The Holy Grail of Rails

| Flower Roberts

We all know I need these rails now that I wobble and fall down. Crown Fence of Statesville had to custom make each one. It was a small job, so each set was installed whenever that piece was finished.
They measured and took photos and re- measured. All the rails are very sturdy and securely attached to the decking and/or the poles are buried and concreted into the ground.

The railing down the center of the carport steps is long overdue. Two people have fallen down these previously.

These are the steps all deliveries come down. No telling how many of those folks have had issues.

The little steps at the spigot is the site of my accident on August 4th involving my bad, right hip causing a stumble off the walkway while wrestling a hose. This rail has been made wrong, so I am still waiting for the most important one to be installed.

Some pavers have been removed for the last single rail installation which will have one pole in the ground.

I’ve seen chipmunks jump this without missing a beat. Now, I have a compression injury that is still a problem two months later. All because of a thirsty plant.

The railing near the wellhouse got upgraded from a swizzle tomato stake. The installer deemed this green swizzle unfit and unsafe.

The dog steps have had a serious upgrade. These steps were thrown up so our two dogs could lie on the deck and watch us through the glass doors. These were no doubt dangerous.

For the dawgs.

The lovely railing is a huge improvement.

Much safer for a wobbly old person.

This set of steps goes to the new pebble patio. These were impossible for me to use all summer long. I am really happy to be able to escape off the deck safely.

Now, if I can just stop falling down in the yard things will be great.

FLOW

Today’s Fiasco

| Flower Roberts

I guess it is obvious to my followers that I am accident prone. My left hip is still bothersome after plummeting off the deck while holding a hose. My new right hip is great, but neither leg is strong yet. My mountain goat status has been put in jeopardy indefinately.

Well, today I got stuck on a bucket.
This is the type of thing I would call Sandra about to make her laugh. We loved the word fiasco.

All I wanted to do was cut some of the broken dahlias for a vase before they got ruined. I grabbed some scissors and headed down to dahlia row.

Upon closer inspection I realized that months of neglect had caused havoc among the dahlias. One Thomas A. Edison had never even been put in a fence ring.

Poor Thomas

I started trimming them up but got very tired after only a few minutes. The only possible thing I could use as a seat was a nearby five-gallon bucket.

When I finished pruning all the plants within reach, I realized I could not get up off the bucket. Luckily, for me not for him, Mr. Flower was down the hill picking up limbs from Helene’s wind.

I loudly announced that I could not get up. Then I had the idea that if I fell off the bucket uphill I could push myself up. By the time he got to me I was cussing and crying with my face in the four o’clocks.

He helped me up and went to find a more suitable seat for me to sit on. He brought back an old church chair that I had painted bluebird blue.

I told him to look up here once in a while to make sure I wasn’t lying on the ground. He said he was sure that if I fell again, he would hear me before he saw me.

This is wisdom after almost forty years of marriage. He knows me well. My response was a loving hand-gesture.

FLOW

Looking for Normalcy

| Flower Roberts

I needed to focus on what has not changed this morning. It has been troubling to follow the updates about Hurricane Helene’s damage.

I wanted a photo of my Pink Muhly Grass in the morning sun.

Pink Muhly grass


Then I spied last fall’s mum thriving along the side of the house.


Before I knew it I was out in the yard in my new house shoes and without my stick.


The Lablab purpureus is still blooming and making purple pods.

Lablab purpureus


The purple ginger is blooming again.

Purple Ginger


I will relish these sights as I go through my tasks.


Well, maybe not this one.

Wet and dirty…now that is normal!

FlOWER

My Tiny Friends

| Flower Roberts

There are two chipmunks that stay close to the house. Stubby has a short tail and Flash is fast as lightning. They both were on the deck this morning gathering acorns which constantly fall from the giant oak above. This is what I have referred to as the Magic Tree in past posts.

FLASH


This gorgeous tree has its roots in the septic lines so it has grown three times as fast as its neighbors. It seems to be leaning over the house now. I will stop there.

The Magic Tree full of acorns


Anyway, the acorns are plentiful and noisy. You cannot sit outside without threat of a ping to the head. Many times they bounce and hit the glass doors.  This bounty is a boon for my tiny friends who stuff their jaws full and run to stash their booty.

This is what goes on here as the planes and helicopters fly overhead to help victims of Helene.


Friends around me and helpers overhead.
Life is good.

FLOW

The Quiet After the Storm

| Flower Roberts

I have done about all I can do at this point. I have donated supplies and money. I have offered showers and shelter.
Rose is sending supplies to displaced friends directly. They are safe but with almost nothing to wear. Think of starting over with nothing.
It is hard not to feel guilty as I rest comfortably today after a busy week of headless chicken mode.
Both hips are healing well. I have carefully gone down steps and took my first shower standing up. The pain reminded me to back off a bit.
The world has changed again. I am happy to see humanity at work and furious to see rumors of false information.

We must be our very best during the worst of times.

The feature is of my walker I painted glossy plum for my 45th class reunion. I colored my white hair, too. I could not stand the thought of showing up looking old. It might depress my classmates, you see.

Did I dance? Only once…with my walker. I will always be a fool for my friends.


FLOWER

A Basket from Ukraine

| Flower Roberts

A bright spot in all the chaos was delivered to my porch this week. My neighbor texted me that an infant carrier had arrived. I was afraid a mistake had been made.

It was not an infant carrier. It was a flower harvesting basket from Ukraine.

I order things from all over the world through Etsy. I find hand-made buttons brooches that are unique.


This basket is a beautiful masterpiece. I will haul cut flowers in it for years to come. I do not plan on using it to haul any infants.



FLOW

Horrible Helene

| Flower Roberts

We are fine. We have power and water. I drive to a near-by Coffee Lodge to use the internet once each day.
The Statesville Airport is shipping supplies non-stop by way of pilots using their own planes and helicopters.

I sit out on my porch and watch them fly over headed north.
Many families are taking shelter at the KOA Campground off I-77 exit 45.
I have taken supplies to both sites.


Now, we are ordering from Amazon and shipping supplies directly to friends in need and the airport has a wishlist.


I will try to share it below


Thousands of folks in the south eastern USA need help. This will not be over anytime soon.
I will stay busy to prevent going crazy.

FLOW

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/jfyRM6qbJ45c9A96/

I think our airport is overwhelmed.

They have shared other links and addresses.

HELP ANY WAY YOU CAN

The Hope is in the Help

| Flower Roberts

Parts of North Carolina and Tennessee have been destroyed. I had to stop scrolling and do something.


The Statesville Airport is going full throttle sending out supplies. The private planes fly cargo to the Hickory Airport where the boxes and bags are transferred to helicopters which head to the mountains where help is critical.


They have a list of what is needed. I loaded up all my Amazon boxes with the help of my neighbor, Nancy, and drove to the supply line. I even included Barley and Charlotte’s pet carriers.

Poptop cans do not need a can opener.

I just bought two of my favorite lanterns and put in new batteries. Imagine that kind of darkness!


A plane took off while we were unloading. Cheers rose from the helpers. I hugged the lady as the last box was lifted from my vehicle.


Sometimes we have to BE THE HOPE.
I hear planes and helicopters flying over my house to head up river to Hickory. I love the sound. That is what hope sounds like.


HOORAY for the HELPERS

FLOW

The Dawn of the Day After

| Flower Roberts

Helene lived up to the second L that I gave her. It was hard to sleep after scrolling photos of all the devastation and wondering what was silently floating past in the darkness.
I crept out at dawn to a glorious sky full of stars and a moon that looked like a smile. The calm after the storm is both un-nerving and comforting, like chit chat at a funeral.
The insects were singing. I could see the silouette of our local deer herd grazing on the wet grass.
What will the sun expose?
I will share some photos of the unmanned boat and boathouse parade of yesterday evening.

This is one of many boathouses. If you are missing one, head south. Watch out for massive amounts of debris. It has been mayhem on the river.
Loose Pontoon

This pontoon came by three times. The island splits the flow of the river. We saw it pass, circle back up river, then get caught in the  main current again.

We are thankful to be safe, high on a hill. Our power was restored after only twelve hours. Grateful for every little thing as the sun rises on a new day after Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

I will add my thoughts that not only do I believe in death and gravity, but I am a firm believer in the power of weather and water.

FLOW SAFE & DRY