From After Hurricane Irene in Woodbury, Connecticut, August 28, 2011

Thanks to everyone who sent messages of concern as we stood in line to take our punishment from Hurricane Irene.  Though Irene claimed one life in Connecticut, her reputation had more of an impact than she did around here.  After lunch, the sun came out, and I went for a walk to see what was going on out there.  Our governor had closed the roads during the storm, and the feeling of being under house arrest (even for my own good) got to be onerous.  So out I went to discover lots of water.  The water that streams from our pond usually supplies the swamp across the road with just enough water to keep the pond lilies happy.  Today, the swamp got a little more than it bargained for.
From After Hurricane Irene in Woodbury, Connecticut, August 28, 2011
The roar of water flowing off the hill and into the pond that fed this wild stream had me fascinated.  I stood and watched until the stench of decaying organic matter stirred up by this raging stream got the best of me.  It was like low tide for landlubbers.  I noticed this wildflower doing its wildflower thing right over that water and thought, that's the way to be.  Everything will settle down.