After Irma: Downed Power Lines, Cement Poisoning, and a Sore Butt

The tree that took out the power

Hurricane Irma came and went but what a mess she left in her wake! We were very lucky....we didn't get the Category 4 winds or a storm surge that the islands and South Florida did...however, some of our trees came down. The picture is a tree that came down in the barnyard and took out our power. The tree is approximately 60+ feet...a monster. I am grateful it didn't go down on the barn or the house....they would have been destroyed. The fun stuff comes, though, since we are responsible to get the monster out of the yard so the power company can run power lines again.

The meter pole was undamaged....good for us....but the hubby decided to concrete it in, which he did. Our price.....cement poisoning to his hand in a couple of places. A disclaimer....I didn't know anything about cement poisoning...nada, nothing. I do now. I now know it is a chemical burn caused by the alkaline chemicals in cement and it continues to burn EVEN WHEN THE CEMENT IS REMOVED FROM THE SKIN.  Yes, sorry, I am yelling. So what did we do? Burn antibiotic ointment, clean bandages, mild acid soak (vinegar and water) to neutralize the chemicals from the cement. Luckily it is healing well and we avoided a trip to the ED. I also found the best way to treat cement poisoning is prevention....gloves....flush the area with water.....soak in vinegar.

Back to the tree.....the chainsaws are going and cutting up the monster. The tree will be firewood this winter so at least it won't go to waste.

The tree in sections to be carried off

The limbs from the tree

Oh, the sore butt? That is from carrying in the plants from the yard to protect them from Irma's wind. I am a firm believer that body parts are supposed to work without letting you know about the process or mechanism. It is when something happens, like an injury, that you become aware of the part...acutely aware.....like breathing should be easy and never difficult, the heart should beat without pain.....Well, while carrying the big ponytail palm tree into the house I discovered my sciatic nerve...or maybe the muscle in the butt. I was happy to know it was there without having to know exactly where.
It's better now, though. I can get back to doing what I do best.....GoofingOff.
Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing

Water, Laundry, And Banana Nut Bread: Getting Ready for Hurricane Irma

I've been mentally practicing disaster drills since I first saw the destruction Hurricane Camille left on the Mississippi Gulf Coast back in the 1970's.  Over and over I go through the drill....water, food, keep the freezer full, storm shutters or plywood over the windows, important phone numbers close by, important papers easy to get to. With Irma projected to hit the majority of Florida tomorrow I guess  I will be put to the test.

Latest projected path for Category 4 Irma. The red line goes over my house. 

Whether or not to evacuate is a big decision the hubby and I thought over. The line of cars coming from south Florida goes for miles. The cars creep along the highway at 20 miles an hour.  Gas is in short supply.

Cars on US 19 going north....a back road to the Panhandle and Tallahassee. The line extends more than 20 miles south.

We are staying put. The last place I want to be is in my car when the storm hits.

We live in an area that isn't close to the shore or low lying. Our home is a house, a solid built one (hopefully) that can take long hours of the winds that are predicted. We have pets....three dogs...that are not welcome at the shelters. And, most importantly, the hubby says he's not leaving and I am not leaving without him. Then again, I could knock him out and drag him along....maybe not. It would be quite a task.

Today is last minute prep day. Cleaning and filling the tubs with fresh water for drinking, washing, and flushing toilets. Laundry. Baking my favorite banana bread recipe. Stop laughing. Carbs that taste good will help a bit.

I am more than a little concerned for our friends who live on the coast. Hurricane Hermine (a category 1) swamped the little seaside town of Suwannee. Some friends had 6 feet of standing water in the house while others had their homes moved off their foundations by the storm surge.

I have more than a few hand workable projects to keep me busy and quell the fear I feel inside.

I will post more later. Keep us in your prayers.
Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing