We were sitting around the table eating pizza, and the conversation turned to the Mason-Dixon line. Don't ask how or why... you know how general chit chat can evolve. Esther then asked me why she couldn't see the Mason-Dixon line on the map. I decided that textbooks or no, it was time for a brief study on the history of the Mason-Dixon line.
While we can't see the Mason-Dixon line, I was surprised at what she could see.
"Hey look, Wisconsin and Finger Lakes look like an Indian Chief!" You have to understand that we have a large map of the United States on a wall. Wisconsin is yellow, for the record. Maybe something to do with cheese?
That wasn't all.
"And Mississippi looks like that chef on Ratatouille, the one who 'served time' and said ' I keeeled a man with my thumb.'"
Seriously. If you look at it like a profile, it does.
What was in that pizza anyway?
The Beehive Buzz
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
A Quilter's Brain
Anyone who quilts, or knows a quilter well, will love this!
(Thank you to my friend Regina from Regina's Aprons N' Things!)
(Thank you to my friend Regina from Regina's Aprons N' Things!)
Day Two in the Flood Zone
This morning we woke up without any drama. The rushing sound of water was absent, and the power was on. It was still cloudy, but thankfully the predicted once again missed us. In fact, the sun came out this afternoon!
The pumps have been pumping the water out of the basement of the church for 28 hours. There is still around 5 inches. It should have been all pumped out by now, but the water table is so high that it is just seeping back in. At one point this afternoon Dale had to change out one of the pumps, and in the time it took to switch things around, the level went up almost an inch. With two pumps going, we are barely gaining any ground. I don't even want to think about how high the water would be had we not started pumping yesterday!
The pond in our back yard is shrinking rapidly, and when I went to the gym late this afternoon, there was no longer water on the road. The neighbors yard must be somewhat accessible, as I heard them moving gravel around to rebuild the driveway this afternoon.
Shrinking "pond" in our yard:
Same road as yesterday, but noticeably less water!
We had school today, though public school didn't. And I told the kids that if we aren't cleaning over at church tomorrow, we would do "Monday", so that when we can get in to start the cleaning up process, we can take a couple days off from school without technically missing a day. They weren't thrilled to learn that, but such is life.
Dale took more of a look around, wearing rubber waders for safety, and said it is really a mess. Stuff is everywhere. The furnace ( 3 days older than dirt on a good day ) will need either servicing or replacing. The dehumidifier may be shot. That, and the stove, will have to dry out completely, then we will see what is working and what is going in the trash pile. Oh, he just informed me that he also found a dead, floating mouse. Gross.
This has been an interesting first week of school, to say the least! Poor Isaac just couldn't take it anymore at dinner tonight.
Did you notice he fell asleep with his hand in his food, and the other clutching his fork?
The pumps have been pumping the water out of the basement of the church for 28 hours. There is still around 5 inches. It should have been all pumped out by now, but the water table is so high that it is just seeping back in. At one point this afternoon Dale had to change out one of the pumps, and in the time it took to switch things around, the level went up almost an inch. With two pumps going, we are barely gaining any ground. I don't even want to think about how high the water would be had we not started pumping yesterday!
The pond in our back yard is shrinking rapidly, and when I went to the gym late this afternoon, there was no longer water on the road. The neighbors yard must be somewhat accessible, as I heard them moving gravel around to rebuild the driveway this afternoon.
Shrinking "pond" in our yard:
Same road as yesterday, but noticeably less water!
We had school today, though public school didn't. And I told the kids that if we aren't cleaning over at church tomorrow, we would do "Monday", so that when we can get in to start the cleaning up process, we can take a couple days off from school without technically missing a day. They weren't thrilled to learn that, but such is life.
Dale took more of a look around, wearing rubber waders for safety, and said it is really a mess. Stuff is everywhere. The furnace ( 3 days older than dirt on a good day ) will need either servicing or replacing. The dehumidifier may be shot. That, and the stove, will have to dry out completely, then we will see what is working and what is going in the trash pile. Oh, he just informed me that he also found a dead, floating mouse. Gross.
This has been an interesting first week of school, to say the least! Poor Isaac just couldn't take it anymore at dinner tonight.
Did you notice he fell asleep with his hand in his food, and the other clutching his fork?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Got Raft?
If you have been watching the news or weather, you may have noticed some moisture in our area.
"A little moisture", as in public school was let out early yesterday, cancelled today, and tomorrow. ( What is that? "Flood days"? )
"A little moisture", as in the Susquehanna River is currently at 36 feet, and predicted to go higher when the flood waters crest later this afternoon. (Official "Flood" level is 18 feet.)
"A little moisture" as in our back yard is now a pond.
"A little moisture" as in our neighbors property is now fit for white water rafting.
"A little moisture" as in our road is now a river.
"A little moisture", as in there is a couple feet of water in the basement of the church. (Thankfully, the parsonage is still dry!)
I'm sure you get the idea.
At five this morning Caleb came into our room to tell us the power was out. My brain was a little foggy, having just come out of a deep sleep, so I couldn't figure out why the child thought the power was out when I could hear the fan still on. If I could just pry my eyes open to look a the clock... Oh wait. My eyes were open. It was pitch black, and my oh my the wind was blowing! At first I thought a branch had come down and knocked the power out. I tried to clear the cobwebs from my brain, and both Dale and I got out of bed to check everything out. I went in the living room and noticed something: No wind.
Whaaat?
I felt/stumbled my way back to the bedroom to listen. That wasn't wind. It was water rushing!
It made my spine tingle and adrenaline pump to hear that water, rushing, and not being able to see it in the dark. Dale by now had a couple of flashlights, and we could shine them a little ways into the back yard. It was enough to tell us that we now had a pond instead of a yard. I went downstairs to check and see if we had any water, and was glad to see everything bone dry.
Isaac had awakened so I rocked him for a bit, trying to get him back to sleep. Dale had lit the hurricane lamps (which, for the record we have never used in a hurricane. In face, when Irene went through here last week it was just a windy, rainy, day. This flooding was MUCH much more impressive, if you ask me.)
Dale went out with the flashlight to look around a bit. Isaac refused to go back to sleep, and by now a few of the other kids were up too. We were, and are in no danger other than getting a little wet. As daybreak hit I could see from the window where the pond had turned into rapids over the road. All the water from the rains over the last week was draining down off hills, into a stream, overflowing into the pond, and now was overtaking out yard, and the neighbors around the immediate area.
Our neighbors across the street are hit really hard. Their property is almost totally immersed, except for a little patch of grass and the house. They were up all night moving equipment and watching the rising waters.
The power came back on around 6am or so, much to our surprise. I started laundry, and filling thermoses, pitchers, and water bottles just in case we loose power again. We decided to do school work. A sense of purpose instead of pacing and watching the water would be better for everyone. Some of the kids finished early and came out to explore the new pond where the kick ball diamond used to be.
There has been a lot of traffic on our little road from people coming to take pictures of the impromptu rapids. One of the men that have lived around here their entire lives said they've seen floods here before, but never to this extent.
Oh, and there is more rain in the forecast.
Smashing.
If you don't see me online for a bit, assume we are bailing out the church, or on a raft making our way unconventionally down the southern tier of NY.
Pics from today:
Egg that Elizabeth found out under the water. When we shook it something rattled around in it. None of us dared open it, but disposed of it quickly.
Esther practicing for the rowing team in our yard.
Somewhere under all that is a yard.
The neighbor's driveway, across the street from us. Ironically, their pond is the one that is overflowing. The water gushing down like rapids chiseled a 2.5 foot trench along the pavement into their driveway.
Our little road masquerading as a river.
The Fellowship hall in the church basement. Note in the background, you can see the brand new fridge we got a couple weeks ago, laying on it's back in the little room in the background.
"A little moisture", as in public school was let out early yesterday, cancelled today, and tomorrow. ( What is that? "Flood days"? )
"A little moisture", as in the Susquehanna River is currently at 36 feet, and predicted to go higher when the flood waters crest later this afternoon. (Official "Flood" level is 18 feet.)
"A little moisture" as in our back yard is now a pond.
"A little moisture" as in our neighbors property is now fit for white water rafting.
"A little moisture" as in our road is now a river.
"A little moisture", as in there is a couple feet of water in the basement of the church. (Thankfully, the parsonage is still dry!)
I'm sure you get the idea.
At five this morning Caleb came into our room to tell us the power was out. My brain was a little foggy, having just come out of a deep sleep, so I couldn't figure out why the child thought the power was out when I could hear the fan still on. If I could just pry my eyes open to look a the clock... Oh wait. My eyes were open. It was pitch black, and my oh my the wind was blowing! At first I thought a branch had come down and knocked the power out. I tried to clear the cobwebs from my brain, and both Dale and I got out of bed to check everything out. I went in the living room and noticed something: No wind.
Whaaat?
I felt/stumbled my way back to the bedroom to listen. That wasn't wind. It was water rushing!
It made my spine tingle and adrenaline pump to hear that water, rushing, and not being able to see it in the dark. Dale by now had a couple of flashlights, and we could shine them a little ways into the back yard. It was enough to tell us that we now had a pond instead of a yard. I went downstairs to check and see if we had any water, and was glad to see everything bone dry.
Isaac had awakened so I rocked him for a bit, trying to get him back to sleep. Dale had lit the hurricane lamps (which, for the record we have never used in a hurricane. In face, when Irene went through here last week it was just a windy, rainy, day. This flooding was MUCH much more impressive, if you ask me.)
Dale went out with the flashlight to look around a bit. Isaac refused to go back to sleep, and by now a few of the other kids were up too. We were, and are in no danger other than getting a little wet. As daybreak hit I could see from the window where the pond had turned into rapids over the road. All the water from the rains over the last week was draining down off hills, into a stream, overflowing into the pond, and now was overtaking out yard, and the neighbors around the immediate area.
Our neighbors across the street are hit really hard. Their property is almost totally immersed, except for a little patch of grass and the house. They were up all night moving equipment and watching the rising waters.
The power came back on around 6am or so, much to our surprise. I started laundry, and filling thermoses, pitchers, and water bottles just in case we loose power again. We decided to do school work. A sense of purpose instead of pacing and watching the water would be better for everyone. Some of the kids finished early and came out to explore the new pond where the kick ball diamond used to be.
There has been a lot of traffic on our little road from people coming to take pictures of the impromptu rapids. One of the men that have lived around here their entire lives said they've seen floods here before, but never to this extent.
Oh, and there is more rain in the forecast.
Smashing.
If you don't see me online for a bit, assume we are bailing out the church, or on a raft making our way unconventionally down the southern tier of NY.
Pics from today:
Egg that Elizabeth found out under the water. When we shook it something rattled around in it. None of us dared open it, but disposed of it quickly.
Esther practicing for the rowing team in our yard.
Somewhere under all that is a yard.
The neighbor's driveway, across the street from us. Ironically, their pond is the one that is overflowing. The water gushing down like rapids chiseled a 2.5 foot trench along the pavement into their driveway.
Our little road masquerading as a river.
The Fellowship hall in the church basement. Note in the background, you can see the brand new fridge we got a couple weeks ago, laying on it's back in the little room in the background.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Tying Up Loose Ends
Before we start school next week I wanted to take some time to finish up a few projects. Yesterday I finished culottes for Jerusha and I, Yay!
Mine look just like hers, only in my size. :P
I also finished this baby quilt. I had originally started it for a friend, then went with another quilt, and this one got put in the "to do later" pile. That was last March. So I finished it up today. Not sure what to do with it... maybe sell it? Anyone interested? Times like this I wish I had an Etsy shop!
Also FINALLY finished my Seaweed Cardigan! Here is the front and back. It is very comfortable and I'm glad it is done. I'm toying with making another one next spring.
I know I said the fleece bathrobes were "next" after the culottes but that baby quilt was on top of the bathrobe material and I just couldn't see putting off finishing it any longer. :) (Note: any excuse to quilt is acceptable!)
NOW the bathrobes are really next!
Mine look just like hers, only in my size. :P
I also finished this baby quilt. I had originally started it for a friend, then went with another quilt, and this one got put in the "to do later" pile. That was last March. So I finished it up today. Not sure what to do with it... maybe sell it? Anyone interested? Times like this I wish I had an Etsy shop!
Also FINALLY finished my Seaweed Cardigan! Here is the front and back. It is very comfortable and I'm glad it is done. I'm toying with making another one next spring.
I know I said the fleece bathrobes were "next" after the culottes but that baby quilt was on top of the bathrobe material and I just couldn't see putting off finishing it any longer. :) (Note: any excuse to quilt is acceptable!)
NOW the bathrobes are really next!
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