Spring has so much going on!

If you watch the national news regularly, then you already know how active the weather has been during this long Spring. I've even mentioned (in this blog) a tornado in Red Bank about two months ago. Well, today was another eventful day.

This morning, at work, we all headed for tornado shelters again. I never heard a thing (no wind, no train sounds). There was no worry, no panic, no nothing. But, come to find out, a tornado (or very strong wind) passed by again. Our campus sustained some minor damage. Across the Tennessee River though, a section of trees on the ridge was destroyed. Our power went out and after two hours we were all sent home.

There was obvious damage on the way home. Trees down, tree litter strewn about, bent signs, and I think windows blown out of a tall building downtown. In my little community just 10 minutes from there were lots of trees down. Power is out from work to home and beyond. I heard over 70,000 homes are without power. Larry has our generator running which is how I'm able to post right now.

There was 3/4" of rain in my gauge from that one storm. Then later in the day, another line of storms moved through. We got another 1.5" from that storm. The weather man says there is more to come tonight. Whew!

I'm thankful we live in an area where tornadoes are not usually all that common. This has been an unusual year. Nashville and Westward gets hit harder than we do. Being on the edge of the mountains helps I think. It's one reason we chose East TN and not something more West of here.

Having made that point, I will tell you that Larry was in Nashville yesterday and today for a class with TEMA (like FEMA but on the state level). They shortened the class and dismissed early. They're bracing for another possible flood in that area.

In spite of occasion severe weather, I have thoroughly enjoyed this Spring. The Redbuds, Dogwoods, Azaleas, and more have put on quite a show this year. I have a lot of baby peaches on my tree and, for the first time, baby apples on my Cortland Apple tree. Yippee!! I've been planting like crazy and the woodland is starting to take shape. The mosquitoes are just now becoming a nuisance. I have had about two months of mosquito free gardening time. What a blessing.

Abi and I have Seen Rock City

According to SeeRockCity.com, in 1832, sightseers came and rode mules through the naturally formed streets and avenues of the place they named Rock City. In 1928 Freida began a 4 year adventure of mapping out trails. Garnet Carter introduced Freida's gardens to the world in 1932. In 1936 he began his barn roof advertising. By the 1950 there were 900 barns from Georgia to Michigan and West to Texas with See Rock City painted on them.

It's 2011 and after living here for over 4 years now I can now proudly say I have now Seen Rock City and I like what I see. Abi went with me today and we had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and she was a trooper. We walked for a couple hours together, seeing water, tunnels, bridges, pretty plants, funny rocks, lots of steps, narrow crevices and even a swinging bridge.

Guess what Abi said was her favorite? (Abi will be 3 years old in May.)

This is a dog friendly place too. Since I purchased an annual pass I intend to go back often and take my trusty friend (who happens to be sitting on my lap right now). Maybe, since it is on Lookout Mountain it may be a nice place to cool off on a hot summer day. I expect it is about 5 degrees cooler on the mountain and perhaps even cooler in the shade of these gardens and rocks.

Anyway, Abi was very intimated by the narrow crevices and low ceilings. Maybe it was the fact that she couldn't see the end or maybe just that it was kind of dark but she wanted to be carried in those areas. She buried her head in my shoulder when we went through "Fat Man Squeeze" (but she peeked). It was a trick to get through that one without scraping elbows or knees but we made it. Just a soon as we emerged she was back on her feet again and ready to go. She would often say "Bye" and wanted to go off on her own. Of course Grandma was always close at hand for those scary moments, like when she found a caterpillar.

Abi wants to go again next week. Next time, I'm taking my own camera (these photos are not mine). As for her favorite part? Believe it or not, she liked the Swinging Bridge most. I carried her the first time. The second time she walked it by herself (with me right behind of course).

Where was Larry today? He was flying in the right seat of a small CAP aircraft in a practice mission. Next month there is a coordinated practice mission with 8 states involved as they prepared for the "big one" on the New Madrid fault along the Mississippi River near Memphis.