Storms

 A few days ago, Grandpa came into the kitchen after checking the weather, and said there was a storm coming in the next few minutes. Sure enough, a few minutes after his announcement -- BAM! The trees all flattened and swirled in a way I had never seen before. I was just about to have Daniel go out and take down the shade umbrella, when the umbrella and everything else in our yard began soaring in the wind. It was crazy! It looked like our yard was being mixed in a blender. The kids were all worried because I said the word "tornado." It was moving in such a strange swirling motion, that is what it appeared to be. (It was actually a downburst.) Daniel screamed like a little girl and ran into grandma's arms. It did not last long, but it caused some pretty good damage for it's short duration. Charles even saw a large trampoline flying through the air. He wasn't lying -- yesterday I saw the trampoline debris out in an open field. It was crazy, but also exciting for those of us who love a good storm. My mom and I went driving around after it was over, to see what damage had been done throughout the city. I was certain the whole city would be mangled by the fierce winds. But after driving just a few streets down -- there was nothing. No sign of debris, a storm, or anything. It was an isolated burst, right over our neighborhood! Weird?! 

 The poor neighbors lost a beautiful tree in their front yard . . . 

STORM VIDEO: 




That downburst happened the day after we had just driven through this storm . . . (got these dust-storm images off the internet, the first image is the same storm). On our drive back from Utah we saw this massive cloud of dust coming our way. All the way from Twin Falls to Boise we were driving in darkness, wind, and debris. At one point it was really unnerving -- the ground was barren and charred from recent fires, the sun was red and shaded by the thick smoke and dust, and there was a vapor of darkness everywhere you looked. It was very erie, like a scene from an alien destruction movie, or something.  At least it made the world's most boring drive (from Utah to Idaho) a little more exciting! When we got home the city of Boise was covered in darkness and dust. Never seen anything like it! 

And this morning, this was my view . . . smoke from a large fire nearby. Not the best running conditions! 

Crazy weather around here! Dare I ask . . . what's next??