After the Storm

This morning has been just beautiful here.  I don't remember the last time we had temperatures in the mid-60's!  The sun is out, there is just a slight breeze.  It's up in the 80's now, but still nice.  I hadn't really planned on doing yard work today, but it was just too nice outside to not be out there.  I got quite a bit done before I reached the end of my energy and my bending, stooping, reaching ability.

This picture was taken about 7:00 a.m. before the yard work.

You can't really see the two bags of branches, clumps of leaves, and bits that I picked up with my grabber.  But they were there.  I also did a little pruning and other chores out in the yard.  I am now all showered and done.

Southside did get a lot more of Dorian.  The news this morning said there are still power outages and flooding in areas.  They also told about all the people who got ticketed for driving on the Boardwalk and being where they were not supposed to be!  The news did some good, happy stories, too.  Those reports were about kind people rescuing animals.  One small cat hung on to a tree in a flooded area for over six hours until someone waded out to get her.   Another was clinging to a fence rail in a flooded area and was rescued.   And a camera crew rescued a large dog that was injured and in the water.  So hooray for those people!

The guys are playing golf.  Les decided to go out to the course just to see.  It must have been open because he didn't come right home!  We had gotten some emails from some of the other guys saying there were going to go, too.  It's a good day for golf!

Life is great!  Stay safe, and God Bless America!

An Update

I neglected to mention that we did have our paper delivered this morning and the mail just came.  So, thank you to those people!

But what I really want to update you on are the "less intelligent" in the population.  I just checked the ongoing TV reporting.  Dorian is hitting Southside a lot more than around us, at least right now.  And down there they have some mandatory evacuations.  There are idiots out driving on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk!  First, that is extremely dangerous.  Second, driving on the Boardwalk is illegal!  So the Police have to be there to issue tickets to these idiots.  Even worse, some of the people even have very small children with them.

Then they showed another huge idiot walk out into the crashing surf to take pictures. The waves were almost to the underside of the pier.  It's been announced to stay off the Boardwalk, stay out of the area, and stay out of the water.  Like I said.....IDIOTS!!!!

As always, stay safe!  And I know those of you who might read this, are smart enough to stay safe!

Storm Update and Some Random Thoughts (a small rant)

Hurricane Dorian has been a horrible damaging storm and has caused widespread disaster.  It is now entering our area in a much weaker form.  It will still bring rain, wind, and coastal flooding.  While I feel very sad about all the damage and the injuries and deaths Dorian has caused as it's moved on its path, I am annoyed with the local TV stations.

If you believe them with their non-stop broadcasts that have preempted everything else, you would think we were heading to the end of the world.  And the most absolute annoying part is that most of what they are constantly repeating is just common sense advice.  I have decided they are focusing on the less-intelligent part of the population. (and the clueless)

If you live here, when there is a large storm predicted, you should know to put gas in your car, get cash from the ATM (they don't work when the power goes out) and have basic food supplies and water on hand.  Charge your tech devices, make sure you have prescriptions refilled if you need to, secure loose items in your yard that can be blown around.  And for goodness sake, if the road is flooding, don't drive through it.  If you are told to stay off the roads, stay home!  I know for a fact that information is given out to new residents and is available online, and in the paper.  There is just no excuse for being stupid. 

If the TV stations are going to keep broadcasting, how about focusing on the people who are helping and who are doing things right and taking care of things.

And just one more thing on my rant here, why, oh why, do they send out the small, young reporters to stand out in the water and in the wind????  I've seen a couple almost get blown over!  One young guy did do a good report early this morning.  He was hanging onto a balcony rail at a hotel and looked out at the waves and surf and said, "Man, it is really gnarly out there!"

As for us, Dorian is just getting started here.  We have wind and steady rain. We have our generator and it will come on if we need it.  The cars are gassed up and in the garage. We will obey the "stay off the roads" instructions.  We have food, water, good books to read, and  movies to watch. Our furry boys are all napping.

Here is a view of our backyard at the moment:

Although since I took the picture it has gotten a little darker and windier.

In other news, we got our "senior" flu shots yesterday, so that is done.

Life remains great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Hey!

Everyone all along the East coast is watching weather reports.  Please be careful and stay safe.  And if you are in an area that is told to evacuate, GO!

As for us, our forecasts are saying heavy rain and high winds with Dorian for later today and Friday.  The storm has intensified again and is currently dumping on friends in South Carolina.  We're thinking of them.

I moved in some of our smaller things in the yard - I call those "yard art".  The chairs and deck tables are upside down and up against the house.  Les will do a final check later today to see if anything else should be moved.

In other areas, things are okay.  I've been keeping up with my Fall Cleaning plan and there are just a couple more rooms to work on.  Then when it's cooler, there is some Fall outside work to be done.  And I am sure that since we're getting the winds and rain there will be clean-up to do out there, too.

I've also been keeping up with all the normal household chores and errands; being careful and getting back to the "Y".  It was very nice to get back into the pool!

Closings are scrolling across the TV and people are "hunkering down".  Our generator tested itself two days ago, so it is all ready if we need it.

Life is still great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Mr. Gnome Is Ready for Fall, Too!

Stay safe!  Life is great!  And God Bless America!

Just Some Updates

First, an early morning (6:30 a.m.) picture of the sky.  I was stopped at the traffic light on the way to Starbucks for my coffee.  Right after I took the picture a flock of geese few over, but by then the light had turned green so pictures were out of the question.

It remains hot and humid here.  The local weather forecasts call for heavy wind and rain on Thursday and Friday from Dorian, but they qualify that forecast with "still too soon to tell what the storm is going to do".  We are hoping our friends in the path of the storm are doing okay.

Les is playing golf today.  He did yard work a couple days ago and the yard is looking pretty good right now if you don't look too closely at some spots. But like I've said before, help for those spots will be coming soon.

I've been doing my usual "morning stuff".  And I plan to tackle another room in the Fall cleaning.  It feels good to get these things done.  Right now I am heading to the living room to clean.  Then I am getting out my ceramic pumpkins, and then sitting down to finish a good book!

Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone has a safe day!

Life is great!  And God Bless America!