Today is still bright and clear but I'll be bringing in the bird feeders tonight, preparing for the storm. One friend who was visiting left this morning instead of tomorrow, fearing she wouldn't be able to get out...and she has tickets to the US Open on Tuesday.  My other guest is still here...he has a flight out late in the day Monday so shuld be okay.

We will likely lose power so are well-stocked with alternative lighting, water stored for when the pump goes off, etc.  But I don't anticipate huge problems here in Maine.

I went out and picked apples...the trees are well laden this year...and then sent this photo to my brother, titled "Pie tonight"

In reply his wife sent this, titled "cake tonight"

which made me A) chuckle and B) appreciate having a family with a sense of humor.  How we would get through this life without laughter???

Son Ben and his partner are at today's Red Sox game (currently 8-2, Boston ahead over Oakland).  The sky over Fenway looks ominous on TV. He called me yesterday from the train en route from Portland to Boston, to alert me to the fact that the children's tent, in a distant corner of the meadow, might blow down. Well, nothing I can do about it.  We'll do damage control after the thing is over.

Friends brought a 3-month old grandbaby by yesterday for me to take some photos. Here is an out-take: baby Ella, with Lulu

Just for the record, here are the 2011 hurricane names (we have Jose to look forward to next):

Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney