Dear Family and Friends,
We are OK.
Well, we are OK, although my knee is not overly ecstatic about its three trips into and out of our storm shelter last night. After having been operated on a mere three weeks ago it was not primed and ready for the marathon stair climbing of last night’s tornado warnings for our little town… I am not complaining. adrenaline will get through adversity every time, and you will just feel it later. It is later. ‘-)
Thankfully, only a *small section of Charity Lane and Bobo Section Road were hit in our town last night. This does not diminish the loss of property that anyone there has suffered, it only states fact. So many other areas were hit much harder, and have lost so much more in lives and property.
Here in Alabama we are bracing for more possible tornadic activity.
It is predicted to be in the mid to lower portion of the state.
Please pray for those who have suffered loss of family,
and for those who may face terrible storms this evening.
Thank you.
~*~
*Charity Lane and BoBo Section Road are about a mile away.
This photo of a “rain-wrapped” tornado was taken from the parking lot of Hazel Green HS.
Photo courtesy of Eric Schultz / eschultz@al.com Please follow the link to the full story.
Also hit was a store on the 231 highway: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/04/heavy_storms_destroy_hazel_gre.html
Life on the Farmlet 
Man, scary stuff over there. Will definitely be praying for everyone.
Thank you, and I am certain your prayers were well received! Bless you!
Certainly thinking of all of you who are struggling with these terrible storms.
Lillian
Thank you, Lillian, we have weathered it all and come out well!
I’m so glad to hear you and your menagerie of family are safe and well! No matter that we expect spring weather like this, and we feel we’re prepared if it hits, we’re never quite ready when the real ugly ferocity of it shows up. Let’s hope this is the last of your wild weather!!
Thank you, Lori! And thank you for the message too! I never check text messages on my phone, because I know it isn’t anyone I care about. Yours was the exception to my rule, because it came in when I was sitting in the shelter… I was pretty certain it was personal that time!
As for the weather, well, I kinda expected this year to be wicked. It was all that COLD weather and freezing this winter that had me worried about it. It got extra cold in the winter of 2011 too! The extreme winter and a tornadic spring seem to coincide if you check the almanacs. 😯
We are so grateful that it wasn’t as wild as back then!
Stay safe, and may all you know and love stay safe also. And get a cold pack on that knee. XX
Cold packs were the first order when I was finally able to sit a spell and rest! Thanks, Kate! Cold packs several times a day are Dr’s orders till he says I don’t need them any more. So glad I have them!
Stay safe and enjoy thinking about the ‘later’ that will bring better and bright feelings.
Thank you, Joan! We are on the other side and indeed are feeling those better and brighter feelings! 😀
Oh, I am so, SO glad to hear from you. I was watching that system on radar last night and was just so concerned. The one thing you have going for you is a basement/storm cellar. I think now and then what I’d do in this basement free zone of the Gulf Coast, but I mostly just cross my fingers and hope.
I hope you get through tonight with no more problems. I saw that they’d put up another watch area. I’m sure you’ll be watching!
Linda, thank you! If you have space for it, and can afford it, it makes sense to install one. If not, then it’s lowest floor, center room, and something to pad yourself with. Scary, but it often works out just fine! As for the watch, we got through it without a hitch. Very tame here!
I am glad that you are all right. I hope that your knee didn’t take too much punishment.
Thank you, Tom, I think it will be OK. It is a bit weak and achy, but not terribly so.
Glad to hear you made it through safe and sound. We were in our shelter too, yesterday. So glad we have it, it definitely makes me feel safer than just sitting in our small guest bathroom.
Thank you! Our home is vinyl aluminum and wood framed… the tornadoes in 2011 had me hunkered down in the pantry with a pillow over my head… I felt like that ostrich with his head in the sand.
So yes, it is a terrific comfort to have a shelter! I’m so glad to know you were safe in yours too, Anke!
Glad to hear you are safe. Keep it up!
Thank you, Nancy, we will!
Thank God you are OK. Prayers for all of you dealing with these storms!
Chris, thank you, dnd bless you for the prayers for those in need too!
Hell. Big breath. That shot is awful.. terrifying.. thank goodness you have a basement.. now keep your head down! c
We did, Celi! The weather is going to be more restful for several days at least, and yes, we are so glad for our shelter… strangely, we have an open invitation to our neighbors, but none of them took the sirens and the weather radio seriously. We think it is folly to shrug off the warning system, but it is their choice…
glad you are Ok
Thank you, Bob!
This is wonderful news–except that your knee isn’t happy about the stairs. Hopefully, no more visits to the shelter will be required.
Thank you! The prediction is for fair weather over the next week or so, Patti! So I have lots of time to rest and recuperate.
Thank goodness you are safe! STAY that way no matter how many trips up and down the stairs it takes!
George, when the need is great adrenaline will get you anywhere you need to be, and you can deal with the consequences later! 😉
Thank goodness! We’re thinking of everyone who’s caught up in the scary weather. Hope you haven’t pushed your knee too far.
Thank you, Annie! This year’s storms don’t hold a candle to the ones three years ago, but we are still saddened for those who lost family and friends. The knee is angry, but my Dr. doesn’t seem to be too worried about it. 🙂
I’ve probably mentioned this before Lynda (but it’s just SUCH a great remedy) Arnica ointment will take the inflammation and bruising out so fast that I guarantee you will be amazed how quickly you’ll heal up. It’s a little expensive initially, but a little goes a l o n g way (I’ve been using the same tube for at least 10 years: )
Thanks, Deb! I didn’t know about the arnica, but now that my skin has healed from the surgery I did use some China Gel on it last night. It was amazing how much better I felt this morning. It has many lovely herbal ingredients in it, but no arnica.
Q: Won’t the arnica lose its potency after such a very long time?
Doesn’t seem to have, no; if anything it may have increased in strength. This is the exact same (kind of; ) ointment I remember my Grandmother having at her house when I was little – right alongside the Vick’s Vapo-Rub. Not sure if it’s available down there in the States; but it’s from a company called Hubner, made in Germany and contains extracts/essential oils of Arnica, St. John’s Wort, Peppermint, Rosemary, Lavender, Wintergreen & Camphor – just an amazing old standby: )
China-Gel is made with seven herbal ingredients including menthol, camphor, ginseng extract, Angelica extract, lavender oil, aloe vera and witch hazel. Seems they only have lavender in common, although some of the ingredients have similar attributes. We do have Vicks. Urgh… I could tell you horror stories about my mother and Vicks with wool when I was a child… that said, it does work on congestion.
Vicks with wool? Eeew!! Geez, having a piece of flannel stuck in that stuff was disgusting enough! I can just imagine how picky AND sticky that would’ve been – poor you!):
It’s funny, isn’t it, the different patent medicines (still) in use, even today. Some things just WORK though, right? I remember buying this wompin’ big bottle of Chinese cough syrup after moving out of home and realising, once I’d smelled it, that it was the same stuff the doctor used to (repackage, apparently) give me for bronchitis when I was little. Too funny!
Your menthol (mint oil) could be my peppermint too; ).
SO glad to hear you guys all all right!
Sending best wishes and hope for any and all in need. Many HUGS! Deb
Thank you, Deb. It was very scary, but we are OK!
Let us know you are still safe. You have been in my thoughts for several days even though I’ve not had much computer time lately.
We are fine, Anita, and yesterday was no worse than any other rain storm we have seen since moving here. We are so grateful!
I’m glad you’re ok. I’ve been watching this on the news, scary stuff.
Diana xo
Thank you, and it is scary, Diana! We are so thankful that we were once again spared. We will be up at the Mountain Farmlet this weekend to see what has happened, if anything, there.
I hope it was spared as well. xo
Thank you, Diana. I will be posting after our visit!
So very glad you (and your knee) and Bob are okay. Terrible storms this week! As I was driving to Richmond, VA in a driving rain last night (wow!), I was thinking about the suffering from the mudslide, and now the tornados! What a year this has been.
Mother Nature is not happy with us!
Take care Lynda!
Thank you, Laurie, it has been a rough year. And a special thank you for keeping watch on how I have been doing. The knee is tired and sore, but I am slowly healing.
Thank you so much for posting this!!!! I was thinking of you (all) as the weather reports kept coming across the ‘puter. The rains continue here (and minor flooding compared to FL panhandle, etc!). Prayers for you all and concerned hugs……………………….
Hi Doreen! Thank you for your concern for all those who have been hurting in these storms. I have been a bit myopic about what has transpired during the week’s storms. I will have to look up the situation in the Florida panhandle. I rode out a few on the base at NAS Pensicola, and know how flat it is there. Scary.
DH and I have visited Panama City several times and really love it there but would rather live here in the S.E. MN/Midwest. The “battle of the seasons” doesn’t seem to be quite as dramatic!!!!!! Giving thanks for your safety and praying for healing relief for your knee!!!!! You’re right…..adrenalin is an amazing “drug”!!!!!!
! 😀 ! 😀 ! 😀 !
I’m very glad y’all are safe, very sorry y’all had to experience that and especially sad for those who were not so fortunate.
Blessing and peace.
Thank you, Bill, for your kindness and the blessings.
Oh my, it seems terrible Lynda, I will pray for you and other people too hoping there won’t be more damage.
Take care of you..
friendly yours
I did and will continue, and thank you for your well wishes, Chantal!
We are thankful to have only gotten heavy rain during the storms, but it was heartbreaking to watch those storms fire up in the south. I’m so glad your family is ok. Hope the knee feels better soon.
Thank you, it is a slower than I would like recovery, but I am recovering! I have been doing a bit of “LIGHT” bike riding (lowest gear, under 1 mile) and feel elated that I can do it without pain.
~L
I just went for news, hope everything is going better!!!
It is, and thank you, Chantal!
I have only just seen this! How terrifying – so glad you are all okay!
Julie, we have been blessed on more than one occasion to not have been in the path of a tornado. It is terrifying, and some day this place may be on the path… but, the underground shelter will always keep us safe, and the “STUFF” is insured and replaceable. 😀
The Mark Twain quotation that you based your title on has an interesting history of its own:
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.asp
(look about half way down that page).
In any case, I’m glad your knee didn’t prove unduly “kneedy” when you put demands on it.
Hello, Steve!
Again I am long in responding, but no less entertained by your link on Mark Twain. I always enjoy your input where language and writing are concerned. The humor in this for me is, that while I know of the saying, I had never heard it attributed to Twain. I actually had it linked in my memory as something WC Fields might have uttered, but that still makes me incorrect. 😉 Nonetheless, it worked for my attempt as a humorous title.
My knee is much better! I was actually able to vacuum the house yesterday and today I spent an hour in the garden and did not feel the need for a visit to the hospital. These are small and unimportant victories to most, but they mean a lot to someone with severe cabin fever, who
ishas been watching her carpets look like they needed a haircut and her gardens turn into jungles beyond reclamation.~L
Then we’ll have to rename you Lynda Queen of the Jungle.
Glad to hear your knee is much better.
Thank you! 😉