Hello all!
I have been away from my blog for what seems like months. I had such grand plans for the Holiday Catalog Kickoff the first week of September but Mother Nature had other plans for me. My/ Holiday Catalog Kickoff event was scheduled for Sunday, September 10th..the day Hurricane Irma decided to descend on SW Florida.
We did not evacuate and decided to ride out the storm at home. Fortunately there was no damage to our home but the damage to trees and power lines was extensive. Over 90% of the county I live in was without power after the storm. We were without power for 9 days which is unbearable when it is 90+ degrees and the humidity is at 80%. We also had a boil water notice in effect (but no power to boil water) and some raw sewage issues in some neighborhoods. The man hole cover on my street just happens to be right at the end of my driveway so I had raw sewage a few feet into my driveway for the better part of a week. Although power has since been restored, we are still having cell phone, internet and cable issues so service is still sketchy at times.
Although we were extremely fortunate it is sad to see the lingering devastation to the area.
This lake is at the entrance to my neighborhood and it used to be a beautiful backdrop of Banyan trees that surrounded the lake. As you can see, not a single Banyan made it through the storm.
This is my street after the storm. The lines on the road are not visible because of the debris and there were several more downed trees beyond the one you can see here as well as power lines making the road impassable. Fortunately we were able to bypass this street and go through another neighborhood so we could get out and go check on friends after the storm.
This is what every street in Naples looks like right now. There is storm debris lining the side of every street as crews do their best to get to it. We are being told it could take months as the amount of debris is overwhelming.
This picture was actually take by my boss. (That is his truck in the picture) He and his family cooked and delivered food to very tired, dirty and hungry power crews that arrived from as far north as New York to help restore power to the area. We are so very grateful for their help. They spent weeks away from their own families, worked sixteen hour days in 90 degree heat and miserable conditions, slept in their trucks and ate when food was available. We are forever grateful.
Mikes Bakery (Best. Cannoli. EVER!), Tickets to Fenway! and the Old State House, Boston, MA
With no power, internet or cell phones (we lost 9 of 11 cell towers in the storm) work came to a screeching halt so my middle son and I were fortunate to find a last minute flight out of Orlando to Boston. It was a win/win...we got to spend the day in the city (I LOVE Boston) then drive to my moms house in Western Mass.
Bridge of Flowers and the Glacial Potholes, Shelburne Falls, MA
I was able to work, spend time with my mom and be a bit of a tourist in my old home town. For those of you that follow my blog and were kind enough to listen to me whine about missing New England in the Fall HERE, I was a few weeks too early for the peak of foliage season and that crisp fall air was nowhere to be found. It was 80 degrees for the entire length of our trip! It almost felt like I was back in Florida!
I did get to go apple picking with my mom and #2 son though! My mom is 88 years young and although she is a little unsteady on her feet at times she is always up for an adventure.
Thank you for sticking with me through several weeks of no posts and this super long one with no stamping! I will be back before the end of the week and hope to be sharing lots of holiday projects with you in the next few months. Unfortunately, my stamping mojo flew the coop on the wings of Hurricane Irma but it is slowly making a comeback, lol!
Thanks so much for stoppin by!
