Originally Posted by WMUTeach

Well, my friends it has been an adventurous week. I was here on Monday, but missing since then. The reason is that Tuesday evening my city, and my neighborhood specifically, was hit by two tornadoes. The first one was the "biggy" that did the most damage. I am fine and my condo has very minor damage I lost downspouts and some siding. Sadly my tiny neighborhood lost 3 or 4 HUGE oak trees as well as 5 large spruce and pine trees. This natural setting on protected DNA bog is what drew many residents to this area. It is quiet, serene and lovely here. Now, less lovely and many fewer trees on the marsh. Directly across from me is/was a very large swampy forest that is part of a different nature preserve. Most of the forest is gone.Trees are either snapped off at about 15 to 20 feet from the ground and stripped of all branches or tipped over with the root ball laying out in full view. This wooded area is several hundred acres in size, mostly in shambles. It will stay that way. Only what bordered on a four-lane boulevard street will be cleaned up. Trees that are between 75 and 150 years old and lots of 20 -50 year olds are now laying on the side of the road waiting to be hauled away. Sad, so very, very sad. But a reminder of how powerful a tornado can be. We see photos of other communities and just dismiss it. This week it was real.

I got out today and was deeply shocked at what I saw that was less than a 5 minute walk from my home. Buildings demolished or damaged severely and thousands and thousands of trees across the community are gone. I got my power back in just short of 48 hours and internet came back at the same time. Yeah, how very dependent we are on these modern conveniences.

My plan to mail the blocks tomorrow is now "gone with the wind". More likely Monday. I have one final block to make then out the door when all of the roads are open again.

I am so blessed and grateful to be safe and not in the dark any longer.

Originally Posted by LogCabin82

Sorry I have not posted in a bit but I have been working on my previous BOOM Froggy Quilt for my Nephew! I want to get it done in time for his birthday! I quilted it on my Viking Lena and now just have to hand sew the binding on!!

Originally Posted by Libster

Anyone see the Northern Lights tonight? Here in NC we were able to see them for the first time tonight. They were gorgeous! Bright pink and orange fading to blues and purples with a shot of occasional green. My great niece is a photographer so hopefully we will have some pictures tomorrow. This was a once in a lifetime occurrance here. I am so glad that I have lived long enough to experience this first hand. Those brilliant shifting colors was mind blowing!

Originally Posted by LogCabin82

Okay, here’s my first try at taking astronomy pictures! It was a clear sky last night with a crescent moon. I used a blue and red planetary filter lens and then a plain one. It was fun but tricky!