The Cottage on the Hill

Yes, that 5 year old is my son! He's got farming in his blood. He wants to be a farmer when he grows up and loves all things farming. Many of our local farmers lost crops, livestock and equipment right at the start of harvest season due to the massive flooding from Hurricane Irene here in Upstate New York. My son wants to help so we started a weekend long $1.00 Drive. The collected monies will be personally handed to the local farmers (we're compiling a list) by Donald who will visit them on their farms. Please consider donating. Donald is only asking for $1.00, but if you feel led to give more, you can.

Up in the Adirondack Mountains lay small communities, often of lower income mountain families, who rely on their public library for books for their children. In Upper Jay, NY, the Wells Library lost almost all of its children's section to the extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Irene. They are looking for donations of New Hardcover children's books. Do you have a children's book favorite? Perhaps consider buying a copy and donating it. You could also donate money, or Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble gift cards. You could look through your children's book shelves and see if there are any books in like new condition you could mail up. Media mail is inexpensive, too. Please consider donating. For more information, visit here: http://www.katemessner.com/after-irene-a-small-town-adirondack-library-needs-your-help/

South west of me is a stunningly beautiful valley. This is a before shot of the valley, I believe from just last autumn. And here is the valley after Hurricane Irene. This is just a mile from my house. Thankfully, I'm up in the hills, so I had no damage, but in some of this footage, a friend of mine lost her house. Buried under water. HERE is a youtube video of an historic site not too far from me. The water is supposed to be well behind the house. It hit flood stages and just kept going, higher and higher.

While whittling away time on facebook today during Tropical Storm Irene, a facebook friend got me started on Hurricane Haikus. I thought I'd share them: The wind is blowing. Rain seeps into my basement. Power, please stay on. I've had one brown out. Rain seeps in through kids' AC. Damage has begun. The wind is so strong. My heart is pounding stronger. Grammar: more strongly? Facebook distracts me From the wind and rain outside As I write Haikus. Leaking heater vent In bathroom vent; and Cora Has a stomach bug. Prayers are lifted For the locals flooded out And other damage. Stay off the roadways All you crazy idiots! Walmart stores can wait. The frogs are croaking Just outside my window. Life returns for me. But for many more My heart breaks for flooded loss And displaced people. Such destruction here But Upstate New York will be Beautiful once more. For picture of what Irene did in and around the local area, click HERE!