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.