Unseasonal Storm.

10-30-11 SHORT HILLS: This weekend storm has been a disaster for us and worse for others. We got five inches of heavy, slushy snow after an initial hour of rain. The trees that had given up their foliage—ash and walnut were fine. The trees that were still in leaf took a beating. Our elm lost several large branches as did the sweet gum, Norway maple, red maples, oaks. Some of the broken stuff is still hanging on the trees. Smaller trees are bent double. Shrubs are flattened and broken. Most of the evergreens had only minor damage, but the driveway junipers were again badly beaten up. it wasn’t that the storm was so intense, but that it happened in the wrong season. In January, it would have been ho-hum because the trees would have been leafless, and the cold would have meant dryer, less damaging snow. Other parts of NJ got as much as 19 inches.

We were actually down the shore yesterday, in Lavalette with Bob and Chris to see their new beach house. It was raining in the morning when we left Short Hills, and the snow wasn’t supposed to start until evening. At the shore it was all rain and wind. Our dog sitter called in mid-afternoon to say that he couldn’t get to the house to feed and walk the pack so we left immediately to return home. About halfway up the Garden State Parkway, we were in the snow, thicker and thicker as we went on. There were trees down, cars skidded off the road and accidents, but we made it back without incident. [Subaru rules.] Short Hills has many trees down, wires down, roads closed, schools to be closed. We have power, but no phone, cable or internet. Climate change, anyone?

I did some pruning in the driveway this afternoon, but decided to wait for the snow to clear before doing any more clean up. Today was sunny, clear and in the forties, and snow began to melt.

10-31-11 SHORT HILLS: It’s sunny again and supposed to be in the mid-fifties today. That would be great. There was actually some melting yesterday. We still have no Comcast connection, so no internet, no TV, no phones. Judy tried four different books last night, found them all wanting and declared that she was addicted to TV. I am trying to post from Starbucks—thanks for the wifi. Halloween tonight, if anyone forgot, some local towns have postponed it due to the downed wires, etc. We are supposed to go to Garden Place for the festivities.



Blowin' sand, blowin' surf.


The mess in our yard. The bamboo will bounce back, but the sweet gum tree took a mauling.

Lots of damage around town.

Leaves + snow = problem.