Catching the rain

After it's first test this morning, it looks like the rain barrel is working. A little over a half-inch of rain in a 45-minute storm filled the barrel in less than 30 minutes. Now I just have to be sure to keep the gutters clean which means getting on the ladder about 5 times each year. Maybe get one for each downspout? Time will tell...

Yet Another Storm

Third severe storm in a week so I just wanted to let everyone know that we're fine. A tornado did go through Manhattan last night and it was quite terrifying. Our house & neighborhood just had a lot of heavy rain. Around town there are about 30 houses and some businesses destroyed and KSU has a lot of damage. The best source for news is KMAN. We've been staying at my parents' house because of the work being done on ours and they don't have a basement. We spent about an hour with the boys asleep in the bathtub and us hovering over them, all of us under a crib mattress. I think I can safely say that it was the most terrifying hour I've ever experienced and I will never live in a house without a basement!

After the storm passed we got a pic of the boys sleeping in the tub, but we don't have the equipment to put it online so we'll post it later along with links to news pics. Apparently some people were more desperate than us to see the action. In the follow up news on KMAN after the storm, the repeated theme was "GO HOME!!!!". The emergency vehicles were having a hard time getting through because of everybody who came out to look at the damage. And there was some looting. I'm so proud of my fellow citizens.

Quit Complaining!

I shouldn't have whined so much. There were people that had it so much worse than we did. There are many that still don't have power. We were merely inconvenienced.

If you would like to see pics of the storm, here are 2 good links.

The Manhattan Mercury
Hale Library at KSU

Just in time

Within hours of power returning to our home Friday night, the snow began and this is what we woke up to Saturday morning. A forecast low of 8 degrees tonight makes us feel even more fortunate.

After the Storm

I am such an idiot. When I wrote the last post I had no idea how bad it could be. I didn't really think it was possible for us to go four days, yes four days, without power. Our power went out Monday night about bedtime, came back on for a couple of hours Tuesday morning and stayed off until about an hour ago. Tuesday morning, the situation seemed quaint, "Oh we have such a snug little house, look, it only got down to 60 degrees!" Our neighbors invited us over for ribs we had cooked on the grill for dinner, then we we went to my parents to spend the night. Isaac had been fussy all day and had a little fever, but we didn't think that much of it. Then when I was getting him ready for bed, he felt really warm. He had a fever of 104.6. Mom put Joe to bed and Kirk and I rushed to the Emergency Room, Isaac screaming the entire way. It turned out he had an ear infection. We came home, got settled in for the night and my parents power went out. We all slept through the night bundled in tons of blankets and discovered in the morning that my brother's power was back on. So after my parents treated us to Wendy's, we went to my brothers and hung out until after supper. Then we went to another friends to spend the night and they informed us (yeah!!!) they had a generator we could use. So Joe & Isaac played with their son while Kirk and Chris set up the generator. We got home after nine to a warm and slightly lit home. The generator served us well Wednesday and Thursday. Sputtering out a couple of times, but still keeping our house warm enough.

First I have to say how kind our friends and family were. It was so great that we had places to be that were warm. People were so kind and welcoming. We had several offers for places to stay, laundry facilities, and meals. We were fortunate in so many ways.

Second, I have to say, Wow that sucked. By Wednesday night we were exhausted, after going from house to another, dragging along this poor sick baby and cranky 4 year old, forgetting medicine in the fridge, underwear in the dryer. It was so good to be finally at home in our own beds, even with no dishwasher, washing machine, stove, microwave, deep freezer, and few lights. Chris and Marcy are my heroes!

Now Kirk and I are actually planning what we need for when this happens again. All of our readers (all 3 of you) go now and read what you need in the case of an emergency. You may someday have need for such information.

Storm Brewing

Word is there's quite a storm coming. Bar the door, batten down the hatches! I never know how much to prepare for these things. There are some who say that I prepare a little too much (I've been called the Safety Patrol). But as I snuggle in the warmth of my pile of blankets eating my canned beans and corn, I will welcome even those who mock me. Their breath will keep things warmer! Wish us luck as we face THE STORM!

p.s. The pic is from the Bethel College Collegian.