Moving On

It's funny -- most of the rest of the world has moved on from Hurricane Irene -- Katia is now on the horizon -- but Irene is still very much a reality around here.  I'm pleased to say my sister Barb, who lives in Connecticut, finally has power again.  She's still living with the smell of rotting sea creatures, but at least she can take a hot shower.  We still have piles and piles of downed trees all over town, but Greenport is back on its feet.  When I paid my utility bill yesterday,  I wrote a thank you note to the crew who worked so diligently to get us electrified again. 

I didn't take many pictures and what I did take are not the greatest, but here they are.

Before

During

 After

Waiting for Irene

I spent most of yesterday putting up awnings, taking down swings, moving lawn furniture and potted plants, filling water bottles, gathering flashlights and batteries, candles and matches.  I went to bed at 10, I was so exhausted.  This morning Pete and I did a few last minute things -- putting the canoe in the garage, buying some ice cream to go with our hurricane pie which I plan on making this evening.  We're as ready as we can be.  

The village is abuzz with activity.  Stores are boarding up windows and closing early and neighbors stop to chat about their preparations.  The atmosphere is, amazingly enough, very festive.  There's a real "we're all in this together" attitude, what you expect in a small community like this.  I have checked on my older friends to be sure they are set, and I have offered a watchful eye to those who can't be here to monitor their vacation homes.  

The air is thick and murky and the first rain drops are starting to fall.  I love to watch the weather from the safety my window, but Irene isn't supposed to arrive until midnight -- too late to view.   We'll see what daybreak brings on Sunday.  Stay safe and dry, wherever you are.