Before and After

Above -- there's a walk under there somewhere

Above:  after digging out.

It was a beautiful day today, with the clear, vividly blue sky and snow-covered tree branches silhouetted against it.

Hope your day was beautiful too.

Joanie

"Snowpocalypse"

It snowed again -- all day yesterday and most of today.  This is my deck.  As you can see, the snow is almost up to the deck rail.

The photo above is also of the deck -- another shot of how deep the snow is. 

The final picture, above, shows our driveway.  The lump is our car.

Actually, it is quite beautiful, as long as we don't have to go out in it.  I hear that some people in our valley have no electric power, but we have been lucky so far.  However, we're prepared just in case, with flashlights, candles, a lantern, a solar-powered radio (that also can be powered by cranking) and plenty of food.  Now that the snow has stopped falling, we should be able to be dug out tomorrow.

More snow is predicted next week, believe it or not.  What a winter.

Joanie

Prayers for those in hurricane's path

"Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans

And miss it each night and day

I know I'm not wrong... this feeling's gettin' stronger

The longer, I stay away. . . ."

As I watch the news coverage this evening about the approach of Hurricane Gustav toward Louisiana, and the evacuation of much of New Orleans, the words to this old song by Eddie DeLange and Loise Alter keep running through my mind. I cannot imagine what it must be like to evacuate one's home and hometown, not knowing if it would ever be possible to return. (Photo courtesy New Orleans Chamber of Commerce.)

It is encouraging that there has been advance planning this time, and that arrangements have been made for the evacuation of pets. I know that I, for one, would not be able to leave our cat behind.

Perhaps we should all think about what would be important to us if we had to leave our homes with no guarantee of return, and to plan for an emergency evacuation. What would you take?

Pray for all of those whose lives and homes are disrupted by such disasters.

Joanie