First Autumn Storm

Every year around this time we get the big crazy wind storm and every year it immediately blows out our power, phones and cable. This one was a doozie and super fun excitement as always, though when the lights go out I do run to my Mama's arms like a one year old. As usual, the storm hit when the boys are out in the world, leaving the delicate women and myself to huddle together by the fire and watch giant trees and branches fly by the window. And, like last year, just as the capable men near home to protect us, they get blocked by a downed tree on our road which propels Grandpoop into his woodsman hero mode, his favorite mode, and he comes running down the street to fetch his axes and chainsaw so he can save the neighborhood. Grandpoop with his chainsaw, Daddy revving the big Ford truck pulling the tree away with a hefty chain...this is the stuff you all see on truck commercials but this is reality for these men. Then we finally see the sight of the truck turning down our drive and we run into their arms and tell them we love them and tell them to turn on the generator right now.

We survived the storm of course. No trees speared into the cupcake this time. The next morning Mamop and Mama and I go out to clear all the massive debris: