When we stopped by the little produce shed to buy tomatoes, the woman behind the counter said excitedly, “It’s a Cat 2!!!”
For once, I heard and understood a message that John missed. As he started to ask about it, I said, “The hurricane is now a category two.”
With weather apps, we watched this storm change course, slow down, get stronger, and dither about in the ocean. Its projected landfall was about 350 miles (563 km) from us. A week ago, we watched a reporter dramatically walk in the tiny waves breaking over his toes, trying to scare us. It was too much too soon. We cleaned our house and put clean sheets on all the beds in case friends or family needed a place to stay. I even had time to clean up the garden! I estimate we had enough food on hand to feed eight people for two days. It would have been a great way to clean out the refrigerator. Though no clouds were in sight, grandson Nathaniel’s classes were canceled in Charlotte, 200 miles from the coast.
I was on that woman’s wavelength, ready to hear news of a storm on the move.
We were so ready for the storm, that John said it might be a good day to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway among fluffy white clouds. He was right.
We are home again and will wait another two days for the rain to begin.
They say a lot of rain is the most problem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are too far away to get the full force of the hurricane, but we will have wind and rain. Tomorrow we’ll put away chairs and small objects from the porches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chopping it won’t be too bad for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We heard about this dreadful hurricane that was going to be the mother of them all- thankfully downgraded!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The weather people hype everything beyond belief. I know they are selling news, but I’m not buying! It’s going to be interesting to see what finally happens.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s a beautiful view and I’ll rejoice along with you with news of “Cat 2” … Evelyn sent me pictures yesterday of her tarped-up chimney. Apparently they tarp over the chimneys in Charleston in case the surge causes the water to go into the chimney and saves water damage. They might have premature doing this, just as you made all the preparations as well … but, as the old adage goes “better to be safe than sorry.” Stay safe Anne, and to all your family as well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There must be a balance between hype and warning. On the other hand, some people need to “be hit upside the head” to get the message.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, and if no-one comes you have enough food for two people for eight days. That should save you some shopping. Your picture of the Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning. Now you put me in mind of the Laurel and Hardy song about the Blue Ridge Mountains.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know the song you mentioned by Laurel and Hardy.
I took only one picture today, despite our stopping in several overlooks. It seems to be my rule to try to capture the essence of the mountains each time. Often I bring home the shots and eventually erase them. We were probably half an hour away from home at this point. We are so blessed!
xxx Mountainous Hugs xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S0uw2D9nEU Enjoy.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
LikeLike
That was classic!! Thank you.
xxx Blue Ridge Mountain Hugs xxx
LikeLike
Be safe Anne. Our weather bureau too is busy with updates on the upcoming typhoon tomorrow here.
LikeLike
I hope your storm won’t be too bad. Let us know when you can.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
What a gorgeous view, and. Let’s pray the weather is kind and your power holds out so you can freeze the food. God bless your thoughtfulness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite a bit of the food is still frozen The freezer needs to be cleaned out, too. We will have one extra person, our son John $, coming to celebrate John’s birthday.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🎂🎶🎉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder what is worse or better- to be very prepared or to be taken by surprise. I am glad you have enough food and you are out of the direct path of the storm. From the pictures it doesn’t look like a very dangerous storm is on the way. As they all said above, the scenery is fantastic and John was right- it was a picture perfect day to be out and see things as they unfold- in this case into a CAT 2.
In Kerala, they warned them of possible environmental disasters a few years ago- everyone said, these happen in other places, not here. And finally it came and everyone was so unprepared. Its almost like the 10 virgins of the New Testament. Some watch and wait, some go to sleep- hoping others will help them out when the time comes. I am glad you are one of the prepared Virgins, Anne.
Susie
LikeLike
I try to stay prepared, Susie. The real test is whether or not you worry. I’m trying to trust God with everything. Not easy!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stay safe Anne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope everything will be fine and you all be safe. Take care, Nahla.
LikeLike
The big question will probably be whether we lose power or not. Thanks for your good wishes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, that’s the major problem. How was that last year?
LikeLike
I don’t remember that we had a hurricane last year, but I don’t think we lost power for more than an hour any time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful picture! Hope everything is well at your house, lots of food, and power. Hopefully you will not see any flooding.
LikeLike
We’ve never seen the creek in the valley flood, but we will watch for it.
LikeLike
My daughter is scheduled to fly to NC on Sunday. She will be working in Hickory, NC for two weeks so she has been keeping a constant watch on the storm. These plans might change.
It’s great that you were prepared to host family members who needed to evacuate. I have heard on the news of those who have no where to go or don’t have the means to leave. Sad.
LikeLike
I’m sure your daughter is keeping her ear tuned to weather news. Sunday could be a mess. Has she worked in Hickory before? We’ve been through the area, but we don’t know anyone there.
LikeLike
She has never been to Hickory before. Her company is opening a new store there and she works on the team that sets up new stores. She loves the job, as she travels to all parts of the country and always takes at least one day for sight seeing.
LikeLike
What a marvelous job! I haven’t checked on any area other than ours, but Hickory is a bit closer to the hurricane than we are. I hope everything will go smoothly for her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful sky! Glad you are all set for anything that comes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re having another beautiful day. John is trimming a bush, and I raked more junk from the garden.
LikeLike
So that’s where the blue sky is hiding! Beautiful
Still raining here.We are tired of waking up to flash flood alerts at night, but some areas south of us are having high water again
It doesn’t have to have a name or high Cat. number to create damage and flooding.
Cheers for you being sensible, being able to read the sky yourself – and for just keeping a little preparation/supplies ahead of time just in case.
Hope that darn Florence isn’t a floozy and moves on quickly so you can enjoy the weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we seem to be holding onto the blue sky. I’d share with you if I could. Waking to flash flood alerts at night would not be fun. Hope that ends soon for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are in my thoughts – hope you and your family stays safe throughout Florence and the aftermath.
LikeLike
I’ll let you know if I can! There are all kinds of warnings that we could lose power. We’ll wait and see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I’m keeping you in my thoughts – just heard on the 3:00 p.m. national news that the brunt of Florence is in North Carolina now and thankfully it is down to a Cat 1 hurricane now. Amazing listening to the whooshing noise in the background while the reporter is speaking!
LikeLike
Oh, I didn’t realize the hurricane had been downgraded again. At this rate, we’ll be lucky to get a heavy shower out of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I heard here – yup, you will be out watering the flowers at this rate. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My sister wondered if her classes in High Point, NC would be canceled. She’s surrounded by a lot of very large trees and that is a bit of concern in any type of windy weather. You sound well prepared for anything that comes your way.
LikeLike
I tend to fall apart when the car won’t start. We are a bit concerned about the 200-year-old oak tree that looms over our house, but there is no way we can prop it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those big trees are gorgeous…we had one, but they are a concern in a bad storm.
LikeLike
Rather than sheltering under our oak, we cower under it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There were times we felt the same in our house during a big storm. Our tree had to come down due to disease. I miss it, but not when it storms.
LikeLike
Our oak is still patiently waiting for the sickly hurricane to come. It must have seen lots of rain storms in its long life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
B Safe! Have 2 evacs from Wilmington, NC here with us for a few days.
LikeLike
I hope their home will be OK. That’s great that you will get to visit while the storm is raging, but it won’t be the most pleasant of times for background thoughts. I’m praying for them.
LikeLike
We made it through-as the turn spared us-but not far flooding-record flooding! My son is Wilmington still hasn’t power, but lots of food and water. I am glad all is well with you. love Michele
LikeLike
Flooding is frightening. I’m glad Tres made it through and hope he gets power back soon. We finally got the rain here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you Sweet Anne. It was awful when I couldn’t get in touch with Tres. He was ok yesterday but still no power. Please pray for all those that lost so much. love Michele
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sure were ready! It must be scary to await… the unknown, since you didn’t really know how bad it would be, or exactly where.
LikeLike
We had lived through hurricanes and blizzards on Long Island. There were two things we knew for sure — we would lose power, and we would not be flooded. Just the other day I saw a photo of the trees that hit our garage during one hurricane. That was the worst of the damage in all the years we lived there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes. That must’ve been scary, the tree hitting your garage! Not to mention expensive!!
LikeLike
The garage was damaged only lightly, but we did have to pay to have the trees cut up. We had a wood-burning fireplace at the time, so we used the wood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sigh. Well good that no one was hurt…and you wound up recycling the trees!
LikeLiked by 1 person