Reflections
More of IKE
The next night , after the hurricane we had a rain storm. The water had no place to go because there was a storm surge in galveston and though they are 60 miles away the water pushed up into our bayous, we are after all the bayou city. Then when it rained, well the water had no place to go. I sweated it as the water got closer and closer to our home. Here is my husband and dog, Sam, and my street. Many neighbors already had some debris on their front lawns awaiting pick up. That compounded the problem as it blocked the drainage ditches.
We Made It Through The Hurricane!- Pictures Of IKE
Houston,Texas here. Don’t know what the national news has shown. Report- minor damage on our home. Many, Many homes in our Houston area have trees that have fallen on top of them. about 1/4 of the homes on our street have water damage as well. Huge rainstorm after the hurricane brought on the flooding. Here are some pictures.We still don’t have electricity, and are not expecting it any time soon. City says 2-6 weeks. We do have a generator but can’t use computers on it. Found a Schlotzsky’s with electricity and WI FI. Enjoying a hot meal, though I have to say that I have been cooking, using up what is in the freezer. Here I am trying to pull the tree limbs off of the pond and searching for Tilly my turtle. When I found her I was elated. Sam, my black lab was looking over my shoulder giving the camera the evil eye.
1:20 Update on Ike From Houston
Looks like a beautiful day in Houston. Kids are playing in the yard next door. If it were not for the hectic pace at the stores, and the news on the TV I would not think there was a storm.
My family boarded up the doors and windows the best they could. Don’t have enough wood for all of the windows. Sure wish I had some on the french doors in the back. Decided not to board up the studio this time. Husband is still out looking for things. I guess you get this feeling like you can’t be over prepared and so you just keep doing it.
I found more gas for the generator and I am glad to see that the stations around the house still have gas. This is another great argument for not making inbound lanes out going lanes. I do know that this gas will be useless if the power goes out, and that will be just when everyone needs it.
Those who decided to wait it out are all ready calling for rescue, and the hurricane has not hit. Go figure. I also heard their is a freighter in the gulf that is stranded.
In all I still made a trip to the foundry to get the wax for the surprise Christmas gift that my client is having me make. It will be necessary for me to have those waxes worked on before I leave next Saturday in order to make our deadline.
Hurricane Ike Is On His Way- My Update
For my clients checking in from around the United States and Beyond.
Looking at the news this morning at 8:00 am I am surprised to see some of Galveston already receiving storm surge and streets are underwater. For those who know Galveston the Strand has a foot of water. The Hurricane is pretty far away and land fall will not be until 1-3 a.m. that is more than 12 hours away. So it is surprising everyone that surge is coming in already. Everyone says this will be a storm that most have not seen in their life time.
Our studio is about at the tip of the north end of the star, the foundry is not too far from there. But as you can see the bay comes quite a bit inland. All areas south of that outer loop have been evacuated, and they have been evacuated to Austin or Dallas and not to Houston. Red cross said they sent them to a safe place. That makes me a little uncomfortable.
My question is… if the bay is backing up where does Houston’s rainwater go? No one has said anything about that. I feel Houston will see flooding like it has not in a while. WE are a city of Bayous. I’m so glad I bought flood insurance.
The Hurricane track as of this morning is to go right up the orange line or the I45 freeway. That is the one that goes through the star and just past our home/studio about 6 miles east of us. I think we are in for a heck of a night, and maybe a week.
They told us we should expect to be out of electricity for 2 weeks. Hmmmm I’m expected to pull out of here next Saturday to bring Dick and Jenna to Vermont. I know upon my return I will be exhausted. Not just from the trip but from this week.
Saws are buzzing in the neighborhood and windows are being boarded up across the street. I best go and get more gas for the generator, though our van hold quite a bit and we did buy a siphon. I’ll post if and when I can, I think we are moving the computers.
My prayers go out to those south of us who are not sure if they will have a home in the morning.
Update On Hurricane And Our Preparations.
It is 10:47 at night. Just received an update from the meteorologists and the mayor of Houston. One gets a little nervous when the mayor asks everyone to pray.
Our plans are to wake up early and get more gas for the generator. Only a few highways are bogged down, and I am so glad that I am not in that traffic jam. I remember what happened a few years ago. I guess officials have as well as they are taking that into consideration. They are not taking inbound roads and making them outbound roads. This I am glad for as we will need supplies to come to Houston and the surrounding area.
Pictures show almost all of Galveston predicted to be underwater. The biggest concern for this storm is the storm surge. I heard today that if these low areas did not evacuate 1.5 million would die. I can’t believe some are staying.
We wander around with that strange numbness wondering what we should do, is there something else to prepare? Our saving grace is that it is not a cat 5, and it is moving fast. 100 mile an hour winds make us think about moving all of the equipment off of the top floor and storing it downstairs. A lot of work, but it may be our morning job. Have not boarded up windows, and may do that in the morning as well. Our large containers are on the back porch and will be filled with water. The worse part will be the heat and no AC. I was in this house during Alicia in 1983. IT came right over our house. I was out of electricity for a week, but I had a house.
The best thing that could happen to us is if the hurricane moved to the east. Right now we are on what they call “the dirty side.” The best for us is always the worst for someone else.
I’ll update what I can. Pray for Houston.
YIKES IKE!
Preparations underway for this storm. I’m still headed to the foundry at noon to patina both Dick and Jenna. Then it is back home to get gas for the generator and extra water, plus pick up the yard for the 60-100 mile an hour winds. I don’t like not having electricity but hopefully it won’t be for long. I see the newscasters being cautious in what they say. I wonder if it is because of the disaster of evacuation that happened a few years back. We are staying put, and staying off of the freeways for those who have mandatory evacuation.
GO DEEP TILLY!
I worry that a tree will fall in the pond or worse yet electric lines that are over the pond. Breath and trust God!
OUCH! Oh The Pain
I have over time had difficulty with my hands as I sculpt. Long days of sculpting or mold making can cause considerable pain. That is why I love my apprentices! My husband and I went to listen to some jazz and we met a physical therapist who sat with our group. She kindly worked on my hand and arm. Maybe it was the wine, or the Advil, but most likely it was her massage. It could have even been that I danced my feet off. Whatever, it felt better when I got home, I iced it and the next day I vowed I would wear the brace all day while I work, but first created a sleeve of a large latex glove over the hand/arm.
I had to cut the fingers our of it. It is amazing how much the tactile sensation I long for of the materials that I use that help me to complete my job. Now I am thinking about learning to tape up my hand like a sports player.
Rest… that is what everyone says. But my other job is a writer. So fingers are still going. It hurts to hit the space bar. And my favorite thing to do for relaxation is gardening- more fingers.
I Have My Approval On The Surprise Christmas Gift
Portrait sculpture is a great gift to give someone that has everything. That is what this lovely wife said as she approved the sculpture of her husband on Saturday. I’m pleased to have my approval. A few corrections to details and now it is on to the mold and metal for this sculpture. We must be done for the Christmas party.
A Living Sculpture
to the studio to discuss art.
This is my continuous work in progress. A living sculpture, a retreat and my commute to work. As I stated before this pond, stream and waterfall is something we have been working on for 10 years. This past week we finally finished it! O.k. there is still some things I would like to do.
First picture looks from the porch of our house to the small shed left, and the corner of the studio steps. When ever I come home from work ( 40′ commute) I take the long way!
Here is the view that clients see when they enter the backyard. The sculpture studio is downstairs and that is my office window in the loft. I can see the pond from my office. The stream runs along the walkway, as you walk to the studio. Tilly the turtle and her baby climb this stream and waterfall daily!
My husband hates the purple chairs, but I wanted to bring some color to this back yard and purple was my color of choice!
Tilly and her baby have come down to the lower pond after construction. I think they approve. Here Tilly is coming out of the pond ( lower right corner) There is rock that is supposed to stick out of the pond, but we had a lot of rain. Guess I’ll put my wet suit on and get back in to lift it up!
Stepping out of the office window onto the roof is the only way to get a picture like this. You can see a bit up the stream. The bench and chair in the middle of the yard is where my husband and I have our meetings, though I have to say we did take our shoes off and stick our feet in the pond the other day. We both thought that was a perfect meeting spot as well.
( you can see that about the middle of this picture is some liner. Here is the unfinished spot. A small beach is going here, for birds, easy out for Tilly, watering hole for dogs etc.)
It is my oasis, you could hardly tell that you are in the middle of the big city of Houston. Only downfall to this is getting a life size sculpture or bronze back and forth from the front, but we have done it and have tried to keep that in mind when putting together the walkways.
Certainly a living sculpture.
Was It An Angel In The Nativity Or A Dragon Fly?
Here is a little pond biology. Dragon fly nymphs climb from our pond onto stalks and then hang there. Soon the dragon fly burst forth and hangs to dry. Once dry, they fly away to come back later and mate with another dragon fly or lay eggs. They are one of my favorite things about the pond. While getting ready to work on the pond this garden container that I created called “nativity” was sitting by the pond. I think I used it to weight down something during the winter. I looked closely and just about the place that an angel would be hanging there was this dragon fly. I thought it was so cool, I just had to share it.