{SQT} After the Storm

UPDATE: We have power! [happy dance]

Breaking the rules and doing just one take due to time constraints.

Coming to you this week through the generosity of my in-law’s wi-fi connection and electricity. You might have seen in the news about some severe storms that hit New Jersey (and a good chunk of the Mid-Atlantic) this week. Powerful gusts of wind and sudden downpours have led to massive power outages and flooding. We are very fortunate that our house is fine except for a few pieces of siding that blew off. But our poor trampoline went to the great jump zone in the sky. The storm came on so fast and furious, we had no sooner risen from the dining table at the sound of sudden gusts than we saw our trampoline flying across the yard and into a massive maple. Thankfully, it missed our van, car and barn. Tony might have muttered, “So long as it stays against the tree.” right before a giant branch dropped off the maple and completely crunched the trampoline. But hey, at least there was no chance of it blowing away now.

That tangled black and blue mess is our trampoline and “No kids, we can’t fix it.”

The power went out shortly after that and last we heard, it could be Sunday before it’s restored. Thankfully, my in-laws power was restored already and we’ve been able to recharge devices, Fulton’s medical equipment and transfer some cold food to their refrigerator. Other friends let us use their generator to recharge the boys powerchairs (and gave me my fill of Sangria-WOOT!) since my in-laws live in a second story apartment.

Some black walnut trees around the chicken coop just exploded.

We’re lucky to still have water (cold, cold water), a working gas stove and plenty of candles. We’re hosting our annual Nativity of St. John the Baptist party this weekend and all plans are a go, electricity or no. Because if medieval folks can party and host a bonfire, so can the Mantoans. Plus Tony’s got two cases of home brew he’s dying to break out. We just have to cut up that nasty branch on top of our trampoline so we can also get to the grill.

Since I don’t have a smart phone, and a local Verizon tower went down for most of Wednesday, I felt totally cut off from the outside world for a bit. It gave family plenty of reason to worry that we were all dead. We’re such a connected society these days that the inability to instantly reach someone quickly becomes a reason for worry.

Edie’s artistic interpretation of the storm. Me looking out the window, her sobbing and Tony… looking like he might kill us both???

So say a prayer we get power back soon because the novelty of living the Little House life is quickly wearing off. And since the kids math programs are online, they’re all falling behind and don’t no one want to do math into July.

Link up your takes below and don’t forget to include a link back to this post so your readers can find the rest of the Quick Takes. I look forward to reading you posts!

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