Storms and Nasty Weather

Weather. Here we have been inundated by some nasty storms over the past 24 hours. Rain high winds and hail have kept many people in and glued to their TVs. We got over five inches of rain yesterday - the most I've ever recorded here and we've lived here for over 30 years! I keep calling friends and family to make sure everyone's okay, too. (Thank goodness!) We live in sand mostly so the flooding hasn't been an issue here.

Life is made up of storms like these. They can be frightening and we never know how they will affect our little corners of the world. I'm fascinated by these weather events, but the after effects can be terribly devastating. We had many trees down, and roads totally washing out, but the long term repercussions can affect life all around us.

Here's hoping these nasty squalls, thunderstorms, and downpours don't make life miserable for everyone.

Memories of Winter Days

Winter for kids means excitement, sledding and sometimes snow days. I can remember when my boys were young and the screaming excitement that always came with that first snowfall. Down the stairs they tumble yelling at each other and me. “Where are my snow pants?” or, “Is breakfast ready? We need to get to the hill!” Like a bunch of excited puppies falling over everything in their path they exploded through the halls and kitchen of our small house hitting every wall and always pushing, shoving, and knocking over anything in their path to the back door.

I remember those days when ever we get snow and over my morning coffee rerun those days each year with a smile. Their hill was a snow pile in the parking lot of the senior housing next door and they wore it down quickly – until the next snow fall.

Memories pile up these days. My youngest always said that snow was his favorite toy in winter. Today it makes for my favorite thoughts of winter.

Weather, Rain, and the World

Weather can set the mood for any day. For many rainy or snowy days brings the blues and lethargy that is frustrating. Isn’t it funny that we change so with the weather? I have chosen to try to enjoy the rain, and after our perfectly dry summer the rain has really come as a blessing, though not to the crops – I fear it’s really too late for most of them. Sitting at the window, or watching the water run down my car window at a light really gives a different view of what rain can be. It’s definitely quite good art in the sense that the drops running together create this lovely view of dripping colors as if the painting is melting.

When wandering into that runny world - into a soft summer shower it can make you feel clean and sticky and wet all at once. My dogs hide from the rain most of the time in their dog house, but willingly run out to greet a squirrel, or a passer by. They don’t seem to mind getting wet at all then, and neither do I. Guess I’m too old to care how I look when I’m wet.