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I have been mostly absent the past few weeks as, other than a bit of harvesting for the chickens, garden and property clean-up, and chicken maintenance, my days have been more focused on non-homesteading activities.
I got a new roof put on the house the end of August. The timing was impeccable as the job was followed by a number of rainstorms and then Hurricane Helene. The hurricane had been downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit here but it was certainly the most hurricane-like tropical storm I’ve experienced. It would definitely have breached my old roof. I had no damage to deal with here in Central North Carolina.
Friends from Cheyenne, the Parks, came to visit the last week of September. What a treat! We had a lovely couple of days to visit and went to the North Carolina History Museum. It was on the verge of closing down for a three-year renovation, but the remaining exhibits were really interesting and we enjoyed it a lot. The Parks left here with Helene nipping at their heels and I was glad they made it to their next destination without any problems.
A few days later, my sister arrived for a long-anticipated visit. We talked for two years of going to see the Fall colors in the mountains and had a list of stops and activities we were planning to do in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Helene, of course, destroyed the area so we adapted our plans. No problem, despite the “plot twists” thrown our way, we had a lovely visit!
We did accomplish the most important parts of our plans. She had not seen her paternal cousins since 1961 and we took a road trip to Cincinnati Ohio to see her oldest cousin and then a road trip to Charlotte North Carolina to visit her youngest cousin. (The two middle cousins were not available to visit).
Our route to and from Ohio (I-77) was dictated by Helene’s destruction of I-40 from Asheville to nearly Pigeon Forge (it will not be fixed for a year) and the destruction of I-26, the other route from North Carolina to Tennessee. Since everyone had to use I-77, it was readily apparent just how much aid was coming to the communities of North Carolina. Every sixth or seventh truck was a utility truck or a pickup truck pulling trailers of water, diapers, and other supplies, as well as a number of National Guard convoys – all head to western North Carolina!
There has been story after story coming out of the area indicating that the members of the affected communities were helping their neighbors in every way they could while waiting for “official” aid to reach them. Groups and companies in North Carolina from every community outside of the areas have called for, received, and delivered goods. Churches have rallied around the area with service projects to assist with clean up.
I am grateful to have witnessed such a wonderful response to the needs of others!
Two Chickens Homestead 
It was indeed a wonderful time, even if we did have to shift our plans…the most important thing was the fact that we got to spend quality time w/each other! XOXO Sis
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