A Blizzard in December

December 8, 2009

It’s started to snow.

The forecasters predict at least a foot. The wind is supposed to pick up and the temperatures are starting to drop.

It’s a December blizzard.

We’ve been warned it was coming for some time. The grocery stores were packed last night as people stocked up on the staples. Hardware stores were just as busy selling ice scrapers and snow shovels.

The weatherman on the noon news said it would be a big one – one we would talk about for years to come.

Schools are closed through-out the state in preparation.

Snow plows are gassed up and ready.

But for now – the snow is falling softly and piling up fast.

And we wait.

Our worlds have stopped. The entire Midwest is frozen in time. Plans are on hold. Events canceled.

Meanwhile, families enjoy quiet time together in the midst of a busy month.

Adults take naps. Kids pull out the board games.

The frantic pace of Christmas is slowed down for awhile.

Hot chocolate is poured. Movies are watched.

And we wait.

And the snow falls.

And the wind blows.

By Country Gal | Posted in Weather, Winter | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Weather Radios: A Must Have for Rural Living

May 8, 2009


weather radio

One of the things I missed most when I moved to the country was the tornado siren.

I know it sounds silly, but there was comfort in knowing that if severe weather was coming I would be warned, especially in the middle of the night.

The spring we stood and watched a deadly tornado destroy trees and homes just to our south made me more determined than ever to protect our family.

We had no warning. None of the TV stations had covered it. None of the radio stations mentioned it. A neighbor called in and reported it as it picked up in intensity and stayed on the ground for miles.

That’s when we got a weather radio. It’s plugged in 24/7 year around. During the spring of the year it goes off frequently, day and night. But what a blessing it is to know that if severe weather is coming my way, I will be warned.

Now that’s peace of mind everyone who lives in the country needs to have!

By Country Gal | Posted in Spring, Weather | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Well, Maybe Not

April 8, 2009

Snow

Okay, I lied.

It wasn’t intentional. I told you all that spring had finally arrived in the country.

Then it snowed. Again. And again.

Truthfully, it felt like spring had arrived for several days. I took walks with no jacket. We hung laundry on the line. I listened to the birds singing.

Then a cold front came through. The wind picked up. The temperature dropped and winter returned.

Then it snowed – again.

Family living further north had even more snow – up to 2 feet!

We laid aside the spring jackets and short sleeves as we pulled out the parkas and the ski gloves, again.

It reminds me of this Robert Frost poem…

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Two Tramps in Mud Time (1936)

(Photo by wahp1)

By Country Gal | Posted in Spring, Weather | Tagged , , , | Comment (1)

Hiking the Ravine

January 24, 2009

800px-pink_clouds01When the temperatures soared up into the 60′s this week, the kids and I all played hooky for the afternoon and took a hike.

After all, having 60 degrees in January in southern Iowa is an event to be celebrated!

We made 2 rules for this adventure. The first rule was that each of us needed to have a piece of candy in our pockets that we could eat anywhere, or anytime we wished!

The second rule was that we could not walk on any trails.

We headed down the hill to the ravines and decided to follow them for as far as we could.

Winter is the perfect time to explore the ravines that surround our homestead since they are overgrown, inaccessible and full of ticks during the summer and fall.

But this day was perfect! The snow was melted, the sun was shining and we were all wearing sweatshirts, – no parkas, mittens, or hats – in mid-January.

We climbed over logs and crawled under branches. We slid down steep banks and shimmed back up the other side. We skated across the frozen creek bed and explored the wash outs.

We found several animal bones, turkey feathers, and part of an old foundation.

We discovered with awe that the rushing creek had frozen as it was flowing into amazing little frozen waterfalls.

We talked, we laughed, we ate chocolate and we savored the sunshine.

But most of all, we made a memory.

By Country Gal | Posted in Children, Weather, Winter | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Floods in Iowa…Again, This Time it’s in My Backyard!

July 24, 2008

We woke last night to very strong winds, thunder, lightening and rain that continued until noon today. When we checked the rain gauge mid-morning we realized that it was overflowing with 5.5 inches. My husband estimates that we had over 7 inches, and possibly as high as 8 inches.

Places north of us got that much rain as well. All through the morning we watched our neighbors bean field fill with water. I first noticed several large puddles, an hour later it was a small pond. By lunch it was a lake.

We drove done to the bridge after lunch to check things out and were amazed at the water. We have never seen it this high!

It had actually covered the road! We wonder how the mail man got through just minutes before?

Here is a close up. The water was rising as we watched.

This is our neighbor’s bean field. Seriously, yesterday it was rows and rows of soybeans, today it’s a lake. Aren’t you glad you’re not an Iowa farmer this year?

Here’s a view from the bridge. The flood waters are moving fast and still rising.

Lake front property? Not really. Just the view from our house, overlooking our neighbor’s bean field. We have more heavy rains forecasted tonight. Maybe it’s time to start building an ark?

By Country Gal | Posted in Weather | Tagged , , | Comments (4)