Tag Archives: National Weather Service

It’s A Great Day For Ducks

It’s raining, it’s pouring….

I managed to capture this lightning while taki...

I woke up this Monday morning….

 

to gray clouds and a light drizzle.

 

Then it thundered.

 

And, more rain came. And more…and then some more.

 

The front yard looked like a lake and the culvert was overflowing. The neighbor’s llamas had a weather constructed pool.

 

It is a great day….. for ducks:)

 

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Today I am thankful for:

 

* sleeping in an extra few minutes

 

* a rain day

 

* sump pumps that are working

 

* soggy dog walks

 

* emails from friends

 

* yummy leftovers

 

* laughing with my husband

 

* taking some great pictures

 

* getting some inside chores done

 

* some new, bright picture frames

 

* sweet summer time, laid back days

 

When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.    Jeremiah 51:16

 

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This One Life

I’m really still a kid at heart. And I like snow days…nature_3

The phone rang a little before six this morning. School delayed…an hour later, cancelled.

This teacher is happy, and so is this mom. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have plenty to do around here, it just means I can do it at my own pace.

Today that means, slower.

I hear the television playing in the living room, and the washer filling with water in the laundry room. The hum of the refrigerator is quietly playing in the background, of a house filled with daily noise.

I need to do laundry, feed the animals, work on my blog, start my new online class on autism, prepare for Bible study, read…and make some chocolate chip cookies.

But, I stop and take time to look out the window.

The gray-white sky melts into the snow-white ground. Only sharp and boney limbs of barren trees reach into the wind. Some say winter is harsh, and cold and they wish for warmer weather.

I, on the other hand, choose to see the beauty in this season. The other night the snow shown like silver glitter in the moonlight. It was breathtaking, really. The gray clouds are immense as they scud across the sky. The cold wind is harsh, that is true, but it makes my cheeks rosy and alive.

Winter is a time of waiting. Slowing down.

And don’t we all go through winters in our lives?

Without the cold, how can I appreciate the warm? In not too many weeks the snow will be completely gone, and the spring mud will take its place.

Life will be resurrected in the green of new grass, crops planted in straight lines, bulbs bursting forth through wet ground…stretching towards the sun.

And don’t we all need that? To stretch towards The Son?

To enjoy and appreciate this one life we have been given?

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Snowin’ and Blowin’

Going to enjoy a day inside…while there was a blizzard blowing its way across Ohio.  That was my thought Wednesday as I stood looking out my kitchen window. Winter had indeed, arrived.

The pristine whiteness. Crisp cold morning air. Moon light on newly fallen snow.

Each season has it’s unique beauty.

 

 

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First Day Of Fall

Autumn trees and clouds

Image by rkramer62 via Flickr

Early morning darkness.

I hear the steady drum of the rain on the roof. The rivulets of water stream down the windows.

I flip the switch, and flood the room with the golden light of a new morning.

Looking out the kitchen window, even on this gray day, I see a world drenched in color.

The rain makes the grass look greener, the sky more like slate, the trees just beginning to burn with color.

There is a chill in the air.

The morning is turning towards Autumn.

Wrapped in a wet, new day.

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Happy first day of Fall,  my friends.

 

 

 

 

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Weathering Life

Lightning

The morning sun pours in through the windows and puddles golden on the floor. It is a bright morning following a stormy night. The lightness is in direct contrast to the steel gray of last night’s weather. I think that life, in general, is a lot like the weather.

*we can try and plan outdoor activities, schedule things on the calendar….but, sometimes it rains and plans change.

*storms are unpredictable, and sometimes scary….but, they don’t last forever.

*as much as we enjoy the sunshine, we need the rain. Rain helps things to grow.

*sun is important and our body needs it for good health and for our moods, but too much sunshine and we get hurt.

*Sunshine and rain are both important in nature…and in life.

Enjoy the sunny times of life, appreciate them. Embrace them. Remember them.

But, also remember that every life is going to have rain…need rain. Learn to weather the storms. Hang on tight. Ride them out.

Both sunshine and rain help you to grow.

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-thank you God, for the sunshine and the rain

-puddles of sunlight

-doggie licks

-the smell of coffee

-holding hands

-good morning hugs

-friendship

-good ideas

-comfy pajamas

-a fresh start to a new week

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Beat The Heat

Ice cubes in a tray

Image via Wikipedia

It is a hot, humid, sticky, stifling Monday morning in west central Ohio. I know there are a lot of people dealing with temperatures much hotter than the 90’s, but it’s still hot, regardless. I could gripe about the heat (and I probably will, because I am not above whining), but I will begin today’s blog with being thankful that we have a working air conditioner in the house.

The last severe heat wave we had, the air conditioner was not working. We couldn’t catch a breeze and I was quickly melting in a pool of sweat. It was a gross and disgusting scene. Just trust me on that. Moist skin, hair plastered to my head, and a sweat mustache are not my most beautiful look. Needless to say, I was happy to see the temps eventually drop. Now, this week, I am looking at 95 degree temps again.

Have I mentioned that I enjoy the laid back spirit of summer? But, not so laid back that I drop over dead on the lawn from heat stroke. Just sayin’. Don’t waste your time telling me I am a heat wimp…because I won’t even fight you on that point. I will just agree with you and then request that you go and get me some more ice cubes for my tea…..or fan me……or spray me with the water hose. That’s just how I roll.

The dog days of summer are very real at my house. The outside dogs just lay around in the shade, and pant a lot. I make sure their water bowls are always full. I tell them to drink up. I’m seriously considering buying them a kiddy pool. They can lay around in it and I can bring them their water bowls with little umbrellas in them.

I’m already thinking ahead. Three months from now will be October 18th. Aaahhh….cool days and crisp nights. My perfect season…..Autumn, I miss you. Please hurry. Before I melt.

Well, it’s off to find something to wear today. Something cool…..but, still decent. And legal.

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I’m thankful this Monday morning for…..

*laughter

*humor

*friendships

*family

*working air conditioner

*ice cubes

*cold water

*my house

*a to do list, and the ability to do

*my husband’s job

*compliments

*encouragement

*the possibility of rain

*creativity

*A heavenly Father who loves me

*That sad times never last

*That there are golden moments in each day

*Life

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Lord Willing, And The Creek Don’t Rise

April showers bring May flowers…..or in my case, THUNDERSTORMS bring flooding.

This morning I woke to high winds, thunder, and lightening. It has rained pretty much the entire day.

The farm land across the road is saturated. There is now a lake where a field used to be.

Such is springtime in rural Ohio.

Springtime is the best and worst of times.

Rain and mud

Storms and flood

Plants blooming, pollen sneezing

Grass growing, allergic wheezing

Farmers planting

Dogs panting

Flip flops to wear

Ponytail hair

Sunshine so bright

Until late at night.

Let’s get into gear

‘Cause Springtime is here!

New International Version (©1984)
Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.

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Snow. Again?!

Snowflakes!

Image by nutmeg66 via Flickr

I just returned from a two day trip. As I was driving back into the state, I saw that it was snowing. What?! It’s a wonder we don’t all keel over from this crazy weather. We’ll all catch our death. Just a light jacket one day and then it’s snowing. Should we all get our parkas back out? My mom bought me some super cool zebra print boots for the Spring mud season. I suppose they would work in the snow too. Ugh.

As I sit here at the kitchen table I see the big, fat flakes falling outside. A lot of them. This is crazy. April Fools Day isn’t until Friday, ’cause this is a joke, right?

(P.S.) To those of my loyal readers that have been following the mouse saga….I hear them again.They are back. I guess I need to serve up the “green pellet” buffet again. If you are a mouse lover, don’t talk to me. Joe,the cat, caught one too. Mice reproduce way too fast. Just sayin’. And now with all this new snow they will be cold outside, and want to come in to warm up. Listen up little micey, this is NOT the Motel 6!!!!  I love all of God‘s creatures with the exception of small little field mice that want to become my room mates.

I will blog tomorrow after I unpack, and after giving a pep talk to the cats about needing to “patrol the perimeter” for incoming rodents.

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Weather Geek In Action

NOAA

Image via Wikipedia

I have told people on more than one occasion that I am a die hard weather geek. I have to check out the NOAA page several times a day. One never knows when the weather might change. I have to be prepared after all.

1. I checked the NOAA page this morning per my normal routine.

2. I saw, in bright red letters, HAZARDOUS STORM WARNING.

3. Oh, the excitement.

4. There could possibly, maybe, sorta, kinda be a storm that might push into Ohio this weekend.

5. It’s always “possibly” because we all know weather is an exact science.

6. There is no doubt the temps will plummet to HIGHS in the teens.

7. With wind. That is the killer.

8. Just don’t know how much snow is on the way……

9. Our first snow of the season was on December 1.

10. It has flurried and been freezing cold, every day since.

11. Omen for the rest of the winter?

12. A possible storm on the way.

13. You know what this means, don’t you?

14. A trip to the grocery store.

15. I have to lay up provisions. In case we are stuck in the house until the Spring thaw.

16. We at least need hot chocolate and plenty of ingredients for cookie making.

17. With that, we could pull through until the Spring.

18. Or at least until a snow plow comes down our road.

19. After all my family has priorities.

20. If I was trapped in the house all winter with my family without hot chocolate and cookies, it would be bad.

***I would end up like the Jack Nicholson character in The Shining. We all know THAT didn’t end well.***

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