Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The ice storm
The ice storm. At some point, most of you probably heard about the big ice storm that hit the northeast. Bleck. Looking out our front and back doors, it really didn't look that bad. I remember the ice storm back in Lafayette in the early 90s, and this was nothing compared to that mess. Then we got in the car and drove around, and we saw everything.
It rained all evening and all night last Thursday. We could hear the ice pellets bouncing off the skylight all night. I don't think Brett and I slept much that night because both of us knew he had to get up at 4:30 that morning to go to work, and de-icing, let alone getting in to the car, wasn't going to be fun. We both woke up, and I turned on the tea kettle for hot water to melt through the ice on his car door. Luckily, we didn't have to use much of it. Brett drive off to work and said he was dodging fallen tree limbs everywhere. He got to the hangar at the airport, and they had lost power. So, the mechanics couldn't open the hangar doors to get the planes out to fly their day. Thankfully those mechnics are resourceful and rigged something to open the doors, and Brett did his crazy 12-hour day flying to and from Boston.
We pretty much stayed in all weekend. The ice storm was followed by a day of 20-degree temperatures, so that wasn't too fun. I watched the news on Friday night and heard all about the power being out in all the surrounding areas. Luckily, our power was still on. We are one of the few neighborhoods in this area that have their power underground instead of power lines on poles.
Then at about 7:30 that night, CLICK!, the power went off. Brett was home, thankfully, so we hunted down the flashlight and thought about what to do. We decided to bundle up and head out for firewood. If we all slept in the living room that night, we could stay warm enough until the next morning and decide what to do then. So we changed Sophia in to her warmest sleeper and padded it with an extra pair of socks and long-sleeved onesie. Brett and I put on extra pairs of socks and fleeces. Everyone was bundled up in winter coats, and we headed to the car and, CLICK!, the power came back on. Brett and I gave each other that you've-got-to-be-kidding-me looks and decided that we'd still head out for firewood just in case the power went off again.
So out we went, with all the other people in the city, to the nearest Loews and Home Depot in search of something to burn in our fireplace. We ended up at a Loews in Clifton Park (which is about 20 minutes north) only after going to a Home Depot, a Walmart, and driving past a completely black Super Walmart. It was amazing how many stop lights and street lights were off. No one had power to the north of us. The Loews we stopped at was this bright beacon of firewood hope in the midst of blackness!
Thankfully, we never had to use the wood we bought, but I have friends in other parts of town that have been living off of fireplaces and generators since Friday. Can you imagine? I ended up hosting our moms/quilting group meeting because we were the only people with heat in the group. Wild. The ice is all melted now, but there are still people without power. There's just so much to clean up.
Sophia didn't mind staying in too much. After the ice stopped on Friday, the snow started, and she thought it was something else. She stood at the back door for a good 20 minutes watching the snow fall. She just kept turning around to me and saying, "Dah!" Not sure what that means, but I think it might translate to, "Look at that!"
Sophia took the last two pictures herself...meaning, she pushed the button while I held the camera. Nice composition for a 1-year-old.
It rained all evening and all night last Thursday. We could hear the ice pellets bouncing off the skylight all night. I don't think Brett and I slept much that night because both of us knew he had to get up at 4:30 that morning to go to work, and de-icing, let alone getting in to the car, wasn't going to be fun. We both woke up, and I turned on the tea kettle for hot water to melt through the ice on his car door. Luckily, we didn't have to use much of it. Brett drive off to work and said he was dodging fallen tree limbs everywhere. He got to the hangar at the airport, and they had lost power. So, the mechanics couldn't open the hangar doors to get the planes out to fly their day. Thankfully those mechnics are resourceful and rigged something to open the doors, and Brett did his crazy 12-hour day flying to and from Boston.
We pretty much stayed in all weekend. The ice storm was followed by a day of 20-degree temperatures, so that wasn't too fun. I watched the news on Friday night and heard all about the power being out in all the surrounding areas. Luckily, our power was still on. We are one of the few neighborhoods in this area that have their power underground instead of power lines on poles.
Then at about 7:30 that night, CLICK!, the power went off. Brett was home, thankfully, so we hunted down the flashlight and thought about what to do. We decided to bundle up and head out for firewood. If we all slept in the living room that night, we could stay warm enough until the next morning and decide what to do then. So we changed Sophia in to her warmest sleeper and padded it with an extra pair of socks and long-sleeved onesie. Brett and I put on extra pairs of socks and fleeces. Everyone was bundled up in winter coats, and we headed to the car and, CLICK!, the power came back on. Brett and I gave each other that you've-got-to-be-kidding-me looks and decided that we'd still head out for firewood just in case the power went off again.
So out we went, with all the other people in the city, to the nearest Loews and Home Depot in search of something to burn in our fireplace. We ended up at a Loews in Clifton Park (which is about 20 minutes north) only after going to a Home Depot, a Walmart, and driving past a completely black Super Walmart. It was amazing how many stop lights and street lights were off. No one had power to the north of us. The Loews we stopped at was this bright beacon of firewood hope in the midst of blackness!
Thankfully, we never had to use the wood we bought, but I have friends in other parts of town that have been living off of fireplaces and generators since Friday. Can you imagine? I ended up hosting our moms/quilting group meeting because we were the only people with heat in the group. Wild. The ice is all melted now, but there are still people without power. There's just so much to clean up.
Sophia didn't mind staying in too much. After the ice stopped on Friday, the snow started, and she thought it was something else. She stood at the back door for a good 20 minutes watching the snow fall. She just kept turning around to me and saying, "Dah!" Not sure what that means, but I think it might translate to, "Look at that!"
Sophia took the last two pictures herself...meaning, she pushed the button while I held the camera. Nice composition for a 1-year-old.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Our latest projects
We've been working on a bunch of projects lately. Although Sophia wasn't able to stay awake long enough, we did get up the Christmas tree. I know I'll put this tree up in my kids room someday and remember where Brett and I started. We bought this little tree from a craft store with a 50% of coupon. It was the only thing we could afford at the time - a little 4-foot, prelighted, artificial tree. It's covered in ornaments from our parents, gifts from friends, and little 50 cent wooden animals that I painted myself. For now, it's been elevated with the help of the entertainment center and a heavy, book-filled, Christmas-wrapped box. All this in order to keep it out of reach of Sophia's little hands. So far, it's worked extremely well. Sophia stared at that tree the first time we turned on the lights. I know this technically isn't her first Christmas, but it is her first Christmas where we can see that glimmer of curiousity and wonder in her eyes. It's so special to experience that with her.
Just today, I worked on the decorations for the back doors in our living room. Low budget decorating is so rewarding! While a friend was here fixing our dripping shower faucet upstairs, I was sitting at the kitchen table, feeling like I was 10 years old again. How long has it been since you've made paper snowflakes? I had so much fun! I taped all the snowflakes on the windows of the back door, and I took an extra string of white lights and hung them on the back door curtain rod. It looks great! Sophia kept pointing at the snowflakes after she got up from her afternoon nap. I really think that, by the end of Christmas, we'll get her to say "snow."
Yesterday, I finally finished a project for my quilting group. We all decided that we were going to make a quilt for the Parent and Child Society in Schenectady, which provides assistance to low-income families. Each of us is going to make a strip to add to this quilt, and we're going to pass it around until we get the whole quilt top made. I got to do the second strip on the quilt we're making for a little girl. Isn't it cute?!?! I designed and appliqued five different squares - a bird, hearts, a butterfly, and two flowers. I just made it out of leftover fabric. I'm so happy with it! It was the first time I'd ever done any applique or embroidery, so I hope I did it right. We'll see what the ladies think. We have a meeting on the 15th, and I'm so excited to show it to them!
Just today, I worked on the decorations for the back doors in our living room. Low budget decorating is so rewarding! While a friend was here fixing our dripping shower faucet upstairs, I was sitting at the kitchen table, feeling like I was 10 years old again. How long has it been since you've made paper snowflakes? I had so much fun! I taped all the snowflakes on the windows of the back door, and I took an extra string of white lights and hung them on the back door curtain rod. It looks great! Sophia kept pointing at the snowflakes after she got up from her afternoon nap. I really think that, by the end of Christmas, we'll get her to say "snow."
Yesterday, I finally finished a project for my quilting group. We all decided that we were going to make a quilt for the Parent and Child Society in Schenectady, which provides assistance to low-income families. Each of us is going to make a strip to add to this quilt, and we're going to pass it around until we get the whole quilt top made. I got to do the second strip on the quilt we're making for a little girl. Isn't it cute?!?! I designed and appliqued five different squares - a bird, hearts, a butterfly, and two flowers. I just made it out of leftover fabric. I'm so happy with it! It was the first time I'd ever done any applique or embroidery, so I hope I did it right. We'll see what the ladies think. We have a meeting on the 15th, and I'm so excited to show it to them!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Sophia's First Birthday
Sophia's birthday isn't until December 11, but we decided to celebrate early. Brett's parents flew to Albany for the weekend, and we all had a good time watching Sophia eat cake and open presents. Here are a few highlights!
What's in the box, Grandma?
Ooooo...new sleepers!
And an empty box!
Opening the gift from godparents, Chris and Sarah Sansone.
Sophia concentrated so hard on ripping the paper.
Little People Noah's Ark! Perfect!
Opening gifts from Mom and Dad.
We had to read the book before progressing on to anything else.
A BIG RED BALL!
Open it, Daddy! Open it!
The birthday cake - a bathtub with water and Sophia's rubber duck.
Yum...Jello...
Yum...even better...cake...
She got cake everywhere.
We went straight from the cake and in to the bathtub. I sense a theme for the day...
Sophia wants me to brush her hair.
What's in the box, Grandma?
Ooooo...new sleepers!
And an empty box!
Opening the gift from godparents, Chris and Sarah Sansone.
Sophia concentrated so hard on ripping the paper.
Little People Noah's Ark! Perfect!
Opening gifts from Mom and Dad.
We had to read the book before progressing on to anything else.
A BIG RED BALL!
Open it, Daddy! Open it!
The birthday cake - a bathtub with water and Sophia's rubber duck.
Yum...Jello...
Yum...even better...cake...
She got cake everywhere.
We went straight from the cake and in to the bathtub. I sense a theme for the day...
Sophia wants me to brush her hair.
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