Goodbye Hurricane Ian

 

We were so incredibly lucky.  Landfall was about 40 miles south and we did not get the big storm surge like Fort Myers Beach.  But, since it was a 60 mile wide storm the inner eye wall spun over us for 4 hours with 90 to 100 mph winds.  It was wild and crazy.  Plus, we got a flash flood warning later in the evening since we had 14.3 inches of rain in just a few hours.  And, we don’t live in a flood zone.  It’s bizarre to be watching the hurricane coverage and have the weather person pointing right where you live.

I have no regrets about not evacuating, because our house is built for this kind of storm.  We were safe inside and could access the damage without having to struggle to get back.  Again, we were fortunate the only damage was to our pool enclosure with screens out and a bent frame.

Our neighborhood has a lot of trees down, flooded streets and the clubhouse area had structures damaged, like the pickle ball area shown above. Our downtown, which is right on the beach, came through still standing for the most part.  Again, no big storm surge made all the difference.  

Five years in Florida and two major hurricanes.  I still wouldn’t trade this beach lifestyle for anything.

Hurricane Ready or Not

 

It’s the calm before the storm at the moment, but we are completely prepped and ready for what comes Wednesday.  It is concerning that the track at the time I am writing this is heading straight for my pretty beach town, but there is still plenty of time for wobbles.  

Our house did well during Irma, so we feel safe and are not near any storm surge.  But, it will not be a fun night.  I am more worried about our beaches and all the pretty spots we love so much.  During Irma, our pier was damaged because of the way the hurricane sucks out the water in the Gulf and then it rushes back with force.  

We have shutters up, plenty of food and water and a generator for loss of power.  Give the beautiful Gulf coast of Florida all the good thoughts you have in the next two days.

Hurricane Ian Uncertainty

 

There is never anything straightforward about a hurricane’s path, so there is always a lot of uncertainty. There is preparation that is done each season, so you are ready to go and do not need to fight the crowds at the stores.  Things like food, water, batteries, etc. 

A few days before, it’s smart to fill your car with gas, get gas for the generator, get cash  and for your sanity, always get last minute snacks and alcohol if you do need to hunker down :-)

And then there is the decision of whether hurricane shutters are needed.  We now have a motorized hurricane strength roll down shade for the lanai, so that makes it easy to secure all our outdoor furniture.  The window shutters are metal and need to be secured with screws, so it’s a big job that you only want to do if necessary. So we wait a bit, to follow the updated track.  But not too long to beat the outer bands with rain and wind.

Finally to add to the “fun” we are trying to travel to a wedding and may end up following the hurricane as it passes.  I guess there is never a good time and I hate to wish it upon others, like the panhandle, but Hurricane Ian - please go west!

Saturday Shots

 

Fall is subtle here.  No great cool down yet, but the mornings do begin to start off with a noticeable difference. Saturday morning was sunny and just a bit fresher feeling, so I walked through the downtown Farmer’s Market, before walking on to the beach to briefly put my toes in the water.  I never take for granted that near the sand and surf is how I can start my day if I choose.  The colors of the market, followed by the always blue water and sky make me happy.  Come along with me through these Saturday shots.

Broccoli Cheddar Noodle Casserole

 

Another thing I find I am late to the party for is Half Baked Harvest recipes.  She is big with the twenty something crowd i.e. my daughters.  Once I started following her on Instagram, I found myself pinning her daily recipe stories a lot.  But, this is the first recipe I have actually tried.  I would call it a partial success.  Find the recipe here.

Here is what I would do different next time.  First, I did make it without the chicken in the original recipe, just because I am trying to eat less meat and it is fine either way.  Second, definitely add more liquid (chicken broth and milk both) and don’t let all the liquid absorb before putting it in the oven to finish.  It needs that extra liquid while baking or it becomes quite dry.  The flavor was A+ and I will make it again, with these changes.

It is an easy, quick and family friendly recipe, just right for busy fall nights.

Happy Friday!

Life Lately

 

It’s been a quiet few weeks, which is typical for us this time of year.  No out of town visitors, not a whole lot of things on the calendar and mostly surviving the heat and humidity, while keeping one eye out as hurricanes form and develop or not.  Luckily, so far, all is well.

Football season has started and if you have followed this blog, you know I love my Michigan State Spartans. The first game always brings a longing to be on campus; tailgating and sitting in our great season ticket seats. So many wonderful memories on perfect fall football Saturdays.  

Before the game last week, we had dinner with our Florida Spartan friends at a delicious Mexican restaurant. It was a tradition to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant in East Lansing after the football games for a victory margarita, so this time, we celebrated the win in advance.

I finally watched the new Downton Abbey movie and thought it was good.  There were some interesting plot twists and I was entertained.  The movies will never be as good as the original series, especially the early years, but they are like getting back in touch with old friend at this point.  No real surprises, but a reminder of something good.

Otherwise, it’s been the usual sunsets, pool time and lots of golf.  Also, looking forward to our upcoming trip to northern Michigan that will include, my nephew’s wedding, visiting friends and family, a Mackinac Island visit and of course, more golfing.

Happy Friday!