Irene Gives Home Sweet Hanna a Mighty Right Hook...

Hurricane Irene hit Richmond this weekend - and unfortunately....Home Sweet Hanna.  The storm started Saturday morning, we lost power around 1PM - my parents were one of the lucky few in our neighborhood to keep their power so we headed over to Pinetree for Dad's pasta, wine and a viewing of The Town while we waited for the crazy winds to stop blowing.  When we returned home at about 10PM we were shocked to find the giant oak tree in our front yard had been uprooted and fell into the right side of our house (office)....

Although this is NOT AWESOME - we are extremely lucky...a few feet to the left and the tree would have taken out a room or two of Home Sweet Hanna.  There is not any damage to the inside - but it appears that there is major structural damage to the side - see below

While the front was pretty shocking...there was also hurricane damage in the backyard.  Our neighbors had a tree fall that pushed another tree  - breaking poor George's fence (but not his spirit!)....

totally adding George's Pool to our insurance claim!

Things are pretty messy and there are several power lines on the ground - so we have sent George to Summer Camp at Break of Dawn for the week while we get his back yard cleaned up.

Not to worry - Home Sweet Hanna is fully insured and the trees will be removed tomorrow.  The insurance adjuster will be coming this week to survey the damage to our home and we hope to have a contractor working on it in the coming weeks.  We feel so lucky to be safe and that the tree did not ruin the home that we have grown to love.  One good outcome is we got to know more of our neighbors and have felt an outpouring of love and support from everyone - we are certainly not the only ones dealing with damages from the hurricane.  We will be sure to keep the blog updated with progress pictures and of course our future tree planting ceremonies as our front yard will be a little bare once the repairs are complete.  As the firemen told us yesterday - "Old Established Neighborhoods come with old established trees" - this is just part of living in such a beautiful tree filled neighborhood I suppose.


Stay safe everyone and Dominion Power - we would love to host you for milk/cookies and a clean up our power lines party - really anytime day or night you are welcome at Home Sweet Hanna!!!

Come on Irene - actually please don't....

Everyone is Richmond is freaking out - here comes Hurricane Irene...of course everyone is still a little shaken up from the 5.8 earthquake earlier this week (the epicenter was in Mineral, VA - 34 miles from here).  I was scheduled to be in Boston for a JMU Roomie reunion/Kenny Chesney show - but we have decided to be responsible grown ups and cancelled our trip (sad!).

See below for amazing photos from NASA of Lady Irene heading north...

Home Sweet Hanna is preparing by putting away the blue deck chairs and George's Igloo.  We located our flashlights this morning and we are planning on getting water and a few canned goods/cereal/bottles of wine just in case we lose power.  I have a good book and two sweet boys that should keep me company this weekend!

Stay safe everyone!

Aqua Puppy

Sweet George just got home from 3 weeks at the beach - talk about a puppy of leisure....he is getting so big and loves to play catch...

What a sweet handsome boy!

yikes bikes

Source: bicycling.about.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein

Source: lovely-little-things.blogspot.com via Cynthia on Pinterest

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: classics2.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: lushlee.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Anyone in the mood for a bike ride?  I need to get the Briguy into biking around our neighborhood....here we are in NYC during Summer Streets 2008....so fun...

Hamner Family Reunion - 2011

What a crazy summer it has been - I am few weeks behind on my updates but wanted to share a few pictures of the Hamner Family Reunion at our river house in Surry, VA.  Fun was had by all - and at its peak we had 19 in attendance...20 with George...

Highlights -

Dad,  Funky Aunt Susan, and Uncle Rob

The boys shooting  - Rob was home from the Navy (yeah R!)

Delicious Meals - grilled out every night

Porch Time - Card Games with the cousins

The pier at night

Pork Pine and Peanut Festival - Tilly had her own booth 

Bananas/Chocolate/Marshmellow - cooked to perfection in the fire by Jack and Thibaut (French Friend)

Hanging by the fire

Lots of Pier Sitting

George had a blast playing catch 

my sweet puppy

Jump George? Yeah Right!

Can't wait till the next one!  Hopefully our missing members (Katharine, Mark/Liz/Lucy) will be able to make it next time....they were missed!