Storm Watch

The rain that was predicted for today started around 1:30 am, but the brunt of the storm didn't really hit until later in the morning. My town received just over 2 inches of rain while the next town, less than 10 miles to the north, received well over 3 inches. The wind was actually not quite as strong as expected, but it did wreak havoc, causing power outages and knocking down several trees. One particularly large oak landed on a mobile home. The residents were at home at the time, and although both were uninjured, the woman was trapped for a short time. Another tree fell onto a couple of cars, both unoccupied. In a mountain community several miles away a large pine tree fell onto a fire station! Again, no one was injured, but it apparently caused some major damage. The rain stopped for several hours this evening, but it is now starting up again. From the sound of the wind chimes, the wind is about a 3 or 4 on the Beaufort Scale. (I discovered the Beaufort Scale while thumbing through the dictionary many years ago. I have never forgotten about it and like to refer to it every chance I get! I think they should use it on Jeopardy!)

Change in Weather

The first storm of the season is expected to arrive tonight, bringing rain and wind. The worst of it should be tomorrow, with winds expected to be between 21 and 31 mph, gusting as high as 44 mph. I'm ready!

Christmas in October?

Up until about 2 years ago, when I (semi) retired, I remembered almost all of my dreams in great detail, these days not so much. I'm not sure if I actually dream less now or if I just don't have as much recall, but I kind of miss them. The dreams that I do remember still have a lot of detail, and I like that, but sometimes I can only recall fragments, and then only after something jogs my memory. This morning, after I had been up for a couple of hours, I remembered a snippet of a dream I had the night before...there was a huge, fully decorated Christmas tree in my living room that had obviously been there for some time, but it was if I had never really noticed it before. When it dawned on me that it was late January I was mortified! I wonder what that means.

Don't worry, be happy!

One of my favorite quotes is by Abraham Lincoln, "Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be." I like it because it is so simple and so true.

Usually I am a pretty happy person, a "glass is half full" type. Right now, however, I would be happier if I had a decent post for today. I am reminding myself that this month of daily posting is for fun, and that there is always tomorrow!

Have you ever seen a cat do this?

This is all I could manage for today.

Its true!

Every good thing every grandparent has ever said about being a grandparent is true. As for the claim that one just cannot know how truly special grandchildren are until they have their own, I can confirm that, too.

Being Grandma to this sweet, adorable little girl for the past 17 months has been nothing short of amazing. Months ago, when I first saw her pick up a single Cheerio between thumb and forefinger and put it in her mouth with perfect accuracy, I thought she had the eye-hand coordination of the most skilled neurosurgeon. Just yesterday she delighted me when she picked up leaf after acorn after twig and put them into a bucket, running to and fro, laughing when she got going a little too fast and took a little tumble.

I am very fortunate that she lives close by and that we are forming a special relationship. I can't wait until she's old enough to take camping and kayaking!

Be nice to me...

Today was one of our regularly scheduled Community Blood Drives. Now, I didn't actually try to give blood today, since I was sick on Monday, but I still did my part. Besides donating when I can, I also volunteer at these drives by serving refreshments to the donors. Today I even registered with the National Marrow Donor Program. It was simple...I filled out a form which included contact information and a health questionnaire, then I swabbed the inside of my mouth in 4 places and placed the swabs in a special folder to be mailed off for typing. I encourage everyone who is eligible and has not already registered to consider this program.