Entertaining the ocean

I guess I’ve whined so much lately about wanting to go to visit the ocean that she decided to pay us a visit instead. Today, Tropical Storm (née Hurricane) Irene is on our doorstep, knocking to come in. She’s brought her friends, Wind and Rain, and it sounds like they’ll be staying until tomorrow.

We plan to show them a good time.

M & H went provisioning last night and bought more snack food than should be allowed in one shopping basket. M, in his wisdom, also bought a bottle of champagne. Bless his heart.

And naturally, because you just have to while the oven is still functioning, we made Emergency Brownies.

While the power lasts, we have music and movies. And when we, inevitably, lose power, we have candles, battery-powered lanterns, two charged battery packs, and absolutely nowhere we need to be.

If Irene likes reading, we have stacks of books and magazines. Or maybe she’d like a nap on the sofa. She might be tired from her journey by now.

Wind and Rain can play with Hyla on the deck.

Then they can come in and drink hot cocoa while wrapped up in their towels.

And then, late into the night, with the rain beating down and the wind bending the trees, Irene will tell tales about ships tossed on the sea, dolphins leaping like winged creatures, and king Neptune and his court initiating sailors as they, like our young friend, John, cross the equator for the first time.

At some point, our bellies and brains brimming, we’ll all drift off to sleep, safe in our little ship. Irene can have the couch. Wind and Rain will chase each other around the barn for awhile, then settle into the trees and sway the night away.

If Irene is still here tomorrow morning, we’ll make her some chocolate-chip pancakes and pack her bag for the road back to the Atlantic. Home sweet home.