stove in the apartment!

I chatted with Don when I arrived back home, and most importantly, I talked to my sister. Late in the evening, we realized that Irma was weakening and that she wasn’t going to inflict as much damage. When I talked to Mere earlier in the day, she was truly frightened. As were we. It was such a tense day, waiting, waiting and waiting. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them. This morning, Mere sent me a text saying they were okay. Some downed limbs. Obviously, they had high winds during the night, but miraculously, they still have power. My nephew went back to Orlando yesterday morning because he didn’t want to miss classes. They got much higher winds there and they have no power. But he’s okay. The family is safe. That’s all I ask for.

Having said that, I know many of you are surveying the damage to your homes right now. And I know that the eastern side of the state got a lot of storm surge and damage. I’m thinking of you and hoping that, most importantly, you are safe.

Today is Don’s first day of rehearsals for Escape to Margaritaville. His hiatus is over. I know he’ll be happy to be reunited with his pals. And Houston is still on. Don just got an email about hotel rooms, etc. I’m glad. I have a feeling the people of Houston could use an escape right now.

Today is also the anniversary of 9/11, a day we will always remember. We had just moved east and I well remember the eerie quiet that morning. Beautiful blue skies, much like today. But no sound – except for the fighter jets that were scrambled from a base north of us as they flew right over my head (we lived about a half-mile from the Hudson River.) I will never forget that sound. Or talking to Don (who was in Calgary doing a play) for hours on the phone, trying to grasp what had just happened, watching the second tower go down with utter disbelief. Such loss, the enormity of which is still hard to take in, all these years later.

We will never forget.

Happy Monday.

Pre-Hurricane Sunset

Soggy Saturday

After the Storm and an Anniversary

claudiahillsparks

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives