So everything was fine after the hurricane BUT we were facing 2-12 weeks without electricity or water.

Good-bye!

We packed out bags and headed to McHenry, Ill., to wait it out in the lap of luxury.
We had a fantastic time, also, with Kevin & Michelle Keyfauver and their girls,
the angelic Elise and devilish Erin. We went apple picking! There's a great farm
where you can go and pick all day.

Mal, Erin, and Elis. (Three Muses? Eve's Troubles Trebled? Stygian Witches? Silly Girls?)

Kevin has the best tricks to play with kids. This one, he put Mal on his shoulders, then
kept handing her apples, just to see how long and how many she could hold.
Mal took it very seriously and it was funny to watch Kevin snicker and say "Okay, just one more..."

While deep in the orchard, a little fairy-o'-the-apple wandered up.
Where's Rosetti when you need him?

                                          American                                 Gothic

We also got some time in at McHenry's coolest playground, Fort McHenry!
Malaren can hold herself like this for 30 seconds. She was very proud. The dismount was even good.