Leaves in sun and shadow….. This would make a really hard 1000-piece puzzle, don’t you think?
Terrible storm last night! It was 100 degrees yesterday then storms–wind, hard rain, lightning, booming thunder, the works……which cooled things off nicely but put out our power for hours. A power outage here brings everyone out to sit on the big farmhouse porch–even the kids, who voluntarily interact–due only to lack of TV and computer, of course. All the cats and dogs join in to get out of the rain, so it’s a porchful.
Here on this farm, where we live in the 100-year-old farmhouse while we’re building our new house on our own farm a couple miles away, there are three houses. My cousin, with his wife and their 15-year-old son, lives in a big two-story house next door. He’s the local prosecutor and his wife is an OB nurse. His 77-year-old mother lives in another house on the other side of his. It’s very much like our own little community–and the old farmhouse porch is the hub.
Last night, my cousin’s mother came over in all her rain gear–rain boots, rain jacket, umbrella. She’s got an outfit for every weather event. She’s very spry for her age and basically runs the farm, takes care of everything. We saw her walking over and I said, “Watch her, she’s going to pick up that fallen branch and take it to the brushpile even though it’s dark and pouring,” and of course she did. My cousin came over looking for food that can be eaten without being cooked, thinking I’m such a little baker I might have some goodies onhand–poor man, he must have forgotten I have a deadline. His wife, a 4-H leader and walking musical, started singing camp songs. We pored over the newspaper with a flashlight–the Princess did a dance when she found her class list in the paper and all her best girlfriends in her class, and the one boy she can’t stand in the other. We lit candles and the children played with flashlights. 14 came home from football practice, dropped off by a neighbor. A very wet practice. After hours of “interacting” we set upon him like starving people who’d spotted food. He tried to go inside. “No!” We all but tackled him. “Stay here. Tell us about practice. TELL US EVERYTHING.”
The power came on sometime during the night. I feel lucky to be online this morning! On tap this weekend–more work at the farm, and writing, writing, writing on my book that’s due in September. How about you?
Bonnie Ferguson says:
That sounds like it was some storm! 😮 Count me in for today’s giveaway :snoopy:
On August 17, 2007 at 8:45 am
Kim A. says:
How wonderful, Suzanne! Not the power-outage, but the whole family/extended family interaction. A real community. Most of us don’t seem to come together like that anymore–our loss.
As for my weekend, I have company–with two extra “surprise” people to put up and feed, on top of the one I was expecting.
Hmm…There’s a reason I don’t like surprises!
Please enter me in the drawing, have a fabulous weekend, and good luck with the writing!
-Kim
On August 17, 2007 at 8:47 am
Karen B says:
:flying: Love your porch – reminds me of visiting all the relatives in PA years ago. Everyone had a porch with swings and rocking chairs. Who decided that houses now should be porchless?? :fryingpan:
On August 17, 2007 at 9:30 am
Alice Audrey says:
What a wonderful porch. When our power goes out we huddle together in the living room. I like your porch and the people on it better.
On August 17, 2007 at 9:50 am
Fannie M Wiggins says:
We had a little storm here but it was verrry late. I slept thru it. I think it is nice that your family is so close. I miss not having mine here after 1 1/2 months of them being here. 😥 However, my son is moving a new modular home next door. They have half of it sitting there and I am so excited. I can step onto my back porch and talk to him on his front porch. :flying: Please enter me into the drawing. I am getting low in my TBR stack. :yes: Have a great day, a fun filled week-end and hugs to all. :hug:
On August 17, 2007 at 9:51 am
Tammy G. says:
Your place sounds nice and peaceful. I love your porch, wish I had one like it. I’d love to live back out in the country again. I’m pretty close now.
On August 17, 2007 at 10:19 am
Susan says:
You’ve made me sentimental for my old home with its big wraparound porch! 😥 It sounds like you had a great time despite the storm.
I’m hoping to get lots of reading done over the weekend. :purr:
On August 17, 2007 at 11:33 am
Stefanie says:
I really like your porch. It looks as if it’ll be a cool place on hot summer days.
Count me in for the drawing pleace.
On August 17, 2007 at 11:47 am
Ellen says:
Seeing the cozy, wonderful porch and hearing how everyone hung out together, well, it’s like a big hug. Our family was like that when I was a kid.
Glad the power came back on though!
On August 17, 2007 at 12:03 pm
RobynL says:
A great family togetherness on your porch; sounds wonderful. The joys of just hanging out and talking and visiting. Count me in on the contest.
On August 17, 2007 at 12:24 pm
catslady says:
I love your porch – we have one in the back that I’ve pretty much given to the feral cats lol. The only thing I hate about power outages is worrying about losing food but when the kids were young that meant get out the games. Last week we lost it for 13 hours and I got halfway through Harry Potter. What a perfect excuse for things we should do more often.
The book sounds wonderful :purr:
On August 17, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Tori Lennox says:
The power outage sounds awful, but the interaction while it was out sounds fabulous. 🙂
On August 17, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Maddie says:
What a wonderful rainy night story!! Can I come live on the farm with y’all????????
On August 17, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Brandy says:
You make me want a porch swing! Sounds like a fun time to me. We lost power for 4 days last winter and almost went nuts with no outside ANYTHING.
Best of Luck with the deadline.
And don’t forget to have a good weekend.
On August 17, 2007 at 5:22 pm
mary beth says:
Sounds like a great evening. 🙂
On August 17, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Desmond says:
Best. Porch. Ever.
(and count me in for the drawing, too.)
On August 17, 2007 at 8:56 pm
TeresaH says:
please count me in for the drawing :butterfly:
On August 18, 2007 at 4:11 am
Ina says:
That was some fun night with storm. Here in ours, we soemtimes see hollow blocks flying off the roofs! LOL scary huh? so we always make sure, we’re inside the house to avoid any form of danger.
On August 18, 2007 at 10:23 am
Minna says:
Please count me in for the drawing. :snoopy:
On August 18, 2007 at 10:30 am
Teresa W. says:
Glad your power came back on I hate it when that happens. Count me in for the draw and have a great weekend.
On August 18, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Lis says:
Sounds like a fun evening :woof: I know what you mean about storms, we had one here at 6am, the hail pounding my window woke me up. :no: Spending the weekend writing, had an aha! moment on the YA ms, so half of what I’ve written is now trashbin material and I’m 5k into the new stuff. Probably running errands tomorrow. Ah the excitement lol
On August 18, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Marty says:
Reminds me of my grandparent’s house–they had a swing just like that (didn’t everyone?). Sorry about the outage, but you made lemondade 🙂
On August 19, 2007 at 7:03 am
Melissa L. says:
:wave: Hi Everybody! I’m baaaaaaaaack!
Love all the new kitty icons, Suz!
I just moved back to RI and I feel like this… :shocked: But I got back with my fiance and also feel like this… :love: Now my cat’s a bit upset having to travel back and forth so we’re getting this… :cattail: Hee. I love Silhouette Romantic Suspense books! Would love to win. I missed everybody. Glad to be here again. :purr:
On August 19, 2007 at 8:05 am
Toni Anderson says:
It sounds a great way to spend a thunderstorm 🙂
On August 19, 2007 at 11:53 am
Cheryl S. says:
My son keeps begging for a “blackout” night. We had so much fun when the power went out last time. Battery-operated candles all over so I could read aloud to them even thought they’re both pre-teens now. And without the computer and the Playstation, we indulged in the ancient art form of actually talking to each other. :rotfl:
On August 19, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Ruby55 says:
How many books are there in this new series you’re writing? I’ve got the first one though I haven’t had time to read it yet.
I’d like to put in my name for the book too, please. :flying:
On August 19, 2007 at 10:27 pm
cindy smith says:
i love the porch for that is my greatest pass time is on a porch.i love country life for you are so free. there is so much to offer. thats what i call freedom.fresh air no traffic no sirens just peace. hold on the that it is hard to come by anymore.
On October 31, 2008 at 1:59 pm