Here we go Again

It's almost common, the preparation for threatening weather. Today, I find myself thinking about "where are the batteries" knowing that we could lose power during the storm. Darn, my freezers are full to capacity, of course. If outages are prolonged, we will have yet another mess.

Time to put it into prospective, glad it is not winter when we, if we lost power, could freeze. Texas is experiencing 100 degree temperatures. What an unpleasant situation that would present if our air conditioners were not functioning with all our humidity on a hot August day.

My woods are cool and never seem to be completely dry, even during hot, dry spells. Lots of beautiful ferns are growing there. Weather preceding the impending storm, Irene, will provide even more rain to saturated conditions.

This is a state of ample water systems, both natural and "man made". Some have been developed as a result of the last flood here in 1955. As a result of hurricane Diane, bridges were also constructed. The stability of even older bridges are questionable.

Mostly, there is a dam that holds water systems back from flooding the town. The surrounding land provides an escape for the water flow from the towns of Brimfield, and Sturbridge, which swell the Quinnebaug River, as well as from Charlton and other many brooks. I've seen it at times, overflowing into the roadway--full up.

That dam has been maintained and hopefully, will be strong enough to endure yet another hit. My folks told me stories of the '38 hurricane, in which many chicken coops flew threw the air with the chickens inside them. Can't even imagine that happening and what it would look like today as we no longer have coops around? My concern will be the uplifting of trees, as I live on a hill. We are located in a valley. I remember well what a flood can do. Get out of it's way if you can. The tornado missed us in June, but the 'Nor'easter' blew the tiles off of our roof this winter. I did not feel the earthquake of late, but Irene has me feeling a little uncomfortable. She could become a category four hurricane.

Time to prepare by doing laundry, and other household chores. And, to check to see if small items can be stored inside, along with the car. That means cleaning up the garage. Ugh! Just what will I do with the trash receptacle that the town has provided and, fits nowhere? The one that I had to chase down the street last time, (during a freezing Nor'easter), picking up the trash that it dumped everywhere! There obviously is allot on my mind.......