For Jen at Cheese in my Shoe - 2009 Ice Storm Pictures

Jen is always posting the most interesting pictures on her blog. I've been saying for a YEAR that I would post some of the cool shots I got after the 2009 Ice Storm. She's said a couple times that she'd like to see them. So after seeing a few super groovy pics at her most recent post, I'm finally getting some posted. Hope you enjoy them!






Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

We're Home!!

We're home! We're home! We're home!!!


Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

Friday Fragments

This Friday Fragments was written the Friday morning after our ice storm. We had no electricity, no running water, and it was cold. I was trying to focus on the good. Each thought came to me as I was doing things, trying to clean up and make the best of it. Each thought was it's own "fragment".

I am thankful for cast iron skillets that can sit directly on hot coals and be cleaned with a paper towel.

I am thankful for friends that care.

I am thankful for a propane fireplace.

I am thankful for my house and car not sustaining any damages.

I am thankful for Rubbermade storage containers that protect food from critters while sitting out on the back porch keeping our food cold.

I am thankful for a church family that pulls together and my minister who cut me out of my driveway.

I am thankful for spaghettio's and bologna that make a great lunch and can be eaten cold.

I am thankful for clean underwear.

I am thankful for germs you can share with your family when you can't wash dishes.

I am thankful for the amazing ice cycles that are covering the trees and making my part of the world look like a winter wonderland.

I am thankful for the tinkling sound of the ice as it falls to the ground.

I am thankful for peanut butter sandwiches that we could live off of.

I am thankful for Yahtzee and Monopoly.

I am thankful for snow that melts and can be used to flush toilets.

I am thankful for having four boys that can go outside.

I am thankful for the fresh scent of pine that has filled the air from the breaking of the trees.

I am thankful for beauty in decimation.

I am thankful for blankets and warm socks.

I am thankful for the sun that finally showed this morning that warmed my face and made me laugh and let me cry.

I am most thankful for my God who continually goes before me, prepares my way and guides my step even now. There is nowhere I can go that He hasn't aready been.

Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

We have electricity and were going to leave here on Friday morning BUT one of my children had a fit so I told them that if they all finished their assignments today and tomorrow that we'd stay.

I so wish I had just told them to stuff it.

We only came here because we had no other options. I hate S. Florida. It's really bad for my aura.

Seriously, these people are rude and have no couthe WHATSOEVA! It's one thing to drop the F-bomb while using your cell while in the car. It's a completely different thing to be walking the isles at the local grocer on your cell and dropping the F-bomb for everyone around you to hear loud and clear.

And it amazes me the way a man who JUST met me while standing in line at check out would use swear words in random conversation. We are not friends! Save your mouth for people who CHOOSE to be with you and aren't STUCK next to you in line.

I don't have totally virginal ears or mouth, but WOW!

And when a person puts on their blinker, speeding up to keep them from getting in front of you? RUDE! And pulling out in front of someone in a parking lot successfully blocking the flow of cars and THEN stopping to FIND A CIGARETTE AND LIGHT IT? I so wanted to get out of my vehicle ad KICK HER RUDE DONKEY'S BEHIND!

I can't get in to the bank with my sunglasses on. But a woman in a burka? Let her in without a problem.

I'm ready to seriously hurt someone.


Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~

First off, I answered all of your comments from my previous post. So go read them.

We are in Florida with my husband. The kids and I left on Saturday and arrived Sunday. The drive was pretty uneventful. Stopped at the Lodge factory outlet in TN and I purchased a chicken fryer with lid. I got it from the "seconds" section so it was half price. We'll be stopping again on the way back. I want a bean pot. Cast Iron ROCKS!!!

We stayed at an Econoline Lodge. The door to our room didn't lock, so I guess that the little card thingie they gave me was useless. The matresses were thin and I'm convinced that they rent certain rooms by the hour. BUT they had a room on the first floor and only charged $5 for my poodle. Translation: My exhausted body didn't have to climb a flight of stairs while hiding my dog in a pillow case. Late that evening a visitor arrived. Figures, I hadn't seen my husband since January 3rd so it HAD to come the night before I would see him. Batman, I'm sure, is thrilled to know this information.

We did church in the car Sunday morning. We started off with some good black southern gospel we found on the radio. The kids and I were all clapping and swaying back and forth having a grand time. Yes, I was clapping too. I mean, who needs a hand on the wheel when traveling 75 mph on the interstate anyway?! Then we listened to two songs off of a CD I had with me. We knew the words and sang along. Happy gave the sermon. He's pretty darned insightful for an eleven-year-old. He really enjoyed it and wants to do it again. White Boy and Gomer closed us in prayer.

We've eaten at my two favorite restaurants. Now I am sooooo ready to come HOME! People here are rude and obnoxious and I miss waking up to my rooster.

I have some pictures I've taken of the ice and damage. I can post them when I get home. A few of my younger chickens froze to death. I know I kill them to eat them, but it's quick and their death has purpose. Their freezing to death just upsets me.

Right now there are so many things inside of me that I want to get out. I have the Friday Fragments post that I wrote the week of the storm. I'll post it this Friday. There is a part of me that is just thrilled that my family and our home was kept safe. The BIGGEST part of me is thrilled. But there is a part of me that made me choke back tears as I drove around the rural areas and just looked at everything. When the leaves and trees were covered in ice, it was amazingly beautiful. When all the ice melted, there was just brokeness...everywhere. We have over 100 trees down. My neighbor spent eight hours cutting out our road. My minister came later and cut me out of my driveway. We have a 75 foot pine tree that now has about five limbs left on it.

But outside smelled so good and fresh with the pine in the air. I took pictures of the scent. I think I may have caught it. You all can be the judges when I post the pictures.

Okay, I have to go make the kids do school. I have their school work and books so they won't fall behind.


Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~