Dreariness

What a wild storm we've been having.  Gusty winds, pouring rain, pretty cold too.  It has been completely miserable for people like me who would love it to be 80 degrees and sunny everyday.

I know I shouldn't complain because I know we need the rain, but is it really necessary to get ALL the rain we need in a matter of a few days?  I don't think so.

The old plum tree in our front yard broke in the wind.  That tree must have been here for 30 years and has survived until now.  Kind of makes me sad.  We don't know much about the people we bought this property from, but here's what I do know:  They were a married couple who bought the property in 1976 and put in the double wide mobile in 1978.  They never had any children and lived here until we bought the place in 2007.  The husband had passed away some years earlier and the wife was in the early stages of Alzheimer's, so her family moved her out to Indiana and sold the place to us.  I imagine them building this place together over the 30 years they were here - planting trees, digging ponds, building more rock walls than any one person ever should.  I've heard stories from people who knew them.  They collected the rocks from around the property and he built them into walls, fences, even a BBQ. 

They raised sheep, too. 

When we moved here, there was wool stuck to everything - tree trunks, fence posts, rock walls. 

I still find a little bit now and then.  It makes me smile.

Our ponds are full of brown, muddy water.  They look gross. 

It rained so hard the culverts couldn't keep up with the flow. 

Water ran everywhere.

We were without power for about 24 hours.  I know, doesn't seem like much, but when you don't have it, you realize how much you rely on it.  I don't mean just for the TV and computer either. 

We have propane for heat, but an electric thermostat, so no heat. 

No lights. 

No well pump.  No water.

Laci and I stayed at my mom's house last night next to the cozy wood stove.

Ryan "held down the fort" - literally. 

It felt, and sounded, like our double-wide castle might take off with the wind.

I am very thankful we are back home with full power tonight.

It has been very dreary in the Edwards house this week.

To top it all off, I hit the neighbor's dog today.

I feel terrible.

I've never hit a dog.

She just ran out straight in front of me - like she was biting the tire or something.

I hardly had time to slam on the brakes, although I tried.

I know how special my dogs are to me.

It was like hitting someone's kid.

A big brown fluffy Labrador kid.

With sweet brown eyes.

I helped her owner put her in the truck to take her to the vet.

I can hope for the best, but it didn't look good.

Tomorrow must be better.