Tuesday, June 19, 2012

W IS FOR....

W IS FOR....
W I N D
Two weeks ago tonight we were in Boise Idaho. The weather had been gorgeous, not too hot and definitely not too cold. In fact the night before, we had eaten a beautifully prepared dinner in a fairly formal setting but at a dining table set out on the patio. Perfect conditions. Perfect food. Perfect company.

The next night we planned to eat out to celebrate Moth's and Son # 1's birthdays.   Boise is not known for its extreme weather at any time of the year, but this night a violent thunderstorm was forecast, with damaging hail, heavy rains and strong winds.  Nevertheless we weren't too concerned.  We were in Boise, weren't we?

As we left for the restaurant, about 20 minutes away, we could see the clouds blowing up and feel the wind picking up.  I was excited because we rarely get a good storm down here in S. California. 

We found the restaurant and sat out in an enclosed porch where it was quieter (it was family night).  The wind got up -- pretty strong, so before long we had to shut all the windows.  No rain, no hail, no thunder. 

An hour and a half later we were on our way home.  (They were very busy and served us fast.) Nothing happening weather-wise. But ten minutes into the ride home this is what we saw :





I guess someone got the weather -- or at least the wind.  There were trees down and branches all around.  Though no sign of rain. Already people had started clearing up and there was plenty to do.  Admittedly these weren't the strongest trees, but as I understand it, it takes 60 -- 70 mile an hour winds to do this kind of damage (knowledge gleaned from my years on Flamborough Head).   Well it was all over bar the cleaning up by the time we got home. Less than two hours had passed.  Just a couple of branches down in Son #1's yard.  Crushed some flowers but that was all.  Looked like straight winds, not tornadic.  But I missed the fun!  My apologies to those of you who live in "tornado alley".  I know it's serious business for you, but once in a while I like a little more exciting weather than we get here.
  
Here when the first rains come in October/November there's as much excitement among the children at school as there is when the first snow comes in the northern states

~~~~ NOW HERE'S A DIFFERENT TAKE ON 'W' ~~~~

"NOW YOU HEAR IT, NOW YOU DON'T."
Diving through the wreck, Lt. Wright wrestled with the long wrack of seaweed that threatened to wreak havoc with his air supply. He wriggled and writhed until he wrenched his wrist and back. Now he wouldn't be able to write that report tonight, he thought wrathfully.  Darn that little WREN (British female Naval person) who had wrung  that wretched promise from him to see the wrasse in the sunken ship. Finally he emerged from the water like a wraith with a wreath of seaweed around his neck.  She was wrong.  There weren't any there.

Eighteen different silent 'W's.

For those like me who do not know, wrasses are a type of highly colorful tropical fish with thick lips.


This is my entry for 'W' for Mrs. Nesbitt's wonderful project ABC WEDNESDAY .  To see more entries to this nine year old project click HERE

16 comments:

Hildred said...

And a wonderful entry it is Chris. Both parts are equally interesting, - wind can do so very much damage as shown in your Photos. And you have made good use of all those silent W's.

Meryl said...

Sweet post! I love the diversity. Have a great week, I look forward to next week's visit.

Leslie: said...

Great post! We see a lot of wind storms around here as we're right on the ocean. In fact, Stanley Park was almost destroyed a few years back - some trees hundreds of year old were downed!

Leslie
abcw team

Wanda said...

Wow, really interesting weather in Boise...since we plan on spending a week there in October visiting some cousins.

Love all those silent W's...

The Poet said...

Hello.
High winds and falling trees...how scary. Fascinating post. You certainly WoWed us with the Ws! (smile) Thanks for sharing.

The Warm Fingers Of Love

Roger Owen Green said...

I have seen such wind around here, specially last year with remnants of hurricanes! Scary.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Chubskulit Rose said...

WoW very strong Wind!



White Chocolate
Rose, ABC Wednesday

photowannabe said...

So glad things weren't damaged too much for you during your visit. Wind storms can be scary.
Love your silent w story.
Have a great rest of the week Chris.

snafu said...

That wind must have been a rare event in Boise as none of the trees you showed seem to have any older damage to them. Silent Ws make for an interesting ABC Wednesday. I wonder how many other silent letters can be used for this?

Arthur Schenck said...

We had a "weather bomb" a few years back that blew a tree onto our roof—not fun. BUT, like you, I do get kind of excited at the thought of exotic weather. Awhile back, I thought I saw a tornado for the first time in my life and I was excited, even though they can be terrible things. Turned out it was just a waterspout, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed. Glad you all were OK!

Carver said...

It is amazing to me how localized wind and weather can be. I remember when we had a hurricane come through and some neighborhoods within a mile of each other had such different experiences and damage. Some with little damage and others with severe damage. Carver ABC-Wed. Team

Lisa said...

Well, come on down to "tornado alley" when you want a little excitement. :-) We respect the wind...a lot! Glad no one was injured.

Ann said...

Well this Kansas girl loves a thunder storm--love hearing the claps and seeing the lightening. But when I see a dark wall cloud or twisiting wind--I'm in the basement.
Ann

claude said...

Hello Chris !
I'am back.
I hate wind and this year we have a lot. We get a lot of leaves from the neighbor's poplars.
I am very sad wuehn I saw on the TV the big tornadoes which destroye everything and kill people.

kaybee said...

We have a great respect for the wind around here, as we are surrounded by old trees.

Love that last paragraph!

Anonymous said...

one time a branch like the one in your pix fell through the roof of the house next door, into the sons bedroom. luckily it was while he was in school and not while he was in bed!!

when time races like a bullet