Weathering the Storm
We are back from the plantation and at our current home in Chesapeake. With Hurricane Sandy coming in from the Atlantic, we needed to get prepared for what is to come. As for Chesapeake, we should have some high winds and rain, but nothing that we haven’t seen before. When we arrived this afternoon, we found that most schools and some businesses had already closed for Monday. Because of where my current office is I may not be going in either. I work out of an attic office in a local branch. It is an older building, which most of the times I love. But for this situation, I need to be more cautious. The roof doesn’t have much between the outside and me. And with tall Southern Pines that are prone to snapping off easily, I don’t think I want to brave 30 to 60 mile per hour winds in that space.
Walnut Tree
As we left the plantation today, I felt kind of sad and concern. Belle Grove Plantation has seen some hard storms over the last year. We have lost three major trees in and around our bowling green. We have also lost two large branches on one of the oldest trees, a walnut just to the left of the entry gate. Because of this loss, the walnut, which I would estimate being between 200 to 300 years, has left it exposed and weak. As we pulled out, I wondered if it would survive the winds of Sandy tomorrow and Tuesday. We are due to go back on Wednesday so time will tell.
To all that are in the path of this storm,
please stay safe!
Hickory Tree
Fall has definitely come to Belle Grove Plantation! As we pulled in, we were greeted by a large pile of leaves from a hickory and gum tree near the house. The leaves on most of the trees have turned now and have begun to fall off. The trees across the river don’t look as bright as they had been last weekend. Our two crepe myrtles on the river side has started turning. But I expect after the high winds and rain over the next two days, there won’t be much left to see in the way of leaves.
Crepe Myrtles
River view
In the meantime…..
We still have a couple more posting from our “working vacation” last week. So be on the lookout for them over the next few days. With the possibility of me being home tomorrow, if we have power, I should be able to prepare them for you. I also have some cool stories to tell from my visit to Stratford Hall on Saturday!
Lot 15
Denton Bone China – 6″ in height
Antique – Age unknown
value est. $45.00
Thank you to all who have placed bids on our Silent Vintage and Antiques Auction. We appreciate the support in raising funds to turn our little 1790s Summer Kitchen into a museum to house all the artifact and history of Belle Grove. If you haven’t places a bid, check out our Silent Auction page by clicking the link below!
The current bid is listed there under the item. If you find an item you would like to bid on, email your bid to us at virginiaplantation@gmail.com. We will be accepting bids until Friday, November 2nd at 11:59pm Eastern Time. There are some really wonderful items that were donated by most of the antique stores I have written about in our blog! Here is your chance to help us and win a piece of Virginia history!
Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook too!
Stay safe. Glad you are being cautious and not going in to your work place. Hope all is ok.
Thank you so much! We hope everyone else in harms way will be safe too!
aren’t they from the fifties???
i pray you remain safe tomorrow, and that your home and everything connected with it are all safe too. big hugs to you
I’m not sure. Maybe.
Thank you so much! We should be fine. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Big Hugs back!
We are hunkering down and hoping for the best. Good luck and stay safe.
You too! Be careful and safe!
Stay safe! It looks like a monstrous storm, and that’s saying something, considering I’m a New England man. My prayers are with you.
Thank you! We hope if you are in the path you will be safe too!
I hope both of you and Belle Meade safely ride out this storm.
Thank you! We will check on it after the storm on Wednesday and let you know.
I hope your Belle Grove survives the storm with no problems. My son, Marshall, mentioned today that he was concerned about the Castle. Just think of all the storms those two old beauties have weathered….!
Thank you! We hope the Castle will fair well!
Praying for God’s hands and Grace to shield you and yours.
Thank you so much! So far so good. I haven’t heard from the caretakers yet on Belle Grove though.
Prayers for safety and protection headed to all in the North East in the path of Sandy. I am more than familiar with hurricanes being from the most southern area of Louisiana … I am anxious for yall for this late bloomer of the season … Take care 😀
Thank you! So far so good for us here in Chesapeake. We haven’t heard from the caretaker yet about Belle Grove. But we are still early in the storm.
Wow stay safe guys! Ps I love the photos!
Thank you! We are good so far here in Chesapeake. We have our fingers crossed for Belle Grove and hope it weathers okay. We will update everyone on Facebook once we know.
I hope you all stay safe and that the trees survive the winds! Please keep us posted.
Thank you! We hope so too! We will send out updates on Facebook once we hear.
God bless and keep you with this storm. I know you’re prepared.
Thank you! We are praying and hoping the trees survive this storm!
I pray you are safe and sound.
Thank you so much! We really appreciate that! So far so good. We haven’t heard yet about Belle Grove. We will update you on facebook once we know.
Hope it’s not as bad as predicted… Be safe!
Thank you! We hope so too! So far so good. You too!
May All Be Well
Thank you! We appreciated that!
I am worried about all of you back there. I saw the map this morning while I was in Los Angeles and hoped it would miss you. I checked on my son in Blacksburg and they are far enough inland. So I’m worried about you, my friends in Virginia Beach, and my family in Richmond. Be safe.
Thank you! So far so good here in Chesapeake. We have had more of a NorEaster than a hurricane. There is some flooding in areas, but we are okay were we are. We haven’t heard anything from Belle Grove, but it is early in the storm. We hope your other friends fair well too!
Stay safe. I can relate to you since the storm is also on its way to New York.
Thank you! Oh my, you are in for the worst of it. We are just on the south of the storm getting rain and wind, but not close to the eye so we are fairing well. It’s more like an NorEaster for us. We hope and pray you and yours fair well too! You will be in our thoughts and prayers!
Reblogged this on Practically Historical.
“…He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” (Psalm 91:11)
“For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” (Psalm 61:3)
God bless you and your family, your home and Belle Grove Plantation!
Liz
Thank you! We appreciate that! We are doing well with just wind and rain. It is more of a NorEaster than a Hurricane for us. We hope everyone else in the path will fair as well. No word on Belle Grove yet.
Thinking of you, and also of the trees. Safe and happy return for you all.
Thank you so much! So far so good. No word yet on Belle Grove, but we have our fingers cross and saying a prayer.
Keep out of the megastorm Sandy!
Thank you! We are doing good so far.
Best thoughts to you guys (and the trees!), stay safe.
Thank you so much! That means a lot to us! (and for the trees!) We hope everyone else in the path will be safe.
Hope everyone okay 🙂
Thank you! So far so good! No word yet on Belle Grove, but we will let you know as soon as we can.
Take care, and be safe. The hurricane has been big news today here in Australia and we are all hoping that everyone comes through unscathed.
Thank you! So far so good. It’s just like a NorEaster for us so its not as bad as they predicted. We worry about those in the New Jersey and New York area. They will get more than what we are getting. No word on Belle Grove yet. Fingers crossed.
Our thoughts are with you and your beautiful plantation, stay safe and let us know how you got on.
Thank you! So far so good! Just wind and rain for us. More of a NorEaster than a Hurricane. No word on Belle Grove yet. We will update everyone on facebook once we know.
Will be thinking of you as you prepare for this storm. Batten down the hatches! http://ohtheplaceswesee.com
Thank you! We are doing well so far. Just wind and rain. No word on Belle Grove yet.
Oh boy!! I’m still the winning bid!
Stay safe – you and Belle grove will be in my prayers.
Well… check your email. (sorry) Thank you! We really appreciate it. So far so good here. No word on Belle Grove yet.
Wishing safety to everyone – be well.
Thank you! We hope everyone in the path of this storm weather it well and have no damage.
Reblogged this on Colmel's Blog and commented:
I am “reblogging” Belle Grove Plantation’s blog. I hope all my readers will keep a good thought for Michelle and her beautiful “obsession!” God keep this historic and beautiful plantation safe!
Reblogging! I’m hoping those who follow my blog will keep you and Belle Grove in their thoughts and prayers!
Thank you so much for sharing us with your readers! We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers coming our way! We hope that all those in the path of this storm fair it well and stay safe!
Stay safe. We are 90 miled east of Atlantic City, NJ.
Thank you! Oh wow! You are going to get more than what we are getting! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours! Please be safe and let us know how you are doing!
…As a fellow New Jerseyan: in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…?
No matter, ALL of the New Jersey area is going to get blasted; hope you’re weathering this all right!
We hope you all are safe! We have fair pretty well here in Chesapeake. No word on Belle Grove yet.
Good luck with the storm from windy old Boston!
Thank you so much! We hope you and yours stay safe as it moves into your area!
Chesapeake? Ouch! Good luck weathering Sandy!
We did okay. No damage or flooding at our home. We haven’t been out to see what the rest looks like yet.
Be Safe!
Looks beautiful. k.
Thank you!
The high winds have arrived with the loss of light. There hasn’t been much light all day. Volunteer fire and rescue folk are at local stations. So far here in S.W. PA – I’ve still got power. But many have lost their electric. The storm is due to stall right above us. So serious is this storm that schools that were closed today are already closed tomorrow as are most government offices- though we did get mail today. Some business were smart and also closed. Now we just have to wait.
To all in Hurricane Sandy’s way, stay off the roads, stay warm and safe.
Wow! We have been with power all day today, thankfully. We hope you fair okay throughout the night! Let us know how you are later!
Oh, I did forget to mention – the creek out back…she’s a rising! But we don’t have a basement and had no water from Irene so we should be OK. But our neighbors might once again be getting our local fire and rescue service to bail them out.
Stay safe everyone!
Hopefully you won’t need them too! We are praying for all that in the path of this storm!
Your beautiful old house, Belle Grove came to my mind when I was watching the coverage of the storm. I do hope both the house and plantation survive I’m sure it has been ok in the past storms.From Australia my thoughts go out to you and all who are in the path of Sandy
Thank you! I don’t know for sure what the outcome is yet. I will be traveling there tomorrow so I will know for sure. I did hear from the caretaker half way through the storm and that point they still had power and no trees were down. Fingers Crossed we made it all the way through.
I hope you, your family and your beautiful Bella Grove are all safe and sound! My thoughts are with you.
Thank you! We heard half way through that everything at the plantation was okay. But we haven’t heard yet what the out come was at the end. I will be traveling there tomorrow so I will know for sure when I get there. fingers crossed.
We hope all our readers are safe and there wasn’t too much damage if you had any. Our prayers go out to all of them.
Your place looks beautiful, I’ve never been. I’m glad you made it through the storm okay and hope you don’t lose any trees. Good luck with your auction!
Thank you! We are still waiting to hear the final outcome at the plantation. We are traveling there tomorrow so hopefully we find all things made it.
My thoughts were with you, so hoping that you were spared some damage. We will not soon forget this storm. We are waiting for the center of the storm to pass tonight before Sandy finally moves on. Keeping you in prayers as the rivers rise…
We have prayed for you as well. I hope everything came out okay. We made it through the storm with no issues here in Chesapeake. But no word yet on Belle Grove. We heard half way through that all was well so far, but no final word yet. I will be traveling there tomorrow so I guess I will find out. fingers crossed.
That was some storm and so huge, so many areas were affected in one way or another. Life is back to normal here.
We are glad to hear that!
You stay safe yourself. We aren’t likely to feel much of it up here on the West Coast, but I’ve been growing antsy ever since I realized people I know and follow are in the path of that monster!
We did okay. Just some wind and rain. Still don’t know about the plantation. We are heading that way tomorrow to see. Thank you!
Good luck!
Hope all was safe and dry at the plantation. Glad you weathered the storm alright. Give us an update. Cheers, Rita
It is thank you! I will be posting an update today.