Hurricane Sandy Hits RI

 Sunday was full of storm preparation for Hurricane Sandy - setting up the barograph and exchanging our indoor-outdoor weather station at Home Depot. We stocked up on flashlights, batteries, and canned goods at Stop and Shop. Filled buckets on the porch in anticipation of flushing the toilet with no power. The wind and waves were big and I took some pictures of the surfers and windsurfers at the beach in Matunuck. Since we live on a good point break, house guests magically appear whenever storms roll through. We had two "water sports enthusiasts" staying with us, they were lucky to get out before things got really bad on Monday afternoon!

We were supposed to evacuate but didn't, as our house is on pretty high ground. The homeowners (who live across the driveway) are ready for the apocalypse, so our farm is in good shape. The hand-pump for well water is coming in handy. The pigs and cows didn't seem to be bothered by the storm but the sheep were all huddled together under a tree to stay dry. A tree fell across the driveway on Monday and within 20 minutes Eric (the homeowner) had his tractor out and was pulling it out of the way - we think he was just excited to use the tractor for something!

The electricity started to flicker just as I was mixing dough for sugar cookies. I made them in record time - racing the loss of electricity - and had no sooner pulled them out of the oven than the power went out. Good thing I didn't opt for bread with a longer baking time! (Nate posted a picture to Facebook - "Will El finish the cookies before the power goes out?")

My barograph runs on electricity (who came up with that idea?) so we've had to advance it by hand ever since the power went out at 3 on Monday - it looks like a diagonal line going down then steps coming up.

We've been cooking dinners on the neighbors' grill and playing Scrabble by candles and an oil lamp. Nate beat me on Monday with "Flog" and last night I got him with "Queasy"...those triple letter scores are a killer!

Now (and until we get power back) I am working and showering at URI. National Grid says my office won't have power until Saturday. I've only been asked my major once so far.