We made it through Hurricane Matthew, but not unscathed. The winds were about 60 mph with 6 inches of rain. We lost power at 3am. At first light I went out in the last of the rain and surveyed the damage. There was a tree across the driveway so I limbed it and drug the tree out of the way with my truck and a chain. Further scouting found a 70 foot oak tree uprooted and laying across one of my chicken pens. The pen is destroyed. Luckily there were no chickens in it. Then I found four more giant pines about to fall. I called my trusty tree guy "Woodchuck" and they are here now clearing these trees. The first thing I did this morning after the rain stopped was to fire up my small generator and get the coffee pot cooking. At noon, I was in the process of getting the large generator loaded into the truck with plans to plug it into the house for power. I had this professionally done when I built the house. But, as I was about to hoist the generator into the pickup, my cell phone rang. It was my wife saying "the power was on". That has to be the most wonderful words ever spoken.
The yard is a disaster. Limbs and leaves are everywhere, but all in all, we were blessed. Many homes are still without power and trees are on peoples houses. We are 60 miles inland. I can't imagine the damage that must have happened along the coast. They are in my thoughts and prayers. If anybody is bored, you're welcome to come over for lunch and a bit of limb picking.