Aftermath of Hurricanes

Rita blew through and left us with uprooted trees, a few leaks and no electricity, we took Granny to bunk with Tate and Deb. The rest of us came over in the afternoons and stayed till our house had a chance to cool down. Not that it ever did! We were out of electricity for a week. We borrowed a generator and were able to keep the freezers on.

We ate well, Darrin came home for the hurricane, and here he is shredding chicken for his fantastic Enchiladas. Missy is so patient, I'll bet she got some chicken, right?
Kit had gone back to New Orleans for this hurricane; she did not stay long; things were much less damaged this far north.

Jeff and Stewart at Musselfest

We recently camped on Whidbey Island with our Winnebago group. We went there for the Musselfest celebration that is sponsored by Penn Cove Mussel Farm, the company that Stewart builds equipment for. We met up with Stewart and went out on a tour boat to see how mussels are raised and harvested. The farm manager who was leading the tour could not stop talking about what a great job Stewart does with their equipment. Here is a picture of the brothers on the tour boat.

Snow in Iraq?

This guy is really not this happy in Rutbah, An Bar Province, Iraq. The dumfounded look is because that is not sand, but snow!

His tour was extended for the third time. He was to leave 20 Jan. now it will be May or June. The boy just wants to come home and marry his sweetheart!

When he does come home he will move to another desert, and train all the few and proud who will be taking his place "over there".

Kit unloading the dishwasher and Sadie wanting to help, or hinder? That was her favorite spot in the kitchen (Sadie). Photo taken when the 'girls' were living with us. We sure miss them.

I will be holding a Book Fair this next week. That is always a long and tiring week! The open house evening is always very busy, and the goodnight and thankyou announcement is ignored in the Library, we have to keep reminding the parents to go home! But they do buy books!

Darrin seems to be in better humor this week. You guys e-mail him, he gets so lonely out there in El Anbar Province, Iraq.

Have tractor will work

Pet Rock is on winter break. Working harder most days. Tilling the soil for planting, both veggies and getting the flower beds ready to sow.

His work is easier with Mr. Long as daddy called the tractor.

This must be breaktime. That was the compost bed last season. Guess I will have to find another spot.

Kathy had an idea for the front entry bed, so we will put in a mound and reshape the walk in the courtyard. All this and looks like we need to go fish, Who is ready for a fish fry?