It's all a matter of scale, and redistribution of energy.

Premature

The cellar

We had to turn the third pump back on.  Guess we won't be using ugly old lamp that we apparently didn't care about anyway.  Food time now.  Must keep strength up! 

Boring But Important Update

We are now down to two pumps instead of three.  The creek is no longer flowing over the road (which I thought might actually wash out at one point!) and the wind has died down quite a bit.  We only heard it actually howl once.  Now we're gonna go out together and have a good look around.  I haven't been out in it yet- too scared of falling branches.  The mister had to go out several times for various reasons.  I didn't like that part!  Tomorrow and Tuesday it's supposed to be sunny and beautiful out- yay!

Run-off along adjacent road

Irene Pix From Earlier Today

Lots of help- and fast!

After they cut it with chainsaws, they used a bulldozer to push it out of the road- into the neighbor's field!

Here's what's left of it.  They used the 'dozer to push this end back upright.

Scary fast creek action.

The view from the kitchen window.  Water all over the roads.

Small river running parallel to the back of the yard.  My fort got flooded!

The creek again.  It's normally dry this time of year.  The bottom is about 5 feet below the edge of the bank.  We've only ever seen it as high as the edge of the yard once before.

The mister brought the camera out.  This is the last shot he was able to take of the creek before the camera started getting wet.  The last picture he took was one of himself in the mirror blow-drying the camera after he came in.

Irene, I Will Not Miss You

We're watching the Weather Channel and it looks like the worst of it is over.  The creek is still overflowing the road a little but it's still passable out there.  We haven't even heard any sirens though when I was on the phone with Teller, she said the nearest city has declared a state of emergency due to downed limbs and wires.  I really hope our power doesn't go out because even though we have the generator, we're not high priority as far as restoring service so it could conceivably be out for days. 

Regardless, as of right now we're feeling tired but very fortunate.  Irene hasn't been as bad for anyone as it potentially could have been but our thoughts are definitely with people who are having a harder time.  More to follow.  I reckon I'll be able to get back to the other computer soon so I'll be able to post more pictures.

Irene I'm Tired of Roman Numerals

I shut down the main computer in case there's a power surge so no pics with posts until it calms down out there.  Right now there are three emergency vehicles outside.  They need to open up the road for emergency vehicles so that tree won't be there much longer.  I just hope they're safe working right near the other three pines.  Gonna go take pix for later...  I hear chainsaws.

Irene V

Birds are still feeding- even the hummers!  I'm gonna take that as a good sign.

Irene IV

Another shot of the pine

So far my swing is okay!

Irene III

Creek is way up but we've seen it go higher.

Water passes through the back yard toward the road.

The mister adjusting the pump hoses.

Bit of water running through cellar cracks but nothing we haven't seen before.

HOLY SHIT BIG PINE DOWN!  Lights are starting to flicker a tiny bit here.  Don't know how much longer we'll have power.

Action Jackson!

Irene ll

All three pumps fully engaged.  Details to follow (after I finish my cereal).

Dispatch From Irene

We worked hard yesterday!  We were expecting company for dinner, but we weren't expecting Irene so instead of just cleaning the house and doing all the normal company-is-coming stuff, we also had to bring in something like 60 houseplants.  Then we had to open up the fort, tie it down extra and empty it out.  And load all the lawn furniture and what-nots into the shed.  

Friday night we were out scoring a generator.  The basement routinely floods here so there is a pump down there- plus two back up pumps.  If the power goes out, we could potentially lose the furnace, hot water heater and everything else down there.  There's still a water line on the furnace from 1999 when the power went out during hurricane Floyd.  Because my mister is extra awesome, he was able to get it going again after the power came back and the water receded.  He does not want to go through that again.  As of right now we still have power (obviously) so I am getting the posts for the day done and scheduled while I still can.  Priorities, people!  And admit it, you'd be lost without my usual 500 posts a day!  

Right now it's raining and a bit blowy here and there.  My mister has moved the cars away from big scary silver maple.  We saved some drinking water and our buckets are out there filling so we have flushing water (well pump).  I made extra ice.  And frankly, this is just weird.  I've never had to prepare for a hurricane before.  I don't remember doing anything to get ready for Floyd or being impacted by it in any way- I didn't live here then.  So far only one pump is having to kick on in the basement.  We expect the second one will have to kick on to keep up before this is over.

And really, there's been a lot of excitement around here lately so this rainy, dark, quiet day has just been peaceful so far.  Let's hope that's all it turns out to be. 

Empty fort