The rain-bands that circled through Monroe from Gustav pounded us with inches of rain and gusts of wind. Monroe is packed with refugees, and every hotel is filled to capacity. The shelters are too. Though I was fortunate because I didn’t lose power, last night Gustav left me a personal calling card. A gust of wind snapped a huge pine tree in half in my backyard. I’m so lucky that it didn’t hit the house. It did take out my phone line. It will be a major expense of time and money to get my yard cleaned up. Here is a photo, though the fallen pine tree covered so much of my backyard that I couldn’t get it all in the photo. How sad to think this ancient pine that has survived nearly 100 years and was healthy had to perish like this.

Here is a photo of me and Teresa Gordan, the owner of Daily Harvest Bakery & Deli in Monroe. This was taken last Saturday. Standing with us is Teresa’s Little Baker Man (made of wood). Last week I saw a little boy give the Little Baker Man a kiss. That was a Kodac moment I’m sorry I missed. I so enjoy performing at Daily Harvest. Teresa’s cookbook is out and it is beautiful! I’ll be performing again September 13. If you’re in the area, please come. Again, I’ll be there from about 9:00 a.m. to 1:00-2:00 p.m.