Hurricane Irma

Just an update on the past week or so.  We did make it back to Tampa and this posting is to share with you the damage that Irma did in this area.  However, when reviewing the pictures on my camera I realized that I have not shared with you something fascinating which happened on our trip home from Panama City.  We were on highway 98, called the Big Bend Scenic Highway- essentially a coastal road.  Just outside of the harbor town of Carrabelle we noticed many butterflies, of all sizes and colors hitting our windshield, and of course dying instantly.  It was like going through a very colorful snow storm.  To think of all those beautiful butterflies dying like that was too much for me and I tried to avoid looking out the windshield as much as possible.   By the way, the butterflies were in such large numbers along the roadway because of the presence of many blooming wildflowers.

John needed a break so we found a spot along the road to park our rig in Carrabelle.  I went out in search of a patch of wildflowers.  I found the wildflowers, as well as many butterflies.  Hiking further around a motel I saw a row of hibiscus bushes.  The butterflies were also active there.

Later arriving in Tampa at our rv park we could immediately see the damage that Irma had done.

Pictured above is a very large live oak which Irma (probably a category 2  at this point) had uprooted out of the ground.   The tree was located by a ditch full of water,  probably the tree had a shallow root system which made it vulnerable to strong winds- the story of many trees around here which were uprooted by the storm.

The pine tree threatening our daughter and her husband's home was finally cut down.  It was not high on the priority list, as the tree company explained.  They said that of greater priority were the homes which actually had trees on them!  Pictured above is the backyard of our daughter's home- now minus a beautiful ficus tree and bougainvillea bush.  It looks quite desolate now!

There are always blessings to be found.  The hibiscus pictured above may be leaning a bit but it is still standing and kept its beautiful pink blooms.  It is in the front yard of their home.
Not sure when another posting will be forthcoming.  I am back to the mode of babysitting and enjoying my grandchildren.  Clarissa is now one years old and is about as active as her brother, especially now that she is walking.