Here in eastern Massachusetts, we've escaped any significant difficulties. We are not in a flood zone at all and most trees around our property are not in a position to damage the house, maybe the garage, but just a small branch down near the back lot line so far. We are staying in and being productive which has been pleasant. I actually was hoping for more rain than we got. I think I might have gotten 3 or 4 inches only. The local ponds were looking a little low the other day and I have shrubs in the yard that have browned leaves, so the rain has been welcome. Hoping that others have fared as well. Trudi, the only tree that ever came down in our neighborhood in 30 years here, was a willow tree. I've always heard they come down easily. At least they weren't large enough to fall on your house. I imagine you are already thinking about what you are going to plant. :-)

Brooklyngreg: Look, you have had a history of hijacking threads with your religious, over the top bible thumping. I can probably count on both hands the times I've seen it in some form or another. Honestly, I think its just time for it to stop. I'm sure many others agree / feel the same. Honestly, its really just downright rude, inconsiderate, and almost condescending in a way. Like we are all going to go to hell or something if we do not share your same beliefs. Please. If you read my post, you would see, and probably agree that not everyone believes as you nor agrees with you. You have been asked by me, and at least several others on here to just cool it on the religious zealot like proselytizing. We do not do it to you, or anyone else, and all we are asking is that you do not do it to us. Isn't a simple "god bless" or something similar sufficient. Im all for faith, religion, spirituality, etc. In fact I encourage it. But I also understand and realise that each persons faith, religion, spirituality, etc is a very individual thing, and I respect that. That is why you do not hear me speak of my own personal beliefs. Not so much because I'm afraid of offending anyone, but really, they just probably do not want to hear it, and probably already have their own spirituality, and that is great. Someone else beliefs etc... are for them to decide, not you, not me, not anyone else, and that is also to be respected. I'm just not sure why you can not grasp that concept. This is EXACTLY why I said save it for your personal blog, or personal facebook profile, or some such other platform that is YOURS and YOURS only. Furthermore, I never called you any names, nor been nasty. I've simply asked you, as an adult, to please just stop. You call me a hypocrite? Really? For what? Because I (and probably many others) do not come here to have your bible thrown in our faces? Please, Get over it. Its not that Jesus is not welcome here, its that any and all religious proselytizing is just not wanted here. I would say the same thing to a Jew, A Muslim, A Buddhist, Hindu, or anyone else doing the same thing. So please, I'm asking you again nicely just to lay off of it. Isn't it your very own religion that says "judge not, lest ye be judged?' Well, it sure seems to me that you are judging those that do not share your religious beliefs / convictions. Anyway, all the best, and I hope you fare well through this big storm. cfa_li, Yeah I saw that report too! I always look for palm trees when they are doing tropical storm / hurricane reports, even if they are not in "tropical' areas. LOL! I thought it was cool to see and know that the rest of the country was seeing that there are in fact palm trees in Va Beach! Pretty cool. I think it would also be pretty cool to have a report from say, Long Island, with palm trees in the background too. =o) Anyway, hope everything goes well for you up there.

Hello Everyone... I HAVE POWER!!! YES!!! Kuan. LOL i only have 3 days...i wish it was 14 days off...i just had vac so i think my employer would have issues right now...LOL!! Thanks for all of your concern. I hope all is well with you. Dave, Ii agree tha those generators are wonderful. Most new homes here have them built in already, but the older homes just use the portable generators, its funny that you mention that. We were all talking about the ones that will run your whole house..my neighbors just had theirs installed last week. It worked like a charm for them. But pricey....it does cost quiet a dollar....running from about 5-7 thousand. That is some serious change.... But as we get older and cant keep running around outside and get the lines, gas and do the natural routine, then that will be the time to consider something like that. Actually, i think my DH really enjoys getting all of the "guy things" ready..LOL and i get all of the other things together. IT kind of becomes natural when you start to prepare for a hurricane when you have been through so many. ( SAD TO SAY) But we do live in an area that is prone to them , but i love being here at the beach, so what to do? I did take some pics of all of the Plumies inside...YOu all would have laughed ur buns off at watching my DH roll his eyes listening to the crickets at night. LMAO!!! I would here..."Laura...HERE IS ANOTHER ONE." Then i would just act like nothing, and catch the little critter and put himm back outside like its a natural thing to do...Doesn'teveryone have crickets in their house during a hurricane? LOL!!!! ALL is well..thank God!! I have all of the trees back outside, watered with B-1 ST and Foliage pro..i added the extra B-1 and ST to help with possible shock! I figured they needed something to calm their nerves too! LOL Im glad that i didnt leave them out, because they would have been shredded to pieces...I did have my Royal Hawaiian bloom while inside. : ) Ill make a new post of trees inside then back out again with new " Irene" blooms....LOL Hope u had a great trip dave, im sure you were worried about your house and everything outside. Makes for a nerve racking feeling when you are soo far away. Jen, LOL "Oh, no, Laura's in a frangipanic" SO true!!!! I really was..that was the first thing to be loaded inside. along with the epis and the other "special" trees/plants...since my kids are out of the nest..these are my babies now, they had to come inside..."not even a question" LOL!!! You would have been right with me helping me, i know that already!!! We would have ben having an "Irene" Plumeria loading party!!! Forget "Hurricane parties.." LOL its "Plumie time.." ALex, Jen , ANdrew, BIll, Ericka. Iso. Sunseeker, Jen (TX) Peg, KMS2 Kltamps, Dave, Dave P....thank you all for all of your comments....i hope i didnt leave anyone out, but i wanted to say that i just love being around all of you guys and gals...you all are really a great group of people and i cant thank you enough! Ok, i'll stop.... LOL I do want to share how packed the house was..it will make you all smile...especially when you think of yoru "other" wondering where the next "critter " will come from.... LMAO!!! We all love mother nature, thats why we are here...so you all understand... Ill post pics later...i need to head outside and continue the yard clean up..if i dont..ill get the "eye rolling" again... : ) Take care everyone.. Laura in VB

Here's a pic of what DH & I came home to at 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Saturday we spent the day taking DD back to school and prepping for Irene. Being flooded a few weeks ago, we had a bit more time to prep our first floor. While it came very very close, the water did not enter the first floor. The water has receded, and we have managed to find all of our gates to our split rail fence, along with many other outdoor things that were carried away by the rushing water. I am so thankful that we didn't get water on our first floor, however, the water filled our crawlspace which houses everything that runs our home. We will need to replace our h/w heater, water softener system, heating and a/c, all duct work, etc. While we were getting our feet back on the ground after the flooding 2 weeks ago, many things were replaced, but not everything that was damaged by that flooding. Significantly more flooding/damage from Irene. Thankfully, we do carry flood insurance although we are not required to do so! I almost didn't renew the policy this year as we've carried it forever, but have never made a claim. Being on the west side of the storm, we received about 7 inches of rain. Ironically, we moved our municipal trash cans to the end of our driveway, tying them closed. When we arrived home, they weren't moved an inch. We decided early on Saturday morning that we would evacuate before we were surrounded by water (like occurred on the 14th). Fortunately, my MIL has a very large home and we spent a few nights there along with the 2 dogs and 4 cats. What a couple of days! I am happy to read so many GW friends weathered the storm with no loss of life. Material things are easily replaced. Well, guess what we will be doing over the Labor Day weekend? lol