You know it was a big blow when...

... there are more seagulls in town then the local birds
... the weatheroffice past 24 hour report says N/A
... the remaining few upright business front signs have finally come down (no more FIELDS roof top sign and the RCMP sign broke through the concrete footing)
... trees fell down on the lines (we have a rockstar Hydro crew and the power stays on through most storms), asphalt shingles on the neighbour's house were flapping (just like on the movie Monster House) and there are a few damaged businesses and houses in town and the village.

During our dog walk early yesterday evening, I learned that even though I wanted to put my head down and push into the wind it is very necessary to keep your eyes up for fence boards, garbage cans, and yard junk that has become airborne. When a house with tin roof started banging around I was ready to turn and cover. The poor geese/ducks at the field (the type of 'bird' is currently under debate. D informed me that they are still hanging around because there is one that can not fly very well) could not land. We walked by with the dogs, not close to them at all but it was close enough for them to take off. There was frantic honking and quacking around as they jostled around in the air, bumping into eachother. So we walked around the field and as we got farther away they wanted to land but the wind would not let them. Their feet were in landing mode, wings parachuting to drop down but they kept lifting higher. So we watched and waited for the wind to let up just a moment and they finally grounded. D gave me a pretty funny goose/duck stance suitable for such weather: feet together, knees bent, butt out, arms/wings bent into a well balanced position. It was very well executed. The wind did not move him at all :)