Best laid plans........................

Couch on the Porch, Cos Cob 1914 

Fredrick Childe Hassam 1859-1935- American Impressionist

Saturday evening, after Irene said goodbye to North Carolina and journeyed north, wreaking havoc along her path, we managed to enjoy a thoroughly hilarious community theatre production of Ruthless, The Musical. Even though Broadway closed down in NYC as they awaited the storm, Raleigh Little Theatre remained open. We then made plans to spend much of Sunday morning cleaning up the storm debris that Irene had scattered about our garden. 

Thankfully we had no hurricane damage.  After playing the adult version of 'pick up sticks' in 92 sultry degrees for a few hours, we had just three large barrels of branches, twigs, bunches of leaves that had fallen from our trees.  Sunday afternoon was to be a relaxing time.  A nice cup of tea on the front porch, perhaps read a few chapters of my current book, The Poisonwood Bible, supper later in the gazebo. 

.....and then it happened, just before I had time to boil the kettle and make a nice pot of Earl Grey.....

A huge thud from outside, and the power shut down.  Funny how quickly the neighbors all run outside when something quietens the house in an instant.  Across the street our neighbor's very big, very old, ivy-covered oak tree, weakened from the storm, had dropped a huge limb across the street........and it took the transformer and all wiring down with it.  We live at the end of a cul-de-sac so of course were prisoners on our own street........until this morning.  Tree removal and power company guys worked through the night, thankfully restoring power and opening up the street by early morning. Oh yes, we did still enjoy supper in the gazebo, with lots of candles of course.

My prayers are with those of you who have experienced Irene's wrath.  I hope you, your families and friends, and your homes are safe.