Connie's Corner

A storm...

We had a little storm move through around suppertime yesterday...60 mph winds with rain, thunder and lightning. I watched from the backporch as our monstrous pine trees swayed back and forth. I even saw a red-tailed hawk bucking the breeze as he searched for a safe roosting spot. I thought birds somehow knew when a storm was eminent and took cover beforehand...hmmm.

As I watched the tops of the pines sway back and forth in slow motion and wondered if I might be in any danger on the porch, I heard the crack and ripping and saw a gigantic limb crash to the ground about twenty feet from where I stood. Thousands, okay hundreds, of other little twiggies, I call them, spiralled down to the lawn like dropping birds. I thought a couple were birds...not...my imagination. Then just as quickly as the wind came up, it was calm again. I have to say I enjoyed being out there in it even though it was probably dangerous. I can almost understand those storm chasers. The temperature was in the high 90's before the storm and dropped to the low 70's in seconds it seemed. Dangerous maybe, but invigorating all the same...can't wait for the next one, except for the clean-up I had to contend with this morning. The limb was slightly over twenty feet and I had to saw it in half for the trash men and stick picker uppers who cometh today. Even at eight o'clock this morning, I was drenched in sweat by the time I got it sawed and drug to the curb. I still have the "twiggies" to pick up, but they will have to wait.

My tomato plants are making a comeback but I fear it may be too late. I read somewhere a long time ago that when the nighttime temp stays over seventy, fruit will not set. Over 70 is the norm for our low temps now. One other good thing about the rain...maybe it put the wildfires out. We have several going in our county and counties close by. No smoke is a good thing.

until next time...c