Sandy got us

The remnants of Hurricane Sandy are only beginning to reach Western New York - the worst isn't supposed to get here to some time between 10 p.m. and midnight - but we've already suffered some effects at our homestead.

Just as I took the dog out for a quick walk before the heavy rains hit, I heard a loud sound from the back yard. A tree behind our fence had come down - taking out part of our stockade fence and two bird feeders, and filling the back part of the yard with trunk and limbs.

The tree was on CSX land. Parts of it had come down before, and each time I suggested the railroad pay for taking down the whole tree to avoid future problems. They were only interested in paying for what came down. Well, it's all down now, and they'll have to pay again for tree removal and repairing our fence once more - for the third time. Penny wise, pound foolish.

Tomorrow, I'll call the insurance company. Then we have to get a tree company in here to cut and remove the tree, and the fence company to replace the sections of fence damaged.

Sigh.

Given all the damage that's expected when the worst part of the storm hit later tonight, it might be days before we can get anyone in. Ours is just a fence and yard; some folks will have to deal with damaged homes.

I hope school is closed tomorrow so I can make those calls.

Pax et bonum