We’ve worked like crazy, all day long, trying to corral all the garden tools, patio chairs, and terra cotta pots (a/k/a lethal flying missiles) all over the garden, and filling our large containers with drinking water, in case we lose water service, putting fresh batteries in flashlights,lamp oil in oil lamps, and otherwise, getting ready to hunker down and ride out the storm. All day  long, the updates have looked increasingly worse for our area, which has been under a “voluntary evacuation” order. And all day long, I’ve been wondering why the heck we didn’t volunteer.

But, tada! The latest update looks much better for us, so this is the one I’m going with. No matter if it changes later, or not. I like this one best, so I’m sticking with it. We are now showing up in the wind and rain zone, but no longer in the White Cone of Misery. Sadly, the folks along the coast are still in the Red Line of Death and Destruction, but hopefully, they have all left the area, as they were told to do, and will be safe.

You can see that Erin’s home is smack in the middle of that same Red Line of Death and  Destruction. Erin, however, is waaaaay over there to the west, in the panhandle, enjoying the Sunny Beach of Fun and Frolic. Smart, smart Erin. 🙂

I continue to hope Matthew will lurch drunkenly out to sea, as so many do, and Florida’s east coast will be spared. And it would be nice if no trees fall on me and mine during the night, though I suppose it’s too much to ask that we don’t lose power. *sigh* Oh, well. I’ll take what I can get, and be happy to get this storm behind us.

With any luck at all, I’ll be back to check on you in the morning. Wish us well!