Due to the Irish connection in Casapinka, a cup of tea is given to young and old during times of happiness, fear, excitement, fatigue, you name it. So, when the winds of Hurricane Sandy were nearly on us the kids and I had a tea party. We'd made chocolate peppermint bread and pumpkin spice muffins in preparation for being stuck for a week with no chocolate or electricity so this went well with our tea. The electricity was still on, Husband was safely ensconced at work and I was nervous but trying not to show it. Junior didn't even break the teacup although after the lights went out the cats dragged half the chocolate bread across the floor and had a tea party themselves.
Prior to Sandy, my bedroom window contained fiber for a current project which you will see next week. As the wind picked up the power dutifully went out but I was READY. I say this in capitals because a certain family member, who wasn't in the house through any of this, had poo-pooed my storm preparations. When the lights went out, candles came out of the "Blackout Bin" and I wore my kids spelunking headlight so I could boss everyone around hands free - Don't leave legos/Beyblades/Monopoly pieces/ in the middle of the floor - we'll step on them in the dark! Keep the hallways clear of stuff!
Husband did come home with two Jesus candles from Stop n' Shop the day before and I really wanted to kill him. Jesus candles are dim lighters. They are supposed to burn for ages in someone's memory, not allow you to knit during a hurricane. I smiled and thanked him, though, a proud moment of self control.
The kids chose Monopoly out of the Storm Game Bin and put a lantern in the middle of it. There were some fights here and there. It's the Dublin edition so those of you who know Dublin would appreciate the humor when Junior howled, "I don't WANT "Shoes-berry Road!" "Everyone wants Shrewsbury Road, Twitface, it has nothing to do with shoes!" his sister informed him.
I sat on the floor and put stiffener on Granny Squares in preparation for a project which is now done.
The next morning the world appeared dark and wet, the rain still coming down and the ground now full of leaves and branches. Many electrical workers and road cleaning crews were driving around sawing fallen trees and branches and repairing electric wires.
The response was impressive. We didn't get the brunt of the storm and were very lucky to have suffered only a couple of days of power outage. I feel so sorry for the many other areas which were completely devastated by Sandy. The main tree in the photo is our Root Beer Tree, which grows bottles and cans of root beer about once a month. We're hoping that it's very special root system is still intact and that it doesn't start producing cod liver oil, although the occasional artisanal gin would be most welcome.
Happy to hear you weathered the storm and had some fun to boot!
Posted by: Ingrid Simmons | November 02, 2012 at 04:59 PM
cats love mint.
love the "project"
glad you are safe
Posted by: phyllis | November 02, 2012 at 06:02 PM