Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Strike St. Charles County Last Night

A wicked storm system pounded St. Charles County last night. Around 8 p.m. the wind picked up speed, thunder rumbled, lightning streaked through the dark sky, and tornado sirens started shrieking.

I popped out on the back deck and snapped a few photos before the rain and hail started.

By the time the storm blew over, my neighborhood had received mostly wind damage. This morning while I drove to the store I saw a tree split in half a few blocks away, but about five miles northeast, in St. Charles City, a tornado touched down.

My sister-in-law's brother's roof was blown off and power was knocked out for most of that area. Fortunately, no one in their family was hurt.

A local high school had their graduation ceremony cancelled due to damage to the Family Arena in St. Charles--which is the same location where my granddaughter's graduation ceremony was held last week.  What a difference a week makes!

Last night my granddaughter was at the movies, and the theater was evacuated until the storm passed. Also last night, the Cardinals baseball game was postponed until today.


Thunderstorms and tornadoes are a way of life in the spring in "tornado alley," which includes Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and much of the mid-section of the United States.

When I was 18, our home in St. Ann was damaged by wind when a tornado touched down just blocks away from our street.  Our damage was minor, just some windows blown out in my bedroom. But that was a frightening experience for me, and it instilled in me a respect for storm warnings and made me realize that no matter how powerful we think we are, ultimately we are not in control.

My heart goes out to anyone affected by this latest round of thunderstorms and tornadoes, especially in Missouri and Oklahoma, which was hit once again with deadly storms.

In Like a Lion

March came in like a lion this morning, so I'm hoping it will go out like a lamb.

This morning did not get off to a good start. There was an overnight dusting of snow, which looks lovely, but the ice beneath is treacherous.

School was not cancelled, although we received a call that busses would be late because of road conditions. Drivers slipped and slid up and down our street. 

The young man across the street slid into a snow bank at the end of our cul de sac and ripped off a fog light from the bottom of his truck. The snow pile was left by the street department after our last snow storm.

Just up the road, my granddaughter slid into a brick mailbox, trying to avoid a parked car. The mailbox won. The rear of her SUV is in bad shape, although the rubber bumpers that got knocked off helped lessen the damage. Thankfully, no one was hurt, although during and after her franctic call many tears were shed.

As our neighbor and I assessed the damage to our teens' vehicles--she to her son's pickup and I to my granddaughter's SUV--a city truck came by and cleared the road.

Hurry, Spring!

After the Drought Comes . . . Mushrooms

Weather has been weird this year in Missouri.

Winter was mild and we didn't get much snow. Early spring brought a lot of hail and storms and damage to my new car.

Then came summer's record-breaking hot temperatures and drought that made going outside a "hot mess." Inside wasn't much better. I felt like a slug. Keeping cool was my priority; my writing production slowed down.

But last week, as Hurricane Hugo swirled from the southeast to the northwest, it rained. When the sun came out again, the humidity returned. Still, it was a welcome break from the dry spell we've been having.

After the rain I took a walk and spotted mushrooms popping up on lawns all around our neighborhood. Later on I hopped in the car and brought along my camera. I clicked a photo of three mushrooms in a neighbor's yard. 

The mushrooms look like a sideways snowman to me.

Seeing snowmen-mushrooms pop up got me to thinking that after a dry spell of writing, change can produce unexpected surprises because, just under the surface, something new is waiting to be born.


Fall is in the Air, "The Conspirator" and Mary Surratt

Yesterday was rainy. We needed the rain, but it came down in buckets. I'm not complaining; I just got a bit soggy running errands.

Last night it got downright cold. Good weather for chili and hot chocolate--but not together.

In weather like this I am inspired to read and write. 

I also like to watch movies when there's a chill in the air. Last night, after the grandkiddos went to bed, I watched "The Conspirator." The film is about the trial of Mary Surratt, a Southern woman accused of conspiring and harboring John Wilkes Booth and others who plotted to assassinate President Lincoln.

After the movie I found myself up into the wee hours doing research on Mary Surratt. I thought she would be a great character for a story.

How about you? Does cooler weather affect your writing?

An Earthquake, A Heat Wave, Cicadas- What's Next?

Last month Missouri experienced deadly twisters.

This week we're having historic heat. Yesterday was a scorcher, and today is going to bring near record-breaking temperatures again.

Then early this morning a 4.2 earthquake shook. Not huge by many standards, but rare for this area. The epicenter was in Sullivan, MO.

Oh, and the cicadas are making their 13-year appearance. It gets noisy at night.

And parts of the Missouri River are expected to flood this month--the worst in over 50 years.

Have I missed anything?

While this wacky weather isn't pleasant, I already have ideas for a couple short stories where the weather plays a part.

How about you? Does the weather help create story ideas?