It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Somehow with the drought last year, it didn’t dawn on me that we could also be in the midst of setting a good record.  But we were until it came to an end yesterday.  We had 359 consecutive days without a tornado warning in the state.  It was hot and humid, and we were warned of storms coming.

I did my storm preparations of picking up feed pans and then I went out to pasture to tell the goats and llama they needed to come to the barn.

Millie

The bovine wanted to go back north, and I tried letting them, but I opened the gate too late.  They’d changed their minds and were going to stay in the pasture.  Now, if you think I can convince a 3000 pound steer to move when he doesn’t want to, it’s not going to happen.

MJ and Maxine

I jumped up and down behind him and hollered, “Get up, Hyiah!”  He stood.  I had a hand firmly on each rump roast pushing as hard as I could, and he didn’t notice me.  I finally gave up and reminded them they could come to the barn. They drive me crazy when they stay in the pasture in stormy weather.

I sent my nephew a text saying it was time to quit farming for the day and then went into town to get my mother since she doesn’t have a basement.  We got back to my house just as the first jagged streak of lightning hit.  Mom went in, and I went to make sure some silly Cinnamon goat was getting her butt out of the pasture and into the barn.  About that time the thunder came and everyone was scared inside.

By the time I got inside, I saw we were under a tornado warning.  I looked out the wind0w again (yeah, I know that’s not what you’re supposed to do in a tornado warning, but still) and saw I had a goat outside.  I headed for my boots and had just gotten them on when my mom told me the goat went in the barn.  For some reason the geese just sit out there in the tornado warning.  They could go in.  Really.

Then they said a tornado had been spotted five miles south of State Center.  Well, that’s just north of town.  Then we got a text from my son asking if we had electricity and did I have any ice cream.  I can’t make this stuff up.  Of course his next text was that he’d driven through the funnel cloud (I believe he meant the rotating wall cloud that is associated with tornadoes and not the actual tornado).  That would have been just about five miles south of State Center.

Well, our streak of no tornadoes has ended, but everyone in my world is safe.  The cows survived. The geese are all here and everyone is fine.

We had more storms come through in the night and there are more chances again tonight.  So how do you prepare for storms?

Linking to Homestead Barn Hop and Clever Chick’s Blog Hop

Spring Random 5 Friday

1.  The theme for Nurture Photography Spring is green/spring this week.  I think we might need to revisit some winter themes with our current weather.  Three full days of rain this week that culminated with some snow flurries overnight.  At least we have rain that will probably take us out of the drought.  Then we just need some rain throughout the summer.  Now we just need some warmth.

2.  I was out in pasture looking at the grass to see how green it was getting.  It’s turning, but there’s still not a lot out there, and I’m leery about turning the goats out too soon.  Even though we’re getting rain now, the pasture needs to feed them all summer and provide me with hay for next winter.  I thought this little bird below looked awfully cute on the stump.  I don’t know what kind it is though.

Here’s a closer look just to for identification purposes.

3.  The kids are having fun playing outside today.  It’s the first day they’ve had a chance to play outside all week.  I do think they look like they have springs on their hooves.  It’s a lot of fun to see them out playing.

4.  Author notes for today:  I started a Facebook Page for me as an author.  You can see the link in my sidebar.  I had the great idea today of visiting Iowa State University (I did graduate from there) and setting up a table in the union by the bookstore while they have VEISHA, which is the largest student-run celebration in the country.  Well, VEISHA is this week, so I think I might have missed that opportunity.  Maybe next year.  I am looking at another state-wide publishing/author event that takes place in November.

5.  If you read about Annie and her female issues, I just wanted to let you know she seems to be doing better.  Of course, all the goats are huddled and look miserable when it’s cold and wet.  She’ll get her second shot on Tuesday, and then I hope it doesn’t come back.

Linking to Nurture Photography, Random 5 Friday and Camera Critters.

Snow!

We did get a bit of snow overnight.

Coral is kind of short, but we did have several inches (about six).

Coral

I was glad I had the Ranger ready to go.  It made the driveway clearing much easier, and a lot more fun.  I don’t know how I ever shoveled by hand all these years.

The geese just amaze me.  They handle storms like nothing is going on.

The wild birds, on the other hand, were all sitting there waiting for me to fill the feeders.  I did do that before I left for work.

I love the clean sparkling look of the land after a snowstorm.

There’s nothing like taking a deep breath of crisp winter air!

Linking to Farm Fun Friday and Nurture Photography where this week’s theme is blue/breathe.  No beautiful blue skies this week, so I had to go with the breathe.  I do like the blue shadows you get with snow though.

I’m also linking to Camera Critters.