Scared the Poop out of Everybody

Ike was headed straight for us. We evacuated. On the way, the horses pooped and pooped. Mountains of it. But, everyone behaved. They knew. Travel, both trips, was uneventful. I have discovered that 3 horses and a 2 horse trailer are not a good thing. Had to leave too early so I could make 2 trips. Next time we wait an extra day. We went toward where the storm ended up landing. It turned.

70 mile/hr winds and rain. No one hurt, no structural damage, not even a tree limb down. Amazing. We only lost power for 2 hours. Wharton County Electric Coop is amazing. They went out in the worst of the storm to restore our power...used spotlights to find the problem.

It was still safer to be at my parent's house than at my rental...landlords have junk piles of tin and lumber dangerously close to the pasture. This stuff is left over from Hurricane Claudette in 2003. I live in a land of exquisite beauty and occasional devastation. I do not hesitate to leave.

All 3 cats peed themselves. Blue is a house kitty. He had to have a bath. We did the pillowcase method under the tub faucet. Baby shampoo and quick rinse. He took it like a champ. I dried him off and gave him extra hugs. Mom found a pile of poop in the corner of the pillowcase when all was done. None on him, thank goodness. Two baths would have done him in! Scared the poop out of him. I was unable to find Emmie to take her along. I still have not found her. The neighbors have seen her and have been feeding her. I'm still worried about her.

I took both turtles. They pooped due to stress during the ride.

I didn't sleep at all during the storm. I didn't sleep well when all was over. I kept thinking of all the people of Galveston and Bolivar Penninsula who didn't leave. I kept thinking of the people who had no home to go home to. When you live on the coast you know it will happen. Just not when.

I am building a home in a coastal county. I bought land in one of the highest places here. It has never flooded. Ever. I am 4 miles from the nearest bay...and it is an inland bay. My house will be built on a 3 foot concrete slab. Extra hurricane straps. I will still leave for the big one. No question.

Despite having a long, stressful evacuation, I still enjoyed spending time with my family. Below are pictures of the horses in the backyard, there. Not too stressed. Lots of fun things to watch. More grass than they needed. Bec was very limited in grazing time.