Sandy's Daily Updates

Thursday and we have beautiful weather. It is sunny, breezy, 82 degrees and mice, at 4:12 p.m. I like fall with nice weather. I saw a chipmunk scurrying around, looking for seeds, or what ever he could fine. they are so cute and little. The birds have been out singing and the squirrel has visited. A great day.

Yesterday was very busy. I washed, dried, folded and bagged 20 tie blankets. Today I had six to do. Six isn’t bad; twenty is a bit much. However, they are so nice and soft when done. We are getting close to the end of this project. Yea! We had Crafts last evening so that is where the 6 blankets cor today came from. We should finish up in the next week or two.

Other then that there isn’t much going on around here. The news is mostly about the flood victims from the flooding and hurricane. So far, for all states the death total, as of this morning, is 200, and they expect to find more. That is sad. The people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia didn’t know or expect the storm would go so far inland, create such devastation through every town, city, road, freeway, everyplace. The flood waters did the most damage and took the lives. The major highways are still mostly impassable and the back roads are totally a mess. So many washed away, bridges gone, trails obliterated. One guy, in North Carolina, lives up on a mountain. He has no roads or trails to get anyplace for supplies, and his brother is a invalid, bed ridden and on Oxygen. He took a long rope, tied it around a tree, and climbs up and down on that to get to the closes place to get gas for the generator , water and whatever else he can get, which isn’t much. There is no electricity, and won’t be for awhile. Also, no water that is drinkable, so water is being hauled in, dropped in by helicopter, or by tank trucks. They can only go so far, then it is by mule, horse, or foot. This is everywhere that is flooded. We will go donate water on Friday, if we can find any to buy and donate. Supplies are very low as everything has been bought up and takes to where it is needed. Diapers, baby food and formula, water, sun screen, and whatever is needed as there is only clean-up going on. Very few have a livable house to go in. Very sad indeed.

Quote of the day: “As God’s standard of everything is high, let us endeavor to live for Him with the highest intention in mind.” Hannah More 1745 – 1833. British Writer, Social Reformer.

Have a great rest of your Thursday. Enjoy the beauty of the fall. Make this day a productive, cheerful, safe, and fun day.

Blessings

A new month, the start of the busy time of year. the shopping season. The party season. The candy season. the falling leaves with pretty colors season. The season of good smells drifting through the air;, the diet season so one can fit into the next season. The excitement of the season!

For so many this season is starting out to be a sad, humbling, hard, and grieving season. From Florida to Georgia; from Georgia to South Carolina; From South Carolina to North Carolina; From North Carolina to Tennessee; From Tennessee to Virginia; Helene keeps marching up the East Coast, leaving havoc along the way. She is no longer a hurricane, and by now just rain. But she is heading to Washington DC, and on up the coast. She defiantly is not a lady!

Many places around Oak Ridge and surrounding areas are collecting cases of water, diapers, canned foods, what ever they think is most needed in all the areas. So many towns are now wiped off the map, or damaged severely, needing major clean up and re-building. There are many first responders out and recovery people as well as dogs, out looking for the lost people. They now believe that they won’t find any more survivors, but still, there is hope.

So many have posted on Facebook and Tic-Toc that the government isn’t doing anything, and they shouldn’t be sending money to other countries when we have such devastation right here. The funny part of all that is, many people, who are complaining, can’t spell the President’s name; Can’t spell the vice president’s name, knows nothing about how the government works, and believes we are giving foreign aid to the illegal people coming across the border. What are they teaching in schools now days?

The weekend was very busy. Saturday we made 30 plus blankets and ha 12 people show up to help. It was fun with so many ladies, and two gentlemen, chatting and helping. One of the men from the church brought a great luncheon for us from Chic-Filet. It was so very good. Now I am washing blankets as is one other lady. We still have a few more to get made, but I believe by next weekend we will have them all done.

Saturday evening Jerry, Tammy, Dottie, Tina and I went out to dinner at Texas Road House. That was fun and very good. Sunday was quiet, rainy and dreary. Monday flew by and her I am, it’s Tuesday!

Quote of the day: “It’s simple things, like a glowing sunset; the sound of a running stream or the fresh smell in a meadow; that causes us to pause and marvel at the wonder of life; to contemplate its meaning and significance. Who can hold an autumn leaf in their hand, or sift the warm white sand on the beach, and not wonder at the Creator of it all?” Wendy Moore, 1971 – American writer.

Have a great rest of your Tuesday. Enjoy your Taco’s and the first day of October. Make it a colorful, enjoyable, exciting and safe one.

Blessings

The storm is here. Rain, High Winds, but not cool. It is 1:44 p.m. and 71 degrees. We have had quite a bit of rain, which we need. However here we haven’t seen any flooding. I am sure in parts of oak Ridge there is some, and I know that Knoxville has several areas that are flooding. Nothing like Florida and Georgia, or the Carolina’s. They are having both the flooding and the terrific high winds. So far we have one small tree down on our block.

Since they say the worst is yet to come, I thought that I would get my blog out while i still have power. So many places don’t have power now. I am thankful that we still do. Diana and her family, who live in North Carolina,don’t have power and have extensive damage from the rains and wind. Fences down, fields flooded and a couple of their livestock has wondered off. She said that they were O.K and the house was O.K. That is the main thing. She barely got a text off to Jerry with that bit of information. He said that there was no use to try and go down there as the roads were either washed away or blocked by fallen trees, power lines and who knows what else. Just please pray for them and for all who are going through the storm. I believe that for some the aftermath is as bad if not worse then the storm itself.

The weekend should be interesting. Tomorrow we are supposed to go to the church and tie blankets from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. I am sure that we will be able to, but I am not sure how many people will be able to make it, depending on the weather and how their place is after this. Some of the people who said that they want to come live out of Oak Ridge, so will have to drive, and they live in the more mountainous areas so might not be able to get out. We shall wait and see. I am hoping that everyone gets to come and we can get the blankets done. At least most of them. I hope we can deliver them by the middle of October at the latest.

Quote of the day: “How we leave the world is more important then how we entered it.” Janette Oke, 1935 -American Writer. May you be given more and more of God’s kindness, peace, and love. Jude 1:2

Have a wonderful, safe and kind rest of your Friday. Have a fun, safe, adventurous, energetic and relaxing weekend.

Blessings

It is a rainy day in Tennessee, and quite a few other places. We have had showers on and off all day, but now it acts like it is serious and will stay around awhile. The trees, grass, flowers and bushes are enjoying it. You can almost see them smiling. They are perked up, standing a bit taller and all but yelling “THANK YOU LORD!. I’ m so thankful for the much needed rain. Later on this evening the strong winds are to pick up, and those I probably won’t be that enthralled about. I pray that the tall trees around here stand straight and are firmly rooted. I get concerned mostly about the mighty oak tree that is next door in Bill’s yard.

The temperature is 68 degrees and the time is 3:52 p.m. It looks like the 80’s and 90’s are gone for awhile. We hope that the 70’s last awhile as it is nice to not have the air conditioner going, or the heater. I don’t mind putting on a sweater if it gets a bit cool in the house. We do have throws and blankets so can watch TV with a throw and add an extra blanket on the bed at night.

Flooding is the problem with the rain. Other places have roads closed due to flooding, and there have been accidents on the highways on and off since this morning. Some people think that their car is a speed boat and can go through deep water. They can’t, so end up flipping and landing up side down. I just pray that everyone gets home from work o.k. At 4:3 0, when Tina gets off work, the traffic is quite heavy . It takes her 20 minutes to go to work in the morning and 45 minutes to get home at night.

Dinner tonight is going to be chicken and rice, with a vegetable. Something simple as I have some chicken leftover and want to use it up. I also am going to stuff some celery sticks to nibble on and for Tina to take to work tomorrow. Celery has no calories, I hope. The filling probably has some. I will use two kinds of dips, one garden vegetable and one garlic and herb.

Quote of the day: “One way or the other, God, who thought up the family in the first place, has the very best idea of how to bring sense to the chaos of broken relationships we see all around us. I really believe that if I remain still and listen a lot, He will share some solutions with me so I can share them with others.” Jill Briscoe ,1935 -, American Speaker, Writer.

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday. Make it a safe, enjoyable, productive, sociable, and fun day.

Blessings