unbroken

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, is probably the best book I’ve read in a while. I wanted it read it after I read an bit Amazon.com. I knew I would love it and I soooo did!! I was telling Randy, Stuart’s biz partner, about this book and he had read it and was so excited that I was reading this amazing story. Definitely not for the quaint at heart, this book is a WWII story of survival and ultimately forgiveness. Unbroken tells the story of  Louis Zamperini, a fighter, utilizing the many meanings of the word. Phyically, mentally, and emotionally. The best part of the book is that you get a great history lesson along with a squeeze and pull of your heart strings. My grandfather, Olen Hughes, fought in WWII, he was a paratrooper jumping out of planes into Germany…I believe Germany. My respect for our vets, this war and my grandfather magnified after reading Unbroken. If you have any connection to a WWII vet please read this book. If you don’t read it anyway!! It will rock your world!!!

Tags: books, olen hughes, unbroken

New Member of the Fam

Long story, but two weeks ago a dog was found behind our house. He was soooo skinny and scared. To make the story short we decided to adopt him!! The first day we had him we went straight to the vet…he weighed 94lbs. This past Friday, he weighed 99! He is precious and things have been smooth so far with Bailey and Charter. I love him so much!! I can’t wait to get to know his personality better.

Tags: Sam

mamies poppy plates

With all the traffic I’ve received to my blog in the past two weeks I decided I had to acknowledge my dear friend Sarah, again. More people have to know about her journey and what she has done to honor her baby girl Mamie. Today, May 10th, Mamie’s Poppy Plates launched it’s new website and you have to see it and read Sarah’s story! My friend is so courageous…and I’m so proud of her!

Tags: mamie

crest! whew! we’re breathing a sigh of relief.

According to news reports the river crested over night at 47.85 feet at 2am this morning. Our backyard remains dry, our home safe and our end of Mud Island passable. The Grizzles were our priority last night as we watched them play to Triple OT so we missed this news report on Nightline with Diane Sawyer. I have to say I’m so disappointed that I did not know that DIANE SAWYER was in Memphis. I love her!!! I really would have stalked out her location and asked if we could go to lunch.

So here’s  a link to local news channel WMCTV and their report on the crest.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts folks! Now for the clean up and planning strategies to keep the snakes away.

Tags: flood, spring

mississippi river flood 2011. may 9. ? days to crest

Sunday was a GORGEOUS day and instead of taking pictures of some of the small changes from Friday  I decided I was going to enjoy a stress free day. I sat in the backyard, read magazines (Elle Decor…since I’m starting a new project that I’ll introduce soon, Runner’s World, and Self), and I worked on a tan. Mom, I did wear SPF 30 and reapplied once. Stuart ran, trimmed the hedges, and took me to dinner. He told me I was being lazy, I told hime I was working…on a tan. I guess reading Runner’s World motivated me a bit so I did try to run later in the afternoon, which was a disaster and I’m pretending it never happened.

On to the river. There are a few reports that here in Memphis we may see the crest of the river later this afternoon. I wanted to post a few links that you may find helpful information

WMCTV

National Weather Service

Shelby County Office of Preparedness

I’ve asked a few people that have taken pictures in other spots around Memphis if I can post a few of their shots. As soon as I have permission I hope to post them.

Have a good day!

Tags: flood, spring

mississippi river flood 2011. may 6. 5 days to crest

Friday was a very busy day on the Island. In hopes to keep water off Island Drive near the round-about workers were bringing in load after load of dirt and building up the road. Let’s hope it works! Island Drive is down to one lane.

Bumper to Bumper traffic over Auction bridge and at the round-about

Stuart and I rode around on our bikes taking pictures until dark!

Ben's Park

Ben's Park

Ben's Park

Wolf River

Marina area. Maria Montessori is right side of the pictures.

Maria Montessori. Sand bags.

Marina

Greenbelt Park facing south

Mississippi River

So this guy did kayak up the river! I would be so scared!!!

I've taken a picture here every day! Sadly the bird house has been pushed down by the water.

We also rode to the north end of the Island. The road is currently closed there, and here are pictures of water over the road.

North access closed. Levee to the left of picture

This is Island Place (first road closure that I've previously pictures of) from Island Drive

Stuart's attempt to ride his bike up the levee. (After he had a wreck, flipping over his handlebars. He was obviously ok. I have to admit I laughed a little. Ok a lot).

Stuart took this picture with his phone from the levee.

And finally….

From our fence. May 6th. The water only has a few more inches before it makes it to our fence.

We’re still optimistic that water will not get in our home. A few of our neighbors have received evacuation notices. They are further east of us and we believe it may be due to where their electrical boxes are located. We’re hoping that electricity stays on, but that’s our newest worry.

Thanks for all your comments and calls!! Until tomorrow!

Tags: flood, spring

mississippi river flood 2011. may 4. 7 days to crest

For you out-of-town readers I thought I would help clear up some confusion, at times the news media says “Harbor Town” or “Mud Island”. Harbor Town is a community on Mud Island. It was the first community built, the remainder of the Island is considered Mud Island. Miss Cordelia’s, Maria Montessori School, and the Arbor’s Apartments are all in Harbor Town. The road Island Place is not. I hope that helps.

On another note, I know I’m repeating 7 days to crest, they are now predicting that the river will not crest until May 11th, not the 10th. I’ve worked 12hrs shifts the last few days so it’s been difficult to find time to take pictures, much less blog them. Here are a few that I took Wednesday evening, May 4th. Bare with me on the quality, it was getting dark.

In Harbor Town

The cottages that are near the Montessori school. Really, really close to getting water in their homes.

Auction bridge

the marina

the marina

the Montessori school is to the left

the marina

This was a little scary. Stuart said he saw the match behind our house.

South end of Island, near the round-about.

South parking lot

Love the Coast Guard, who I'm sure are working crazy hours and extremely hard to keep us safe. Thank You!!!

I've taken this same shot a few days in a row and will post a sequence in my next post.

South parking lot

I hope to get out this afternoon a get a few more. The water has definitely crept up very near our fence, we still continue to take it day by day and are watching the news.

There have been a MILLION people driving to the Island to take pictures of the river. As much as I understand the desire to see how amazing this flood is, all the traffic has added to the anxiety of those of us who live in the community.  People just stop  in the driving lane, put on their flashers and get out of their cars to take pictures. OR they pull over super quick, try to parallel park on a busy street. It’s been nuts! Thankfully law enforcement is now only allowing people who live on the Island access, although I’m sure that’s hard and I haven’t been stopped. They’ve said they were going to ticket people who come over! Hopefully just the threat will help! We’ve even had tour buses!!

SEE!

Pulling over for pics! With their flashers on.

Tags: flood, spring

mississippi river flood. may 3. 7 days to crest

My previous post may have been a little premature, and I have to say the post made by WMCTV made me panic a bit. I was at work and just checked the news and began to stress. This post may be short as I’m beginning to feel that I’m a bit bogged down with thoughts of “what the heck are we going to do” and my emotions are making me a complete lunatic. The Commerical Appeal posted an article (by Tom Charlier) that helped me feel a little relieved, basically saying that there are a small number of houses in Harbor Town (Mud Island) that currently may flood, but that we should all be prepared to evacuate.

On Mud Island, the vast majority of homes in Harbor Town are high enough to avoid any flooding impacts. But several homes along the eastern side, including on Marina Cottage Drive, could experience flooding at least in their storage or garage areas next to Wolf River Harbor, officials said.

“You might have some garage flooding, or you might get some in the home,” Nations said.

As a result residents of that area should be ready to evacuate if necessary, he said.

I think at this point we would all feel blessed if all we received was water in storage or garage areas, or even just a little in our homes. Many people north of us have had their lives turned upside down with all this flooding. I’m just trying to keep my perspective.

As I’ve said our house backs up to the Wolf River, here are some pictures to show how much farther the water has to rise to reach our backdoor.

May 3rd. From the fence in our backyard.

Now from the fence, facing the back of our house.

Please don’t pay attention to the fact that we need to mow and do some yard work (obviously not a priority). On another note, my handsome handy husband got out his hand-held GPS, put on his knee boots and measured the elevation from where the water currently is and how much it would have to rise to reach our back door. 9 – 9 1/2 feet.  As I’ve said in my last few posts we’re not really stressing about water getting in, it’s being cut off from our home that we’re worried about.

Sorry for not posting pictures from the river, today was a long day at work and frankly all the people driving down to the Island to see the flood are starting to stress me out. I may get out early in the morning and take some more.

probable evacuation in harbor town

http://www.wmctv.com/story/14565568/parts-of-mud-island-could-soon-flood

mississippi river flood watch 2011. may 2. 8 days to crest

Wow! What a day!! Osama Bin Laden and the flooding have consumed my day. Many news reports on both aspects have not allow my mind to escape either subject. We also were not able to escape the rain. Heavy to moderate rains pelted us all night last night and until about noon today. It’s currently 7:45pm and we are expecting rain all night tonight. During the break from the rain I walked Bailey down to the river and took more pictures of Greenbelt Park.

The south parking lot is now taking on water and is closed. I expect by morning it will be totally under water.

The south area of island is the main access to the island.  Its my understanding that the north side access will be the first to be underwater at approximately 45 to 46′. We’ll lose total access at the south side (main access) at approximately 48 feet. The new predictions are that the river will crest at 48′ on May 10th. According to the National Weather Service River Forecast System the river is at 42.1 feet as of 3:55pm today. Stuart and I and many of our neighbors feel that at 48 feet water will not be in our homes, we all just concerned that we will not have access to our homes. Anything above that and well, we’ll just have to see.

Round-about (main access) is to the left. South parking lot is behind me.

South parking lot

Standing on sidewalk at south parking lot. Round-about to my left

See picture from yesterday.

Back of our yard. From fence, again.

Another view, with the fence, hoping you can see the perspective.

Facing north

Flags measuring the rise of the water.

north

Another soap box, look at all the TRASH!!! Ugh!!! Another post for another day!

Patricia, if you're reading again today Island Park Apts are to the right.

North parking lot. See pictures from yesterday

North parking lot

Island Drive at Mud Island Drive at Island Park Apts. No water on the road yet.

Facing south.

Here is a link to one of our local news stations Action News 5 and a link to the Shelby County Office of Preparedness they have good maps regarding flood areas and road closings. From a definitive standpoint we (Mud Island) are flooded.

God is MIGHTY and in control. I continue to remind myself of that and that all I can do is prepare and pray. I’m definitely keeping all those that have already experienced detrimental effects from these catastrophes in my prayers. I’m praying for strength and hope for all those effected.

Tags: flood, spring