Extreme Irene

On Sunday after the worst of the wind passed, I drove over to work because my phone wouldn't get thru. All the way down the main road's busy zone the traffic lights were out. Alot of other folks were driving fast n carelessly thru the numerous intersections. It was a white knuckle ride. Winds were still fairly strong.

Traffic lights in the middle of the ride were working, then out again. Tree debris was everywhere.
Power was out at work, but folks were there. I could've elected to go to the Boston plant who was covering our company's area for the day after the Hurricane. I declined that offer, n on the way back home stopped at the D-bridge n took a few pics. I stayed near the abuttment, it seemed too windy to go out to the middle of the rail.



The maple trees in front of the R's next door lost a few sections. This one I could see out the kitchen window, resting on their upstairs deck, n also on my telephone wires! (can see if you look closely).
That's MapleBeard n my deck in the BG.


Out in the backyard normally clear access to the road is totally blocked by hunks of the huge Ecclesiastical tree.

I'm not sure if this hunk of maple is from my tree or the R's, but I'm very grateful it landed next to Little Truck, n not on it!

I'd noticed quite a few thrill seekers out driving in the middle of the strong storm portions. We were spared alot of rain, but had winds. At one point I looked out the front window- all was okay, turned around to do something, glanced back, n in that short time a tree had fallen from the woods across the road in front of my house!

This dude with a (pixelated) CT plate stopped, openned the trunk, pulled out a chainsaw- n began chopping to move it out of the road! I grabbed my cam n went out on the gale-force deck to grab his pic- He looked up n I waved n yelled a hearty "Thankyou! That was really quick service!" How nice was that? wow

I'll be chopping branches for weeks here...

TG

The power is back on today!

Whew! Did I miss it... Internet, lights, TV, hot water, n easy cooking-

Taking pics feels so unsatisfying when you can't even upload to see what you've got...

I'm ok here, no holes in the house or major damage, just alot of tree hunks everywhere. I'm so lucky they all missed me n Little Truck, landing on all sides of the house.

Everything slowed Waayyyy down, along with motovation to do anything unnecessary, especially in the dark.

After I realized the power came on, I didn't even hurry up n blog, due to the massive game of catch-up, clean-up, n food spoilage control going on.

Will add bits to the story soon...

Sunday 4 am

Not really bad here yet- starting to get wind n rain bands. Looks like New York is at the center currently. Perhaps Western MA n CT will get the worst of it. No time for another update until after work Sunday Night.

Ready

... or not, here it comes! but according to Harvey Lenard the weather guy's twitter updates from 3 to 4 am Irene is downgraded to cat 1 strength now, n the wind n rain may last up to 18 hours from Saturday to Sunday night.

The Governor declared an early State of Emergency, n said to stay off the roads, but my boss has mandated attendence. I'm not looking forward to driving in it or the possibility of power-outage, but at least the storm is losing power.

Here we have to watch out for storm surge flooding in the water of Buzzards Bay on south facing beaches- which includes my Fav Beach.

I hope it all goes ok in Long Island too.

We're getting the outer-fringe showers to the storm now. Still a few things to get ready before leaving for work today- like a bag of travel clothes to keep in Little Truck, but the water is bottled n the list ticks down with the clock... Will let you know how it goes, (If the power holds)-

Paying Attention

An earthquake shook most of the Eastern USA, n I slept right thru it-

After waiting over two weeks for a designated "Crash-Out Day" to sleep as long as I needed, I slept all the way until 5 pm! When I woke up I heard the TV News about the strong quake felt by so many, even up in Boston.

The Great White Sharks that have been off the Chatham shore for two summers now have made the national news today too, thanks to video by shark taggers.

I've only swum over my head once so far this summer. I have to admit tho Whites haven't been seen in the waters near my town, I'm paraniod.


This week I get to look forward to tracking Hurricane Irene, said to likely be heading this direction. It wouldn't be fun to have to move all the deck stuff, now that it's all proliferating like crazy, (Thank Miracle Grow).

At least the muggies are on holiday This Day Off, now I just need all the laundry washed n hung out.

Water Play

Last week I skipped a day of sleep to go to Marshfield n visit with Little Ones n other family. The town is north of the Cape, n south of Boston. It was mostly cloudy that day, but the sky broke thru to blue in a few spots. It wasn't really hot, but warm enough to play in the crazy, High Tide, bubbley surf.

The Little ones had a blast in the lively water. They're used to the calm waters of our village harbor n coves at home. We had to be mindful of the strong undertow n rapidly rising depth as the water crept all the way up to the large sea wall.

We enjoyed our cloudy field Day, but I was so tired n still haven't caught up! After I got home, I'd walked down the hill to M-cove for the previous post's pretty pic.

I think I've played with these enough for now-

One more day of work to go...

Skytacular

The sky's the best painting

The sea's a good life

To be free at the right moment

Is everything

All else doesn't matter

Rat race isin't fair

Most folks never feel it

Prefer man-made

Without color I wilt

No salt stifles life

Inspiration waits to happen

Bury desire

Brush flows over Day's end

Finds just the right touch

Ever moving, changing

lighting fires

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Poem by SnaggleTooth today

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Deck Produce Sights

I find the mosiac quality of this altered image very appealing.



I have several, wire covered containers of beets. These are the largest so far.



Some radishes too-

When I have more time, I'd like to remove the background from the colorful character I can see here. He can keep the green hair...



I had to take the chicken wire off the window-box containers, because all the plants are getting too tall to fit under it. The impatiens are now overtaking the petunias.

These pics cover the other side of the deck not seen in the "Sights Just Out the Door" post. Maybe I'll get to sit on the deck a bit Wednesday.

Flying in the Face

Of the Storm

of all we know

of reason

At the edge of disaster

at what's in the way

at the enemy


To a resolve

to face head on

to dive in
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Poem by SnaggleTooth today
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Different Trumps

In the previous comment section Grannie Annie requested some altered Trumpet flower pics n here are a few. You're all automataically expecting the weird n strangely colored morph cousins I find via Paint Shop Pro even when I don't have time for it! I've been playing with these all week, trying to decide- but still don't feel a strong "special" liking for any of them. Guess I'm spoiled by great discoveries too!

The air's been so humid here this week. TV news has been depressing with the Stock dive n riots in the UK.

Work has been so crazy busy all week. The Pan Mass Challenge 190 mile bike marathon from Sturbridge to P-town to raise money for the Dana-Farber Institute was last week-end, n we helped provide breakfast goods for the riders at the Bourne stay-over spot. Also it was the Blues Festival in my village on Saturday, which I'm depressed about missing.

They started charging $20 per seat this year for an event that used to be free, by roping off the best viewing zone of the bandshell. I can hear it all fine at home anyway, but I had to go to work right after the first two groups. The best acts are always scheduled last, n I missed one of my Faves, James Montgomery. It's been too long since I got to enjoy a show.

Yay, I made it to Day Off finally n can put up the throbbing feet. The weather's a bit cooler at least, tho still very humid. Not really beach weather with the overcast n fog, either. I really need rest anyhow.

Hope you enjoyed my Trumps...

Sights Just Out the Door

One bouquet of bright orange-red Trumpet Flowers is blooming out in the side yard this week. Last year the downstairs folks pulverized them all with a fence pipe.


These have gently been spent n fell intact onto the ground off of those two yellow seed prongs. It's so much more enjoyable for me than seeing them smashed to smitherines...

In the five-gallon bucket up on the deck, the trumpet vine in the Vincias has shot up to about six-feet in hieght suddenly this year. It's been there over ten years. I wonder when it will finally bloom- It's next to another unknown shrub that sprouted in a container n was saved years ago, still waiting to mature n bloom also. That blue, plastic container lid is my cheapo bird bath / watering hole. It's ontop of a covered garden supply tub on wheels. just outside the front kitchen window.

Mischief always likes my chair better than her chair. She's next to the hot pink Petunias n light pink Impatiens on the small deck section outside the door.

Here's half of the front deck with about five little evergreen trees, n violet, red, n dwarf violet petunias, unseen blue pansies, n alot more Impatiens. The Marsh grass is having it's first yellow summer ever- I have no idea why. That depresses Mishief because she likes to eat it when it's the normal green...

I'll have to get some pics soon of the other half with the beet greens going wild under the hardware wire, n more pretty blossoms n plants. They are all covered to keep the squirrels n 'possoms out. I'm grateful so far we've avoided getting hail alot of places got last week.

I'd like to spend alot more time loafing around admiring the pretty growth of all my bargain annuals (I spent under $5). but mostly I just water n dead-head them, (I got a dish full of Petunias on my table) n read a few chapters out here on Day Off with Mischief inbetween laundry hanging.

I wonder if Summer's half over, or half full?

Dodging Raindrops

A refreshing cold front blew thru this evening. I dashed out inbetween thunderheads for errands, n stopped to examine the pretty clouds in that sky break I keep getting over the M-cove.

As I got back in Little Truck for the ride home from 3 stores, n putting air into low tires, the lightning just started up again, n another down pour began. Tonight after a very hot week, I finally got cold enough to turn off the house fans which had been on high settings.

I'm hoping to get in some quality outdoor time hanging laundry out n mowing tommorrow. But I'll take a few minutes of sky-show anytime I can get 'em...

Bridge

Bridging gaps

Access across

Elevated view

Come to see you

Over n under

Thru to truth

Selling new

Down the river

Back again

Real good friend

Delivery due

Evening shiver

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Poem by

Snaggle Tooth

today