HAPPY NEW WEEK! Good to see you all! Sorry my internet was out during Hurricane Helene and I couldn't start the thread.
The devastation and rising death toll in the southeastern states is so sad, especially in the mountains where catastrophic flooding and hurricane winds destroyed roads and decimated forests, leaving people trapped without access to power, phone, internet, and basic necessities.
Folks in my community have been holding events to gather food, water, and supplies for the hurricane victims. The goods are sent by plane or truck and then loaded onto helicopters, ATVs, or mules to be taken up into the mountains. Thousands of power company trucks and lineworkers have been deployed to do the very dangerous work of restoring power in such high, rugged terrain.
My area didn't have much flooding, but we had the remnant high winds, which downed trees. Some folks lost their homes. My neighbor came over to check on me, and he said we escaped damage because our small town is on a hill on one side of us and a tall ridge is on the other side. I don't have insurance that would have covered this event. I feel blessed to be okay.
Hugs and love to everyone!
Nice to hear from you, Cirrus. I hope you're keeping well.
Heather: {HUGS} -- take it easy.... I thought I had mentioned your middle daughter who was waiting for a test result but I can't see where I wrote it now, so I probably only thought about it! Hope she gets good news soon.....
RUSTY – sympathy over the passing of your ancient toaster. I have Tupperware items from when my second daughter was born – so they are of a similar age and still in use. Our first freezer gave us over 30 years – and convinced me that a chest freezer is the only one to have. First consideration every time we moved – is there a kitchen or utility room with space for the chest freezer!
DIBNLIB – Weight of a powered wheelchair would not be a problem as we have a ramp conversion in the WAV. I know families are now buying air fryers for their student children to take to uni! We too have red squirrels locally, but not in the town – it is guaranteed to see them at Eskrigg Reserve in Lockerbie. Unfortunately, being so near Englandshire we also see greys, so there are plenty of people watching out for the protection of the reds.
LINDA – it was good to read that your OH is having some better days. We are still enjoying fresh tomatoes, but mostly small ones now, and they seem to shrivel quickly once picked so we are cooking about half of them down to freeze. We are also still picking wonderful runner beans – got some of them in the freezer too. Loved the book picture referring to the company and a weapon!
DIANE – thanks for the new week – sounds like normal life is resumed for most people over your way – glad you and your home stayed safe.
AQ – glad you got your new phone – and enjoyed a lunch with Dau and Trio. Sorry the washing day and visit were so muddled for you. That extra wait for OH mealtime must have seemed like hours – for both of you.
Oh, LINDA! Wonderful use for a staircase!
Been a normal Sunday – and normal dampish weather. Went to chuch this morning, and been at computer most of the afternoon – ordering, communicating etc.
Well, got to go to the kitchen now to prep the runner beans for dinner – OH is convinced he can’t do them!
Hallo all and thank you Diane. Awful that the storm caused damage that far north and I can't believe that the folks who saw the worst of it still don't have access to water, power or anyway to go looking for supplies. And it looks like another hurricane is due to hit Florida later this week.
AQ; Glad the phone caper turned out well - I did a double take when I read that Miss 13 added your contacts (although our Ms. D, also 13) fixed my daughter's TV last week). I can imagine how difficult it must be to sit with your OH and for him (and you) to hear the other resident's distressing calls. Life can be so cruel. But, please, what is a RAT test?
Lindybird: I hope by the time I log on tomorrow you will have seen the docs and got some 'real' news. Seems like we all will be thinking of you guys. I'm not familiar with your eye diagnosis; perhaps there''s another name for it over here. I was just reading about the benefits of yellow lenses - had never heard of those either. I'm clearly out of touch. Regardless, whatever problems you have, they haven't affected your talent for verse!. Love Einstein's quote - speaking of libraries, our local one just up the road has got a huge grant to do massive upgrading and infrastructure work which means it will be closed for up to two years!!! Horrors! The city council is debating locations where we can at least pick up and deliver books that we can reserve online. But oh, no browsing in the stacks for so long - what am I going to do?
Rusty: Actually, I can believe your toaster was that old. Our refrigerator is decades old and still works in spite of my shouting at it every time I try to fit a pizza box in. I did a little splurge on a four-slot Cuisinart toaster a few years back; it has umpity settings (bread/muffins/bagel/waffles and something else) and on the rare occasion I use a not-bread setting it seems to toast the item just right. Fab photo of that red squirrel by the way.
Heather: Hope whatever is on your mind gets off it sooner than later.
Thanks to OG and diblinb for their news and Hi to Cirrus.
October is the best time to plant here, so I've been pulling out plants that haven't looked happy for the last two years and replacing them with others that seem to flourish with my recent bouts of benign neglect.; however, I'm not replacing them all as part of my downsizing plan.
Take care ALL>.
ANNETTE: A RAT test is a Rapid Antigen Test, a type of speedy diagnostic test for Covid. The RAT detects antigens, and a PCR test detects antibodies.
Hurricane Milton is rapidly strengthening and is predicted to become a CAT 4 with 145 mph winds before hitting the Gulf Coast. Back to back CAT 4s! Dang...
I feel I have a lot of replies to make so, I have a cup of tea, and here goes!!!
Diane - I have been reading about this latest hurricane which is approaching Florida and due to hit some of the places already devastated. It’s awful. I am thinking about everyone. I read your description. It was so vivid. It was nice of your neighbour to come and check on you. Insurance for events like that must be almost impossible to get. My friend was flooded out of her home in 2000 and now has to pay an enormous amount even though the flood defences on the river have been greatly improved. Lindy - I have been thinking all morning about you and your OH. I really hope some kind of diagnosis/solution is reached because all this uncertainty must have been unbearable. I did love the toaster poem!
AQ - glad you got your new phone sorted eventually. Glad you could have lunch with your daughter and the trio. Any problems I have, I ask my sister and she asks her son in law. The solution is then relayed back to me!!! The experience in the residence with the confused person must have been very upsetting for both you and your OH. Heather - I hope you are feeling better in yourself. You sounded rather “down” when you said you had a lot on your mind. OG - good to hear from you and to gather that things are going quite “normally” for now. Long may that continue. Annette - well done with the gardening. Several of my friends who have lovely gardens are now thinking how they can make them easier to maintain. One couple who did have a wonderful garden out in the country have actually moved house because the garden was becoming too much! My garden is looking OK at the moment. Autumnal but under control. I pulled up the cosmos under the front window yesterday. They had been great all summer but were looking very sad. I have done a big ironing and am now contemplating what to do with the rest of the day. I think I will ring my friend in the assisted living and see if she is busy or can do with a visitor.