Tornado Season 2014

It's been a very rough winter, and I'm looking forward to spring, but I am dreading the tornado season that typically comes along with it here in the midwest part of the country.

< < < I do not want to see anything like that! It gives me the willies just seeing a photo of one.

October in Birmingham, Alabama

It's late October and still beautifully green and warm in Alabama.  Love it!


And....GO CARDINALS!

Lubbock, Texas, Dust Storm

Yesterday, I found myself in a wild wind and dust storm on a trip to Lubbock, Texas.

After arriving at my destination, the winds were still going strong. (I had heard later that winds were 60-70 mph)

I'm happy to say that, today, it's sunny and beautiful in Lubbock, and not windy at all!

Before getting deep into the dust storm, I noticed this giant-sized dust devil near Plainfield, Texas.
I have seen small dust devils out west, but much smaller though. I'm glad this one was a safe distance away from the highway. It was quite a sight though!

Lenticular Clouds

First off, I LOVE clouds, all clouds, any kind of clouds!

This stunning postcard features not only a bright full moon, and majestic Mt. Rainier in Washington, but also, a great example of a smooth lenticular cloud.

They form at high altitude over mountains.

Living in the midwest part of the US, I don't routinely get to see mountains. But, whenever I travel to where there ARE mountains, I am thrilled!

A month ago, I was way, way beyond thrilled when I spotted this lenticular cloud formation over some mountains in Montana!

It looks like a tall stack of pancakes. If I hadn't already had breakfast, I would have gone straight to I.H.O.P to celebrate! :)

Hail Of A Storm!

Had some wild, scary weather this past Saturday. While watching the weather reports on tv, I thought for sure there was a tornado about to come knocking on my front door. Fortunately, the worst that happened was being pelted with hail a few times.







 There's a quarter in the picture for size comparison...a Canadian quarter. I didn't have any US coins in my pockets, so that's all I could come up with. Who knew I would be rummaging everywhere for a quarter during a spooky Spring storm?!

Midland, Texas USA

Just a sign that I rolled past yesterday in hot, hot, hot Texas. One of those little "Ah, I did not know that" moments.
And then, one of those "I wonder if they still live there" moments.
And then, one of those "I'm pretty sure they still live somewhere in Texas" moments.
And then, one of those "Dang it, I must look it up now or it will bug me all day" moments.
And then, one of those "Ok, so they live in the Dallas area now. Thank you, Google!" moments.  : )

This is what I mean by "hot, hot, hot". It got as high as 107F, at one point. (40-42C)....and it's only April!

Let's Play Twister!

I'm sure nobody, but me, is old enough to remember that game. Anyway......Oh, my goodness! In the midwest part of the country, storms and tornadoes are way too plentiful this Spring.
Driving in stormy weather, ok, it's doable. Dodging tornadoes while on the road, NOT ok, and just barely doable!