I’ve been so busy lately with Thanksgiving, cleaning up after Hurricane Matthew, and getting ready for Christmas I haven’t had much time to look at my butterfly garden.
With all our Christmas packages and cards in the mail, I could finally catch my breath this morning so I went out to our porch to enjoy my second cup of tea. As soon as I sat down I saw a Monarch butterfly flitting around our milkweed. I abandoned my tea, grabbed my camera and rushed downstairs to get a picture. The butterfly took off but when I began to examine the milkweed I was excited to find several caterpillars munching away on the leaves.
Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed – December 15, 2016
Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed – December 15, 2016
Category 2 Hurricane Matthew passed offshore close to our coastal Georgia home in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 8, 2016. We were safely evacuated in middle Georgia and we returned home to find our house in good shape with no damage. We were among the lucky ones. Many houses had some damage, mostly roof damage and flooding. Some residents had to move out of their homes so repairs can be made. Many other homes, like ours, were spared. Everyone we know was safe.
Many thanks go out to the volunteers who gave their time and/or money to help out those who needed it the most after the storm. There are many volunteer stories throughout the areas affected by Hurricane Matthew but these are a few that I personally know about in our area.
A huge thank to our neighbors who rode out the storm and immediately started clearing the roads as soon as the storm had passed.
Friends who evacuated to a motel in a small Georgia town and waited out the storm by volunteering in one of the shelters housing fellow evacuees.
The owner of a moving company in Atlanta who brought some of his moving trucks and crews to help people move out when they were unable to remain in their home while repairs are being made.
A couple who drove down from Indiana to help people move out while repairs are made to their home.
Volunteers from churches and organizations such as the YMCA who helped clean up yard debris for those who were unable to do it themselves.
Roof from a neighbor’s deck landed across the street from our house
Big trees were blocking roads in our neighborhood
A power pole snapped
Another blocked driveway
Neighbors walkway to dock landed in the marsh
Several docks had damage
A lot of big trees had to be cut up
A familiar sight in the neighborhood
Downed power line in a neighbor’s yard
A downed tree damaged a driveway
Cranes were brought in to lift the giant trees
What’s left of one of the giant trees
Its been more than two weeks since the storm and there is still a lot of work to be done. The sound of chainsaws and nail guns will be around for a while and it may be weeks before the debris can be cleared from the sides of the roads. Blue tarps on roofs is a common sight while the homeowners wait their turn for their new roof.
I am having a great time sitting in my living room cheering for Team U.S.A. at the Rio Olympics. Twenty years ago I didn’t get to see much of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta from my living room. Instead, I was volunteering with the Yachting events (now called Sailing events) near Savannah, Georgia.
Before the games began, we saw the Olympic Flame arrive in Savannah on the Schooner America. After torch bearers ran through Savannah they wound their way around Georgia to the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta. The world then watched as the final torch bearer Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Cauldron.
1996 Olympic Flame arrives in Savannah aboard Schooner America
Two of our friends participated in the relay through Savannah. It was such a thrill to see the Olympic Torch relay in person.
1996 Olympic torch relay in Savannah
For the Olympic Yachting events, a Day Marina was constructed in the waters of Wassaw Sound near Savannah. To get there, we had to drive a few miles, ride on a bus, and ride a shuttle boat to the Day Marina along with other volunteers and athletes. For two weeks, Henry, our daughter, and I got up at the crack of dawn and put on our volunteer uniforms to help with the launch and recovery team of volunteers on the Day Marina.
Volunteers arriving by shuttle at the day marina
Tents were set up on the Day Marina to provide a home for the athletes during the long days on the water. The larger countries had their own tent and ramp to launch their boats while smaller countries shared a tent. I was assigned to work with Fiji, Guam, Jamaica, and Thailand who were sharing a tent between Team USA and Team New Zealand.
1996 Olympics Yachting Day Marina in Wassaw Sound near Savannah, Georgia
Our days were long and hot but it was worth it to be able to meet athletes and trainers from all over the world. I was even able to do a little pin trading and get a few autographs.
1996 Olympic Pins
There was a flurry of activity as each team prepared to launch their boats to go out to the race course. Things got busy again when the sailors returned after their event.
USA Atlanta Olympics Bronze Medal Soling
USA Olympic Bronze Medalist Courtney Becker Day returns to the Day Marina
1996 Olympics Mistral Gold Medal winner from Greece
The races were too far away to watch from the Day Marina. One day we got to ride a boat out to the race course to see one of the events.
1996 Olympic 470 yachting race
Being an Olympic volunteer was a once in a lifetime experience. Meeting these amazing Olympians and watching them prepare for their events was something I will never forget. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to do it.
Wandering Dawgs 