After The Storm!

A Bit Tattered
Mary, Mother of the Arch Angels, power loss for not more than ten seconds, with lights blinking throughout the morning. Mr. Electric, letting us know how very important he is! 
Many others not so lucky in the area.
A couple of trees down in the backyard away from the house. Branches scattered about, a small price to pay, considering the devastation elsewhere. 
Thankful, cleanup starts as soon as daughter and son-in-law return from Aruba. 
Irene, just a big bully here in our neck of the woods.
Somehow this sweet butterfly survived the storm, ravenous, as she sat atop this coneflower for quite a while. Looking a bit tattered and weary she flew off to seek sustenance elsewhere. Can you see the very small worm resting on the flower petal as well? 
As far as hurricanes go, the one the older folks still talk about here is the !938 Hurricane. 
Weather predicting in those days not available, my mom and her sister walked two miles home from school in the pouring rain, jumped over downed wires, laughing as the wind pushed them about. She was fourteen and her sister thirteen.
 Be still my heart, they must have had a fleet of guardian angels around them.
Over six hundred people were lost in that storm, according to mom. 
Glad we were only taunted this time around and grateful for all the media coverage and fair warning. 
Have a wonderful day!

Goodnight Irene!

Horseneck Beach, Westport, MA

Not sure I know anyone who enjoys a hurricane more than a surfer, here in the northeast. 

The obvious answer, waves, big waves! My son still a diehard surfer use to track storms for days, planning surf expeditions. The size of the wave depended on what board one would ride, a strategy well planed, shared with fellow surfers. 

The above photo was captured yesterday around noon. The state beaches were closed and I just had to get a shot. Hubby drove me down a private road to view Mother Nature's, impending wrath. Will, guarded the car from being ticketed, while I walked up and over the dunes to capture the magnificence and magnificent it was.

Not sure which was pounding harder, my heart from the climb or the roaring surf, while catching my first glimpse. The sounds almost deafening, except for an occasional gull scavenging the shoreline.

Not even a slight breeze approaching the dunes, the air heavy, muggy, like rain suspended in midair, a thick fog blanketed the landscape. A definite calm before the storm. 

Not a good hair day, for sure!

I waved to the young man in the above photo as he ran towards the surf, aspiring to ride the perfect wave, thinking of my son all the while.

The day rather ominous awaiting Irene, an un-welcomed guest. Hurricane food purchased, tubs filled with water awaiting the royal flush, flashlights ready for service. No power no water, no shower, no coffee, NO INTERNET! Yikes! 
Just a wait and see approach, fortunate to be just a little inconvenienced in this modern day and age. Let's see if I feel the same way after a few days of roughing it???

"You cause me to weep, you cause me to mourn

You cause me to leave my home

But the very last words I heard her say

Was "Please sing me one more song

"Good Night Irene. I'll see you in my dreams."

~lyrics, Steve Earle~

Sailor Take Warning!

Posted to: http://www.susannahconway.com/the-august-break-2011