Going to Oz

[judy]

I thought I was going to end up in Oz, for sure. We were under a tornado watch last night. It was supposed to go through my town at 6:20 PM. Obviously, it did not!

It was pretty weird though. There was a constant thunder like noise for quite a while. I've never heard anything like that. They told us on TV, to be prepared to take cover. Where? Even my basement is above ground! I kept looking for clouds like those in your pix Janet!

At any rate, it poured, and then the sun kind of came out. It was scary, but we are still in Kansas!

Watching the news about the tornado victims is tragic. I know we are all praying for them. Some have lost everything, including children.

[Janet]

I'm so glad it missed you Judy. These weather conditions are getting to be a bit much. So many and so much damage has been caused. On my bus route I see trees down and uprooted all over the place.

It is really scary for some....me...I worry about such small things, don't know why I don't worry about weather.

Do you get very many weather warnings where you live for tornadoes?

[JJJ]

I'm so glad it missed you. Nature can cause such tragic outcomes. Please keep safe.

[judy]

We don't get tornadoes here. From what I hear, there have been 2 in the past 20 or so years. There aren't enough flat places for a tornado to keep its momentum, although someone was telling me about one that went up a mountain and down the other side! I guess the trees didn't break it up.

We get flooding, Tstorms, wind, and, of course, snow, snow and more snow.

Except for the flooding, none of these are particularly dangerous, thank God. If you know how to handle yourself in snow, you are okay here. My strategy is to stay home in snow storms and when it ices up.

It is so beautiful here now, with the mountains and valleys so green. People are planting their fields, the hay has been unwrapped, young trees are taller than last year, and my azaleas are blossoming. The cows have been given more freedom within their pastures, the horses are out without their blankets, and God is giving us new life.

I passed a mother goose walking near the pond they live in. She had her goslings following her, and when I stopped to take a look, the little ones were shooed right into the taller grass, and she opened her beak and hissed at me!
It was awesome to experience, especially since I know these geese. They live in the same place, and mate for life, so we are all very careful when we drive past their pond.

[DianaB]

I'm glad that everything is alright!! A tornado warning can be very scary!! The best thing is to know where to go in case there is one. If you have a basement then you can go to the, hmmmm......I believe it's the southeast corner. Or you can check with your neighbors and see if they have an underground basement. Just being prepared takes a lot of the scare out of it. In a worse-case senerio then you go into a small room on the lower level....one without windows, like a closet and put pillows or blankets around yourself.

[judy]

My basement is above ground, and filled with dirt, smells from mold, and is certainly home to many critters I don't want to spend any time with! In the front is a little deck Steve built me, but I think I would be better off, with the dogs, in the pantry under all the junk that's piled up in there.

I do wish I had a "fraidy hole."

[gja1000]

I always jumped in the bathroom or closet and put a mattress over me. You think you can't lift a mattress by yourself but you sure can when you are scared.

[judy]

Grab the dogs, grab the futon mattress, and jump into the pantry!

Thanks guys! Now I know what to do!

[gja1000]

A futon mattress is PERFECT!

[DianaB]

They do say to get into a bathtub with a mattress over you......I bet a pantry with a mattress would be just fine too!!!

Every time I've read your title about "going to Oz" I think,......Oh yay!!!! Judy's coming to Kansas!!! You know Dorothy was from Kansas!!!!

[Janet]

.... Diana.....

[gja1000]

Yes Diana, I think she is going to Kansas too! When I first saw the title of the thread before I clicked on it, I thought Janet was going to visit you.

Of course Diana, everyone knows that Dorothy lived in Kansas (at least they should).

[DianaB]

See.....I wasn't the only one who thought that!!!