Storm News

 Yesterday's storms were a RUSH!  Ryan came home with Aggie just before it hit and we all hung out in the basement while it passed by.  My heart goes out to all the people affected by the tornados and the families of the storm victims!

We didn't get anything damaged at our house, thankfully!

However, this is my sister's trampoline in Wisconsin...

Her yard is on THIS side of the fence.

As of Tuesday, I'd lost 31 pounds! I'm going to start the transitioning to normal foods a week earlier than planned, now that I'm within a couple pounds of my goal weight.

Here is the pic I sent to my coach yesterday.

Aggie seems pretty pleased with my progress too.

or just life in general.

Walking, Weddings and Mints

I have been enjoying the weather as much as I can.  It's been in the 50s for much of this week!

And I'm only 12.6 miles from completing my 500 mile walk around Scotland.  Virtual of course!

Lately my ear buds are blasting Lord of the Dance, because 1) it'll raise my heart rate so I get my heart points for the day 2) it encourages me to walk faster.  If only I could dance like them, I'm sure I'd triple my steps in the same distance.

Pay no attention to the little red dab of a scab on my lip... The weather has been so dry and I smiled at someone and it started bleeding...  ugg..

Last night, the kids were over for taco Tuesday.  Meri, Ryan (bf) and Maddy started forming mints out of some white mint dough I'd made earlier.  Matthew sampled for us.  The dough got soft fast!  So it's in the fridge hardening up a bit.  Meri and I have tomorrow off so we'll break out the mold again then.   We've got lots to do tomorrow!

Our annual Irish meal will be tomorrow night and all the kids are coming over.  But in addition to cooking all day, she and I need to make several cupcakes, get all the stuff together for the wedding shower this weekend for her best friend.

I washed the table runners from Maddy's wedding (pic is from my Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary several years ago) and we'll pick up lavender tulle to lay over it.  

I think I found the least expensive one at Hobby Lobby but we'll stop by today and see.

Anyway, back to work.  Have a wonderful day!  If you are able to, hit up a Lenten service somewhere tonight!

T Minus 24

Ah...   sub zero weather.  There is NOTHING like scraping the inside of the house windows  in order to see if the plow has been by.  Or like having your dog be sick in the night and having to go outside in the weather a LOT...  

My life is a thrill a minute.

Even though my husband will say that I'm getting more sleep than I say I've been getting, I didn't get much sleep last night.  Second night in a row.

So, a few hours later, the alarm went off at 6.  I reset it for 7 for a little more sleep.  That and a cold are kicking my patooty today.  Thank goodness there is no school today!  

So before I got going with work today, I got a science experiment together to do with Leon.  I boiled some water on the stove and let him select the food coloring to add to it.

red.

Yep - my yard will look like a scene from Watership Down...

Whatever...  The red food coloring went in.

Leon recorded from inside and I took the pan of boiling water out.

Chunks of red ice and steam hit the gutters and clunked against the house.  It would have been hitting me if I'd gone to the deck corner.  But the wind was coming from a different direction that I'd anticipated.  

Look Ma!  No frostbite!

Anyway, he enjoyed it and later we'll try the way another sister recommended with bubbles.

Fun times!  I need a nap.

Warming up to the idea of spring

 

You just said that in John Candy's voice, didn't you? :)

The temp is currently -3 with a windchill of -26.  Don't go outside!!!

Tomorrow the high will be -14...

School has cancelled for today and tomorrow and I'll be surprised if they don't cancel Thursday too, as we're not supposed to pull out of the deep freeze until at least Friday.

Yikes...  

I don't plan to go anywhere, but then again, my plans change at the drop my kid's hats.

After supper, I did some sewing.  Then Ryan and Leon pulled me into watching Spirited Away.  I am NOT an anime fan and they're trying to convert me.  We got about half way done before it was Leon's bedtime.  

In the standard anime, there are only so many "huh"s I can take...

To me, it's the equivalent of saying "ummm" during public speaking.

Spirited Away is pretty good so far and has kept the "huh"s to a minimum, but there are some.

As for sewing, I got 63.5% done with a new top for me.  Do you like the two tone-ness of it?  I hope Pepsi pays me for wearing this in L.A. next week.  

GASP!!!  It's next week already!!!  I've got some serious sewing to do before then.  Pants would be good!  I started on a new purse, but might just go buy one.  Or give mine a quick wash and makeover...  We'll see what I have time for in the next few days.

Staying inside and making it happen.

Stay warm people!!!!!

A Tropical Heatwave

It's a cold one today!

-9 degrees when I got up this morning. My phone says it's still -3 in my town but the car says 0. 

Having a heatwave! A tropical Heatwave! 

Who doesn't love Grumpy Old Men? 

Except for my husband, that is... 

A couple days ago I sent a sack lunch to school for Leon. It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, oatmeal cookie, and a smallish tin of sour cream and onion Pringles. He came home that night and said that he still had half of the chips left. Not a big deal. *where are they?* The next day they were serving a chicken sandwich and I told him he'll eat school lunch today. He said he doesn't like chicken sandwiches. I told him to take the bun off and pretend it's one big chicken nugget. You'll love it!

Ryan got a call late Thursday... The school wanted to know why we only sent chips for Leon's lunch. Oh, we didn't...

So Leon had taken matters into his own hands for a lunch that he WILL eat. He's done that before, but the reverse where the school lunch looked better than the sack lunch. Mainly because they were serving ice cream along with it.

The last Christmas present has been completed from 2018! Maddy and Matthew can expect their new dining room chair covers sometime next week. And I have enough fabric to make a tablecloth if we can get the dimensions of their table accurate. Maddy's going to tape together a bunch of paper and lay it out on the table and trace the thing. Then I'll add 12 inches all around and then go for it.

I made a cool $10 or $20 this week with my sewing ability. I don't know yet how much and my friend may very well forget, so it might be a cool fat zero. But the sweetheart dance is tonight and her daughter needed a dress taken in under the armpits. She will be beautiful. Oh, she already is. I'll try to catch a picture off Facebook once Julie posts them. 

Ryan was a little jealous that I have a cool side gig. He said that it wouldn't hurt to do a mending project every week, as an extra $20, would come in pretty handy each week. Maybe for him, but it stresses me out knowing that I am modifying somebody else's clothes and it could very well go south quickly if I screw up. I don't think $20 is enough to cover my anxiety. If it's for somebody that I truly loved like family, I will do my very best to make them happy with my sewing and adjustments, but it makes me nervous for somebody who I don't know really well. I want to make sure I'll be forgiven.

I played the game Operation with Leon this morning. I won! But we followed the rules and we had a good time. He took a bite of bagel between each turn. 

Robb made me breakfast this morning! I'm not sure if anybody else gets a hot dog omelette in the mornings, but I'm sure you're jealous. It was delicious!  

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Tornado Runs Through It

Yesterday afternoon my phone got a tornado message in our county.  I looked outside and there was a blue sky with a few tuffs of clouds here or there with no danger in sight.  And we have fields across from our house, so we can see for miles.  nothing...  I even went out on the deck and listened and watched for a few minutes.  

And then the siren uptown went off.  Since the air was so still, I figured it was a fire siren.  Someone was struggling with flames or something...  I went back in to work.

Later that evening, when Meri and I were headed out, my sister called and asked how we had fared with the tornados.  Wha?...  Apparently one town about an hour and a half away got nailed big time.  Then later on FB, some friends posted pics of this one close to our town.  

YIKES!  Those sirens WEREN'T about a fire after all!  

I need to listen and go downstairs next time...

 My tornado dreams are going to start up again... I just know it.

Oh!  Our county fair is this weekend.  And since Meri forgot to get her photos printed for the photography deadline, the Share the Fun entry was the only thing that she's doing for it.

She had signed up with one song, then last week was hit with an inspiration to write another.  And she did that one instead.  

She got a alternate State Fair ribbon, meaning if one of the three chosen for the state fair can't go, then they'll call her or another duet group.  

Meri wasn't TOO put out about not going to the state fair, but would have liked to.  She was more upset that the judge didn't write WHY she got the scores that she did.  Why did she lose a point here or there?  More comments and feedback would be good if you're a judge and reading this...  She wants to improve and can't do that if someone just writes "nice song" on the sheet.

Oh well, we headed home shortly afterwards.  

Sliming not Sewing

I got last night off from sewing!!!  So I cleaned up my sewing area somewhat and let Leon climb into my closet while I sorted some things.  I've got a pile of fabric that has somehow gotten stuck in there.  Who knew?!  I could probably sew a new prom dress out of the stuff I found.

Oh and I found several prom dresses.  Ones that I've made and ones that I found at that boutique on sale last year.  The sale ones have been cut up for the crinolines or various other projects.  Some are intact, but not many.

Leon found some old toys that I'd put in the way back of my closet and several dolls that had started to freak out Maddy when she was a girl.  My closet is where American Girl dolls go to die...

A grand-daughter some day will love them!

Today, I have a hair cut and then will settle at the high school to modify a few of Meri's costumes for the play again.  She has to get out of the blue dress and into the pink dress in a BIG hurry.  And Monday night it took her 4 minutes.  Whoops!  Those aprons are going to get sewn onto the dress and I need to make a back flap for the vest zipper as it kept getting stuck on the white shirt.

The pink fluff pulled off the pink dress already in a couple places so I'll make that a more permanent fix.

And the gold dress needs a bit more on the back and a bit less on the front.  I plan on a couple hours I think.

Yesterday the ice made everything outside treacherous. We had neighbors ice skating on the sidewalks...

But Meri had broken the shoes she needs to wear in the play, so we braved the ice and made it to the Shoe Carnival and replaced them.  Whew! I love a good sale!

Leon and I had been working on his early birthday gift from Maddy and Matthew and finally the glue dried on his Gloop Slime launcher!  So we made the slime using the directions on the box and it turned into a glow in the dark mess that wouldn't unstick from my hands...  My skin will probably start peeling any day now due to the Borax I kept mixing into it to make it less watery...

He loves it...  And practiced shooting the front door last night and then again this morning.  We had to dig out another pair of pants because he got slimed.

Anyway, back to work and so much more!  Have a great day!

Who is Jack?

This is what my front yard looks like after our blizzard yesterday.  The big hole in the snow is from where Leon made a snow angel before getting on the bus...  The blizzard was so bad that it caused a huge car pile up on the interstate not far from us.  At least one fatality and several injured.

THEN this is where one of my sisters was this weekend.  I think she's flying back into this mess today.  But isn't the ocean beautiful?  Some day... some day...

 And Brooke in all her glory.  She got 96% on her report on James & Dolley Madison! 

Way to go Brooke!!!

Doesn't she look authentic?  Kristin found that hat at a thrift store.

On another note.  Since Ryan and Meri were both snowbound with us last night, Ryan insisted that we play the "You Don't Know Jack" game on one of his game systems.  Robb and I used to have the computer cd version of this game way back when Ryan was 5 or so and it wasn't appropriate for him at that time!  You play this game using the game system, a tv and your smart phones.  Hilarious...  

So we let Leon play Roblox in the living room and we got into our game.

We played a few weeks ago with Jen, Ryan's girlfriend.  Here is how one of the games went.  There are several different types of the game, but one was the "pointing" part of the game.  So everyone is sent a command to their phones.  For example, "Point to someone who is the last to lose their temper?"  And then one person is the "faker" and they get a totally different question or it says to pretend to fit in and point to someone randomly, the faker not knowing what the real question is and they point randomly.  So it's a clue as to who the faker might be and everyone else can vote for who they think the faker is.

Well, during one of the questions, Robb was found out to be the "faker" and we didn't get to the rest of the questions, which was just as well, because as an answer to the next question, he'd answered Jen without knowing the real question.  Which was, "Who in this group have you seen naked?"    

That could have been awkward...

So anyway, if you get access to that game, try it out.  It's a hoot!  Especially with a crowd.

And after a few games of that and then time with the boy, I didn't get any sewing in at all.  Maybe over lunch today.

I can only hope.

Rolling With The Beans

 On Friday, the weather was getting nice and warm outside.  Enough to find a light jacket and go exploring in the woods, for Leon and his dad.  I was wishing I could go with them but then saw their shoes when they came back and was glad I stayed in my office...

Or at least in doors.

What a muddy, mucky mess!

Friday night, my local college student nephew came for supper and brought Leon a belated birthday gift.  I made homemade pizza for supper.

Saturday was a busy one.  After a few errands, and because the weather was even nicer than Friday, Leon and I worked outside and got the yard all cleaned up for Easter.  I know it's still a month off, but darn it, we're ready for an Easter egg hunt now!

At least we're eliminating the need to hide eggs under yucky old leaves.  and hopefully snow. The yard is beautiful.  The front anyway.  The dogs have made the back yard look like missile site testing and I'm instantly remembering the movie The Money Pit.

Robb said I was too ambitious because I raked all the old leaves and landscaping remnants onto a tarp that when tied on both ends looked like a big boat that would have gotten Washington across the Potomac.  

In other words, it wouldn't fit in the back of the car or van.  So it had to wait until late yesterday when we could get Meri's truck to take it out to the yard waste landfill.  And it was heavy...  

 Saturday afternoon, we headed to a high school just a little ways away and enjoyed Meri singing a song from Phantom of the Opera in a musical theater solo performance.  It was beautiful!  Here are all the kids from our school that participated in various events of the day.  

Meri got a score of 1, which is fantastic and she gets to take her performance to State in a month!

and then...

and THEN...

I got to sew a little bit!  Next weekend, Meri is in the variety show at the high school and in a piece where they'll be singing Jailhouse Rock and need to dress in 50's style clothing.  Meri had something to wear already but a couple friends of hers were not so lucky.  So I dug out Maddy's old poodle skirt from the Middle school Sock Hop but could only find Meri's underslip from her Middle school outfit.  So one of her friends was good but the other still needed a skirt.  

I made the following and finished it up last night.  I found a poodle skirt pic online, printed it out to the size I needed, then cut it out of white fleece.  

The skirt has an adjustable waist because we're not exactly sure what size the girl is that is going to be wearing it.  Meri made a guess and I hope we're right.  I might be making adjustments to it tonight.

So anyway, before you say that "You'll be glad to sit down today!", you'll be relieved to know that I sat on a very uncomfortable stool for 45 minutes last night working on that puzzle I've been puzzling over since Christmas.  I'm in a more comfortable seat now though and you're right.  I'm glad to be sitting in it!  

But I am rolling my foot on a frozen can of beans as I type...

ahhhh....

Just a little further...

Yesterday afternoon, our town was slammed with a huge rain storm with tons of wind.  It let up and the sun came out exactly at 4:15.  My neighbor, who also works from home, emailed me.  She said that she just looked out her window and from where she was sitting, there was a rainbow's end landing on my back deck.  "Better go look and see if there is a pot of gold there!" she said.  

So I did and took this awesome photos of the rainbow.

But no pot of gold.

shucks.

It looks like the rainbow starts at the swimming pool and ends on Samson street.  But I'm pretty sure if we drove over there, it would still be in the distance, just out of our reach. ;)

Anywho, I told the kids so Ryan, Meri & Leon headed out barefoot in the rain to see it.

Those leprechauns are being tricky...

Paying attention to drops

I saw Meri off this morning on her moped.  The skies had darkened significantly since I let the dogs out earlier.  She hopped on and rode off down the street.  As SOON as she turned the corner, the rain drops began slowly.  I wondered if she'd make it all the way to school or if she'd drive out of it.  I went inside when I saw she wasn't coming back.

As I started on the dishes, I got a cell phone call.  She had turned around at the next corner and was sitting in my car waiting for a ride to school...  Maddy had just come upstairs so I sent her to take her.

We're going to have to pay closer attention to the weather starting next week...

Gotta run.  Tons going on today and I want to take tomorrow afternoon off.  Have a great Wednesday!

Ice and Wolves

The ice on our drive way and front walk is thick...  And we're out of ice melt salt... 

We improvised today. 

Do you see the tiny dots of water softener pellets? 

I saw a local grocery store do that in their parking lot one year and it works!  I'm sure it'll wreak havoc on our pavement, but oh well.  No broken bones THIS year!  Not that we ever have, but there have been a few bruised tushies.

We HAVE to get rid of the ice before the big snow storm scheduled to hit tomorrow.  It's supposed to get up in the 50s again today, so hopefully a lot more will melt off and be gone!

And now I want to watch the movie Amadeus again.  I showed Meri a short clip on Youtube this morning and she is intrigued.  I know it's rated R, but I couldn't for the life of me remember why!  I saw it for the first time in a college movie appreciation class.  THERE was money well spent!  HOW much per credit hour? (divided by how many movies) (equals about $50 per ticket maybe?)  Oh well, money under the bridge and some credits for my transcripts. 

I LOVED this movie!  I checked out why it's R rated on IMDB.com this morning and oh my... She's seen MUCH worse on the Teen Wolf series...

So I'll find a copy somewhere! 

Nothing like a little Wolfie music to get your blood pumping for the day!  I'm just glad it's one of Mozart's songs rather than the one that was running through my head yesterday. Which I'm not even going to try and remember what it is for fear of a repeat. 

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Frozen thoughts

BURR...  I know the temp is like the tropics today, 8 degrees, but it is feeling colder than a few days ago when it was 15 below.  I don't know why exactly.  I probably have a temp...  

FYI: This is no where around here... I just think it's amazing!!!  This is a lighthouse on Lake Michigan during the polar vortex thingy this week.  Yikes!  Where are my fingerless gloves!!

 

Just dropped off two cars at various shops to get work done so we're down to one car except for two in the driveway that aren't moving.  sigh.  Maddy's car had an oil leak so we sent her off at the last minute in one of our cars and kept hers here to get it checked out.  You know what that means!??!  Road trip soon!

Well... got a LOT to do at work today and should probably get my head wrapped around a new to do list that I need to compile.  

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Fire Pit of Doom

I guess the only other thing I was going to tell you about the weekend was that my two dresses that I entered at the county fair level got Champion and Grand Champion!!!  

I was competing with just myself.. again...  I need to prod a few more of my sewing friends and get them to enter stuff next year!  You hear me guys??!!  If you're reading this, that is...

Last night, Leon, the girls and I attended the horse show with our club and made s'mores.  Our fire pit has been at our 4H leaders house since last year at this time.  Didn't even miss it!!  or look for it!  Out of sight, out of mind I suppose.  But she brought it and every one roasted marshmallows on it last night.  

Actual quote from our 4H leader last night.  "If the weather doesn't turn nasty like it did last year after the s'mores party, I might remember to drop it off at your house once it's cooled down."  

More on that in a minute...

Leon loved the horses FROM AFAR!  

While waiting for Meri to get some fair food, Leon and I watched some cattle getting judged.  They are HUGE!  And he was rightly impressed.  Wouldn't even go NEAR the fence!

After that, we went to one of the buildings that had air conditioning to see the photography entries and my sewing projects.  TONS of photos!  SUCH creative kids!

Here was the weather on our way home.  I might enter this picture next year! The clouds were rolling in and we got nailed with a super power celled thunderstorm around 7:30 last night.  WOW was it a scary one!

The girls were so unnerved by it that they took their supper and headed to the basement.  Found out that our neighbors Sycamore tree had come down within a few yards of our front porch and several other trees down the street had come down! 

Also found out last night that our 4H leader's barn collapsed due to the strong winds and trapped their horses and the horses that they board!  It also took out their power.  I feel so bad for them!  I don't know the status since last night, but I'm sure someone will share on FB today.  From what people said on FB, there were 30+ people helping to free the horses last night.  

I don't think we need our fire pit this month...

Stormin' Leon and other sewing projects

Grandma's little helper!!  He can pull the chairs out from the table now and go wherever he wants to...  Well, until we see him and start counting!  Oh and he is so smart now, he knows how to count to three!  He's not actually doing the counting with us, but when we pass "2", his knee is coming down off the table back to the chair.

Not sure if that's obedience or just figuring out his boundaries and what he can get away with...

On Saturday I did the jeans hem!  Ryan was over and pulled Leon off my back, literally, so I could sew.  Leon WAS very interested in how the sewing machine is threaded, but after I sewed through one of my fingers, I figured this wasn't the safest place for him. 

Meri was funny!  As she dug through our medical kit for bandaids, she said, "I think you may need stitches!"

HA! HA!  lol!  We just crack up around here on the simplest things! And the needle went in just one spot.  I just didn't want to bleed on my sewing project.

Ok - back to the jeans!  I found a blog online that showed me how to do this and keep the original hem stitching so it doesn't look like you did anything!  From a distance anyway!

Measure how much hem you want to take up.  Divide that in half.  In this example, we wanted to take 2 inches off the hem.  So...  I folded the hem up half that, one inch, but did NOT include the original hem in the inch.  Just the folded part.  Ironed it just so I could be as exact as possible.  Pinned the side seams so they'd line up.  Stitched closely to the original stitch all the way around.  Then you fold it back under, press and try them on! 

The girl I was hemming this for couldn't come until Sunday to try them on, so the project sat at this step until then.  But if they fit and are the right length, then you can trim off the excess that you folded under.

This is what they look like after that.  Can you tell the difference?  Don't say "Yes of course!" Trust me... from a distance they are perfect.  She was happy!

While they sat and waited, I started a new project.  I'm really into this recycling thing these days but am NOT a tree-hugger.  They itch.  The girls and I spent the morning hitting our all-city garage sale.  All 15!  ;) 

We're a small town...  

Found a few jackpots for clothes for Leon.  I LOVE it when I can spend 20-25 cents per piece of clothing for a baby!  He's well stocked into this winter and next summer!  Got them all sorted by size when we got back. 

I also found a couple mens shirts that had some great fabric!  I know it kind of looks like a table cloth, but it's a lot cuter in person!  AND as usual I didn't plan ahead and take a before picture...  Maddy couldn't envision my thoughts, so I jumped in.  Here is the shirt after I cut it.  It's a typical long sleeved, button up man's shirt.  I angled the back to hang lower and cut the sleeves so they'll be 3/4 to elbow length.  She can fold them up.

Then I went to work.  I hemmed up the sleeves, folded the bottom up one inch into a casing.  Moved the button-hole (because I hate to sew new button-holes!) up a little and made it a hole for the draw-strings.  The shirt is attached at the belly where the draw-strings come together, but then she can button it up from there.  And since it's a man's shirt, the buttons go backwards from what she's used to. 

Get used to it!  I made the draw string out of the bottom of the shirt that I cut off.  Instead of having the draw string go all the way around the back, the back has a strip of elastic instead, sewed onto the strings.  That should make it a bit more comfy, don't you think?

While I was working on this, Leon started getting crabby and wanting Grandma.  It was sunny out, so we suggested that Ryan and Meri take Leon for a walk in the stroller.  Perfect!  Everyone was happy!  They took off.  About 20 minutes later I was at the draw strings of the project, almost done!  I noticed that the sun was gone now...  I called into the living room and mentioned that to Robb.  He said, Yep - looks like it might rain soon, better go pick up the kids!

He couldn't find his sandals.  Found out later that Ryan had worn them on the walk...  So I grabbed my shoes and headed out the door as it started pouring down rain and my cell phone started going off.  It was Meri.  They had made it to the pool and were huddled under a tree waiting. 

I got there with the car and while Ryan got Leon into his seat, I put the stroller in the trunk.  When I got in the car, Leon had the BIGGEST pout I'd ever seen!  I know he was upset for being so drenched... Poor kid!

We had to drive back for Leon's other shoe that got kicked off under the tree, but then we made it back to the house to dry off. 

Someone has rain-storm hair!

The rain came down... and Thievery.

Since Maddy is done with high school, she joined my friend and I on our lunch date yesterday.  It was my turn to treat, so I sent Maddy to pick up 3 entrees of Chinese food from my friends favorite restaurant as a surprise. 

Maddy picked them up, then stopped by the house to pick me up.  We got out to Ada's and then "kind of" apologized to her husband for not picking anything up for him except a fortune cookie.  He rarely eats with us when we visit, but he likes to pick on Maddy.  And lo and behold, we found 4 entrees in the bags!  I WOULD say that it's a Christmas miracle!!!  but in actuality, Maddy had grabbed someone else's bag at the restaurant in addition to ours...  She felt terrible!!  But Mike got some food after all!!  AND we enjoyed some chick named Kaylee's crab rangoons! 

We called the restaurant on the way home to see if we needed to pay for it and they said nah...  He seemed more concerned that we got the food that we'd ordered correctly.  Um yeah... just more than we needed! I wonder what Kaylee had to say when she showed up for her food!

I made pepperoni calzones last night for the kids.  Robb wasn't home, so I didn't bother with any other kind.  Here is my pizza dough all rolled out and ready for some fillings.  I intended to take pictures of each step, but that didn't happen...  Use your imagination!

Afterwards, the girls, Leon and I sat under the overhang of the porch and watched the rain.  Oh and ate ice cream sandwiches.   Well, they did.  The rain let up and look what we saw!  A double rainbow carefully centered over our back yard.

I think that means there might be a pot of gold somewhere in our woods!  I'll send Meri back later to check it out.

Within 30 minutes the weather turned nasty and we watched the news a ... lot...  Possible tornadoes within 7 miles to the south east of us.  But our town was on the outer edge, so we were ok.  Just nasty thunder that rolled for more than a minute amidst crazy rain and wind.

My prayers are with all the Oklahoma people today.  What tragedy!

And people wonder why I have re-occurring nightmares about tornadoes...

It's A Soft Pelt...

When we were in Ireland in '98 we saw the weirdest thing!  And believe it or not, I am NOT talking about the bloated cow on the beach....The pics below are from '05 because the first trip was not digital...

But on the shore cliffs of County Clare, we watched a sheet of rain come across the ocean.  Straight across at least a few miles wide.  It came closer and closer to shore.  It was incredible to watch.  Almost as if a huge sheet of glass was closing in on you...  It was a sunny day with no clouds that you could see, but the rain hit us softly for about 5 seconds then continued inland and we watched the sheet of rain move past.  Now I definitely know what they mean by a "soft rain"...

Last night, we got a shock on the way out of town to Bible study.  A *buck nekkid* RAGBRAI rider was at the gas pumps in town.  I didn't even think about why he was pumping gas with a bike until much later.  WHY???!!!  My main concern was making sure Meri was watching the bikers wearing the kilts instead.  Sorry - no pictures...

After class, the girls and I had to stop for some shopping and we didn't see any lemonade in the coolers there, so I suggested we stop at Wendy's for some Frostys for the way home.  They said Okey Dokey.

The breeze had picked up a little and it felt really good... even though it still felt like a furnace vent...  The temps were around 103-106 still at 8:30pm at night.  It had gotten a lot darker, but I figured that we were in Walmart a good long time.  We pulled up to Wendy's and I ordered, then pulled up to wait at the window.  We watched the dark sky and marveled, hoping we'd get some rain!

Looking past the car in front of us, Meri and I watched in awe.  Darkness was falling fast and seemed to be coming towards us like a sheet of dark.  With garbage in it....  I asked, pointing, "Is that rain?!"

It actually was but mixed with horrific swirling wind speeds.  It came up over the curb and hit us suddenly!

As soon as it did, it shook the car.  Leaves and garbage blew all around us and even more as the car ahead pulled away.  My debit card almost flew away as the wind whipped.  Maddy got a text from a weather channel about severe weather.  So Meri turned on the radio and there were bulletins about a thunderstorm warning with the loud BEEPs in front of the warning. Take cover immediately!!!

Uh oh...

The girls said, "SKIP the Frostys!!"  I said, "No way!!!"  We got them and pulled away.  About half way to the interstate, the rain started with a fury.


YAY!  Our yard really needs this!!!  I just thought that I hope we're able to enjoy a green lawn again... In person...  The girls and I prayed.  A lot...  Windshield wipers flung like mad so I could see the road.  Robb called and was surprised we were still out in it.  He had driven separately and was already home with Tiffany and Leon.  He hung up so I could concentrate on driving.  Maddy made a comment that soon we'll be on the interstate and it will be better.

Before we got to it, she had her bible out and randomly pointed to Isaiah 12.  By the light of her cell phone, she read the whole chapter.  Wow... It fit the bill. Meri's panic was starting to calm down a little.  My fingers were still gripped around the steering wheel but I knew everything was going to be ok, one way or another.  Trust in God.  Trust in God.

We got on the interstate.  It was not as reassuring as Maddy had led us to believe... Because that's when the hail started!

PING!

PING!! PING! PONG! PING!!!!

You get the idea...

I drove through as best as I could but had to slow down due to not being able to see the edge of the road and the down pour of rain.  The windshield wipers only go so fast...  And that was speed was already giving me seizures... (I kid... no seizures!  Just blood pressure raising!)  We prayed again as I drove.

In my mind I thought that there were no more overpasses between where we were and our exit and the wind, rain and hail was really pounding us.  I pulled over to the side of the road to wait it out for a minute.  Putting my hazard lights on, which I really had to hunt for since I so rarely use them and was driving Robb's car...  found them.

We sat.  Letting the ping ping pong ping hit around us louder and louder.  Maddy suddenly said, "TURN the wipers back on!"  I did.  Just ahead in the distance we could just make out an overpass!!!  I waited until a bundle of semis passed and I floored it.  Got to the overpass and snugged up behind a jeep that was already huddled in on the shoulder.  He pulled ahead just a smidgen so I could get farther under.

THANK YOU MISTER!!!

Mad texted Robb and he called back to tell us to just be safe and not take any chances.  The storm was going to have a few more serious waves and if we had to sit under the overpass for an hour, it would be safer than trying for home.  We were only 5 miles away...

Somewhere during our interstate driving, I remembered the RAGBRAI riders...  Oh dear!  I hope they were able to find shelter before this thing hit!  We prayed for their safety and I had Meri text my brother to see if he was safe.  He texted back almost immediately.  Apparently Tuesdays heat did him in and he caught a ride home.  He was home safe and sound!

THANK YOU GOD!!!

The Jeep decided to take off.  I pulled ahead a little bit.  The car that was snugged up behind me decided to leave too.  It looked like the hail had stopped, so the girls and I thought about it for a few minutes then made the decision to run for home too.  The wind and rain was still terrible but we got to our exit and slowly made our way to town.  Backed into the driveway so that when the rain finally DID subside, "someone" (that is not me) would be able to unload the groceries easily.

Another prayer of thankfulness and we dashed inside.

This morning the lawn is still glistening with droplets.  And the neighbors yard has this...

It's amazing what prayer and a "soft pelt" can do...