After Sandy

Part of the storm preparations. (The disco tub half full with water we might have needed if the power had gone out.)

Sandy didn’t quite live up to her hype here in the Bogs.  I am grateful for that.  I know she was much, much rougher on those closer to where she came to shore.  Family and friends back east are without power, but everybody is okay.  I am most especially grateful for that.

Small branches

The wind and rain kept me awake most of the night.  The wind hollered and howled, moaned and groaned, whistled and shrieked.  There were a few times when I was almost certain I was hearing the call of the banshee, the sound was so eerie.  The house rocked and creaked and moaned and groaned to the rhythm of the wind.  The windows got a good washing from the lashing rains.

Mushrooms gathered around the purple maple tree

I went out for my walk this afternoon.  The wind was relatively gentle (down to about 13 mph according to The Weather Channel website, but I think it was less than that), but the rain continued to pour down at a steady rate.  The ground is pretty much back to normal.  Mushy.  Boggy.  Soggy.  Mushrooms and other fungi are thriving.  I found a lovely ring of mushrooms around the old maple tree.

Poor shed

The poor shed didn’t hold up well during the storm.  It’s not flattened like it was back in April when a windstorm came through, huffing and puffing and blowing our shed down, but it took a beating.  (Do you see the mushrooms growing near the spout of the rain barrel?)

As you can see, one of the doors caved in and part of one side came off, but otherwise, it’s okay.  The roof is still attached.  The greenhouse part survived intact.  Even the lettuces are still doing well.  (Getting ready to bolt from the looks of some of them.)

The creek is way up and well outside of its banks.

See the tree in the middle with a triangle shape at the bottom?  The creek should be several feet behind it.

Small branches from the trees were scattered about the pathways and in the pond.  I was saddened to see some of the big, dead trees had toppled over.  They provided homes for many birds.  I suppose they will still provide shelter for other critters while becoming nourishment for the earth.

Leaves and weeds in the pond

The pond is above normal levels and spilling out through the emergency spillway as well as the drain at the back that empties into the creek.

Today’s view of the pond as seen through the rain

Grass, clover, and other growth that doesn’t belong in the pond is now under water.  That’s good.  It will save us the trouble of having to deal with it if the water kills it off.  It’s always better to let Mother Nature take care of things when she wills.

That’s pretty much it for the storm report.  All in all, we made out well.

Some of the baby trees are still holding on to their leaves.

Thank you for stopping by.  Thank you, too, for all your thoughts, good wishes, and prayers.  I am grateful for my blog neighbors and friends.  I hope those of you who were in Sandy’s path are all well and good, and maybe even enjoying an unexpected day off from work or school.

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