Hurricane Harvey

Thank You for Your Prayers During Hurricane Harvey!

Please continue to pray for us as we deal with the aftermath of Harvey's damages. 

I watched apprehensively as rain poured from the sky, the street in front of my house was completely covered within minutes. I moved steadily around the house and storage room gathering my already prepared “Hurricane Supplies”. Every so often I’d look outside to see what the weather was doing.

Hurricane Harvey continued to drench everything in sight. Strong winds bent some trees almost in half and sent debris flying in all directions. I continued collecting hurricane supplies so they would be handy in case of a power outage. Harvey ravaged on outside while I prepared for the unknown inside.

Preparing for Hurricane Harvey:

Propane Generator at the ready!

Propane Tanks ready to fuel the generator.

Batteries, flashlights, candles, etc. are ready and handy in bedroom.

Clothes, shoes, purse, and personal care items are ready, waiting by the door.

The only thing left to do is to wait and PRAY! 

Hurricane Matthew Brings Memories of The Likes Of IKE

It's been hard to watch the coverage of Hurricane Matthew. Yesterday's coverage was especially tough because my two youngest brothers and their families live on the east coast. I purposely did not watch or listen constantly so that I wouldn't start concentrating on the possibilities. I did not want to cancel out the prayers I had prayed by starting to worry. I gave it to God and let it go!

I called my brothers early last night to check on them. They were both fine and reported that they were in a relatively safe area. My prayers were answered, Thank You God!

News reports of Hurricane Matthew immediately reminded me of our own Hurricane Ike in 2008.

I remember sitting in semi-darkness with only a dim lamp glowing softly, the steady drone of the generator reminded me of the devastation just outside the front door and around our property. With no electricity there was very little to do but read or write.

I put pen to paper for the first time in a long while. Computers had become my primary writing tool.Contemplating all that had happened during the storm/hurricane, I began writing...

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© 2008 by Leona G. Shankle - All Rights Reserved 

Houston Remembers The Likes Of IKE

It was September 12, 2008 that Ike blew through Texas delivering his fate,
like a thief he assaulted that night very late, no longer did anyone have to wait

Ike came ashore on a Friday night about 1:45 or so,
with pounding rain and blasting wind through Galveston he tore.

He pounded gourged and ravaged at the mighty west seawall,
chunk by chunk, stone by stone, he tried to take it all.

Through the tiny little island Ike swirled and churned like mad,
taking trees and homes with equal zeal took everything they had.

From homes on stilts to UTMB not a thing was safe that night
left a mark of mass destruction to remember the likes of Ike.

Ike looked up from pillaging, he saw Houston up ahead,
he started north up 45, “Ah, Houston looks like sweet bread.”

He raked and ravaged “H-Town” covered every inch of land,
north and south east and west like a hungry angry man.

From large to small and big and tall he treated all alike
left his mark of mass destruction, we’ll remember the likes of Ike.

Before he left he looked around to see if anything still stood,
he spied the Chase Bank building and thought, “Oh, but this is good.”

He thought over his decision and let the structure stand,
with a flourish and a curtsie he aimed his outer bands.

Barely a whisper later came the sound of breaking glass,
windows pop like bubble wrap and Ike was done at last.

From the south side to downtown Ike ravaged with all his might
left his mark of mass destruction so we’d remember the likes of Ike.

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© 2008 by Leona G. Shankle - All Rights Reserved 

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HOT in Texas

The past several days have been absolute scorchers, hot as all “git-out” here in my little corner of Texas. Air conditioners have been going full blast all this time, even at night. It’s so HOT even my sweat gets sweaty. And, this is only the first full week of July. We still have August to contend with.

I noticed a few times that certain areas in the playroom were not cool at all, never mind that the A/C AND the High Velocity Blower fan were going full blast.

Grandson didn’t seem to mind, he was busy doing his usual, running around shirtless wearing nothing but his undershorts. I suggested that he put on short pants in case anyone other than family came by.

He respectfully declined since he likes running around wearing nothing but his undershorts, always has. A few minutes later, I coaxed him into a pair of short pants.  

Okay, it got so warm in the room I dropped the A/C temperature a couple of degrees. I could hardly believe that we are only into the early weeks of July. Guess we’d better be prepared for what’s coming next, weather-wise.

All this steaming HOT weather has me thinking of a nice beach vacation. Maybe a trip to an exotic tropical island would cool me off. Oh well, enough wishful thinking.

Speaking of HOT weather, what’s your weather like? Is it hot? Warm? Cold? What? Are you running your air conditioner or your heater? I’m in Texas. Where are you located?

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