Finding Nemo

The flooding is over and the kids are back in school. We were lucky. Our yard was half under water, but our house, like an island, remained high and dry. Sadly, for many of my friends and neighbors the water did find its way into their homes. 

One of the best things about our neighborhood is the sense of community. From helping a neighbor replace his ruined hot water heater to loaning out your pair of rainboots to someone in deeper trouble, everyone is pitching in to help each other out. There are even Lost and Found emails circulating in hopes of returning wayward items. It's amazing what items managed to float away in the storm. Take a look...

1. If anyone lost their kayak from the dunes last night, they may find it in a pile down on the beach near McDonald's. 
2. A large boat bumper - light in color was found.  Email if you are missing one.
3. Several boat boxes have been lost and found.  If you have found one, let me know and i will post it. 
4.  A long haired fluffy (but slight) grey and white kitty showed up at our front door last night.  We took her in and fed her and gave her a place to sleep for the night.  She has no collar, but is very sweet (not ferrell).  We let her out in the a.m. and she was gone for the day, but has returned again this (Sat) evening.  We'll keep her for the night.  If you have any idea where she belongs or if you're looking for a sweet pet, please contact ----.

Good Samaritans, huh? I'll say! But this do-gooder really warms my heart...

If anyone lost some goldfish or coy in the storm.  We found 2 of them.

Hallelujah! Nemo is found at last!

*Side Note: If anyone needs anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm not good with power tools, but I can loan you just about anything. If it turns out to be something you have to buy, I am good at researching the best deal around. Oh, and I'm a good listener and can bake a pretty good chocolate chip cookie. Both have been proven to be therapeutic.

A Virginia Snow Day

When I was a kid I loved snow days. When I was a teacher I loved them even more. I'm a parent now. Ask me if I love snow days. Um....not so much.

Yes, today is a "snow day". Well, it's actually a "flood day" since we live in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Just east of the Piedmont region, which is separated from our region by the Fall Line. Oh, you weren't interested in that geography lesson? Well, neither am I, and neither is the Big Ballerina, but her teacher seems to think we are because she tests her on this information every 3rd day, and I am required to quiz her nightly on these painstakingly, boring facts. Those of you with kids in diapers, you think it's bad now? Just you wait.

Anyway, it's a flood day rather than a snow day so there's no beautiful, white scenery to gaze upon. No sledding. No snowball fights. Just dirty, swampy water swallowing our street, our cars and my sanity.

It was bad enough that yesterday was a holiday. Now I've got my ballerinas home for a second day in a row, and chances are good that they'll be home tomorrow too. We've already baked the cookies, done the arts and projects, watched every recorded episode of Full House, and it's only 9am. BSD's vacation ended yesterday so I'm left, without backup, to battle them alone...for the next month.

The wind is howling. The leaves are swirling. The rain is falling across rather than down. The water is creeping ever closer to my front door, and high tide is still two hours away. But none of that scares me as much as the flickering lights. If the power goes out, I'll  really be pushed over the edge. I'll miss the Project Runway finale.

 Our neighbor kayaking in the cul-de-sac

My next door neighbor's mailbox

My next door neighbor's flooded garage