I -Don't- Like Ike

I know I've been MIA for the past few days, and, as always, I apologize...but this time I have a legitimate excuse. Hurricane Ike passed through on Saturday and left in its wake moderate destruction at the Anderson abode. Our neighbor's dead tree fell right across the fence and landed right on our roof. So we have holes, a couple of new "skylights" (the biggest one is right in my closet) and lots of missing eaves. It was nerve-wracking for awhile and now it's quite the hassle, but we certainly realize it could have been much worse. For a lot of people, it was a lot worse...my heart and prayers go out to them. So, this has been my project for the past few days; fielding calls to and from the insurance company, the neighbors, contractors, roofers, the tree removal people...shaking insulation and pieces of my ceiling out of my clothes and vacuuming it off the floor. We spent yesterday afternoon cleaning off the patio (and we're much obliged to my in-laws for all their hard work helping us...thanks Jim and Debbie!) so at least the people who came today to give us estimates on the work that must be done were able to get around out there. What a mess this thing has been. More than anything we find ourselves continually grateful for what didn't happen, but could have. Like, aside from rattled nerves, no one was hurt. Josh and Gatsby were home when it happened- I was photographing a wedding (which is another story all its own!). Hopefully, I'll be back soon...with something much happier, and far more colorful than dead trees and devastation!

sweetly, happily, and artfully yours,

randi