September 7th

16 years to the day, 

from the last catastrophe to 

hit our home, Hurricane Katrina,

an unwelcomed Ida roared through.

As she was passing Kenner,

she was still a category 3 storm.

Sadly, it is 9 days later and still some

are without electricity and water.

Our "boil water' advisory was recently

lifted so that's promising.

We sustained minimal damage,

just a few shingles, gutters, a tree and our fences.

All things fixable, thank the Lord.

Before the storm, we let the hens out to forage as 

long as it was safe to do.

Turns out, they are smarter than us,

because when it started to rain,

into the coop they went!

We left ample water and new

cedar shavings as bedding

inside the coop.

Before things got too bad, we lost power.

It wasn't hot yet.

Yet.

Then the howling winds started up!

It was unnerving to sit and listen to

the strong gusts buffet the house.

It felt as though the house was

breathing heavily!

At times it was like a 

white out sensation.

In the front, we were unable to see past

our sidewalk.

We heard a crash, but didn't know what happened.

During a lull, we peeked out the front door.

It was a huge branch of a tree 

from our side yard that came down

on the corner of the roof and took out the gutter.

All the gutters on that side of the house

pulled off.

They were being blown around

like metal ribbons!

(The red light in that picture,

is just artifact, no

one had electricity at this time)

In the light of day, after the storm

had passed, we were able to make an

assessment of damage.

This is what the tree looked like.

The CEO started up the generator so 

we at least were able to power the

freezer, fridge and a fan.

When we opened the coop,

the chicken girls ventured out, but 

didn't do much foraging.

They mostly stayed under the patio or

in any shade they could find.

They may have still been

a bit frightened.

I had a cucumber in the fridge

that I cut up so they could

have a cold treat.

We had also collected rain water in a 

large galvanized tub that

they used for drinking.

There was no water pressure.

Their bedding was changed again

because the rain soaked it.

It was coming in sideways and

blew up under the wooden

lid we had locked down!

So, with clean, fresh bedding and water,

they were content.

Our veggie garden is a bust,

so we'll just pull up the dead

plants and prepare the 

beds for the fall.

There were some black shingles 

and large plastic pieces of something,

strewn around the yard.

That same tree from the backyard.

The CEO cut as much as he could

to get it off the roof.

This is after we picked up debris and raked

as much as  we could.

It was incredibly HOT!

Then the generator died!

Incredible heat.

I didn't think I could sweat that much

since Katrina!

As soon as he could get out,

the CEO drove to Slidell 

(they had power)

and bought another one.

Mercifully, it worked like a dream.

Its' wattage is larger, so

we were able to run a 

small A/C window unit, the freezer,

fridge and

several small appliances,

so I could actually cook something.

Then, the hunt for gas was on....

Again, the CEO trekked around

searching to fill the gas cans.

He was successful!

We were very lucky,

I know that, and I'm thankful.

I pray daily for the safety

of those who are still without

and have lost everything.

God Bless Them

And,

God bless the CEO!!

💔