Harvey-August 31, 2017

This will be another post of my personal feelings but I can't resist it. I am deeply affected by seeing the pictures of Hurricane Harvey. We went through a hurricane in 2004, Ivan. No one knew about Ivan because our governor, Bob Riley, would not allow the press in nor would he allow fly overs for picture taking. Therefore, to the press, it did not happen. But it happened and forever changed our lives. We lived under martial law and that cannot really be described adequately. Once you go through a hurricane your life is divided into "before the hurricane" and "after the hurricane". Texans will live the rest of their lives with before and after. It is not a matter just letting the water drain away. After you can finally get back in, you must throw away everything including sheet rock. Nothing can be saved. And then there is the smell left in your freezer from rotting food. Some freezers cannot be salvaged. Ours survived, the freezer, not the food. Rebuilding is a monumental task because a hoard of unscrupulous builders will move in and rip off many people. Even before you get to that point, you can spend up to 3 years fighting with your insurance company and FEMA. Furniture, clothes, appliances, dishes and linens all have to be replaced. You have to have a way to live until water, sewer and electricity are restored. None of this is a quick process. When I think about what these people face, some of them having never done it before, I am sad for them.

We only drove through Houston dozens of times but stayed in Bay City. We also stayed in Beaumont. When we stayed somewhere we explored. We never stopped one night and flew down the road the next day. We explored Port Arthur. We saw desert sand Humvees being loaded on ships. We explored downtown. And we stopped at a Vietnamese temple because they had beautiful gold and silver statues outside. Quite a sight. No, we did not go inside. We drove down the main street of town and now we are trying to realize what that looks like with that water covering it. We shopped in Beaumont. We explored neighborhoods and saw beautiful houses being built. And we ate at a Mexican restaurant, one of the best ever. I had my first filled deep fried avocado. It was out of this world and I have never forgotten it. We met some really nice people. When we saw the pictures of the RV park where we stayed we were really shocked. All of the fifth wheels were on their sides. There were no coaches there so they must have moved on. We certainly would have hit the road.

We have been in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Katy (largest interstate in the entire US), the Woodlands, Port Aransas, Conroe, and every city seen on TV. We are deeply affected by the pictures we are seeing.

I ask that you please take a moment to say a prayer for all of the people affected by Harvey. And somewhere down the road, say another prayer for them. Thank you for that.

Lightning tree-August 27, 2017

Remember the tree across the street that was struck by lightning? I decided that Hannah, Zoey and I should go check it out. And I am glad we did. For a reason I cannot explain I thought it would be soft and mushy. Quite the opposite. It was as hard as concrete. It was really light in color with no sign of where the bolt entered the tree. But you could sure tell where the bolt came out.

We talked about the tree and touched it. I let it soak in.

Then Hannah asked if lightning was hotter than the sun?

I told her no, but lightning could really hurt you badly.

 

A couple of things-August 22, 2017

First of all, we did check out the eclipse yesterday. Since we only have partial coverage here it was not as spectacular as it was in the path of totality. But it was wonderful to feel the heat of the sun gone and the stillness of the air was interesting. Neither lasted long enough.

You can see a slight bit of red/orange on the edges.

I loved the pictures of the eclipse in some places where they got a

complete red/orange sun. It was so pretty.

 

On a completely different subject, Jerry refinished a table, a first for him, and I wanted to share the end result. The table was his mother's. It had been damaged before we were able to bring it to our house.

 

While he was sanding we discovered that this table was

very poorly made and the top is not real wood, it is plywood.

However, I think Jerry did an excellent job of making it look

like real wood.

The funny part of this is that we both forgot the leaf was in a closet. So after he brought it into the house we decided if we have company and need the leaf we will just put a nice table cloth on it.

 

Storm-August 16, 2017

Last Thursday we had a storm here that reminded us of storms we went through on the Gulf coast. To say it rained in buckets would diminish the effect of the storm. It didn't last long but it left an impact.

This was taken from our front door. Just rain at this point.

 

We were sitting quietly waiting on the storm to pass when lightning struck something nearby. The impact of that lightning strike caused percussion that gave me a headache. The noise was something we have not heard in years. And it was close. Then the electricity went off. We waited on sirens to go by heading for what the lightning had struck. Nothing. It was not until the next day that we knew what had been hit.

 

Here is the victim. Multi hundred year old cottonwood tree. Poor old tree.

It is very close to us, just across the street. So glad nobody's house was hit.

 

 

We will be happy to not experience another storm with lightning that strong and that loud. 

 

 

 

A personal story-August 12, 2017

It has taken me a while to decide to post this story on this blog. It will involve my personal feelings and perhaps not everybody wants to read those. But I want to tell the story.

I will address the picture later in the story.

It's the entrance to the Big Thompson Canyon.

 

 

Many years ago, in July, 1976 to be exact, we set our wedding date as July 31. Then we went to the Goldsmith in Manitou Springs to have matching wedding bands made. We proceeded with the plans for a very small wedding. We had reservations in Estes Park, Colorado. The Goldsmith called and said he was behind schedule so our rings would be a week late. He offered to send us plain gold bands to use for the ceremony. We declined because the wedding was so small it was just as easy to change the date. So we moved the ceremony to August 6th.

On the evening of July 31, 19 inches of rain fell in a very short period of time in the Big Thompson Canyon. That's the route to Estes Park. Two normally small rivers met at Drake and formed a 19 foot tall wall of water. You must try to visualize a wall of raging water that tall. That wall of water roared through the canyon taking with it years of history, miles of beauty and many, many people. The total has never really been determined but it was definitely confirmed that at least 160+ people were drowned in that flood. Entire communities were washed off the face of the earth. It was truly a flood of Biblical proportions. Most of the country never knew it happened. But we definitely knew it and we were affected by it.

Looking back we know we would have been in the Big Thompson Canyon at the time that flood began. We could have easily been among those hundreds of cars washed down the canyon with people still inside and the headlights still on. It could have been. But it was not in God's plan for us to be there. Hence, the delay by the Goldsmith. All part of God's plan. Had we been there we know there would not have been a Derrick. And there would not have been Hannah, Zoey and Daisy. This is the really difficult part of the story to me. Even all these years later I get very, very emotional just writing about this.

Now for the picture. That pipe going across the picture is a syphon tube which carries water from Lake Estes to the eastern plains. It is vital to the existence of the people east of the Rockies. That syphon tube was washed away by that huge wall of water. Does that help explain how much water I am talking about? I cannot wrap my mind around what that would have looked like. And I am eternally grateful I did not have to see that much water. At the time I did not see the hand of God writing His plan for my life. But I sure see it now.

Another note. The reason there was never a final total on lives lost is because some people were not drowned in tact. All the way on our farm there were small body parts that washed in with the irrigation water. No way to put them all together. So souls were lost and no one knows who they are. That's emotional, too.

A couple of weeks later we found a way to get to Estes Park along with many other people. The town of Estes Park was not damaged. It was above the flood. A large number of us were standing on a corner waiting on the light to change when a wrecker pulling a car turned the corner in front of us. The car had no windows left and muddy water was pouring out of every opening spilling onto the street in front of us. The impact of that sight left every single one of us speechless and holding our breath. Not a sound was heard. This, too, is emotional for me. We all knew that represented a family or at least one person who probably did not survive the flood. It's forever etched in my mind.

I am sorry for the length of this true story. I actually shortened it in spots. I just felt it needed to be shared.

Anniversary trip-August 9, 2017

For our anniversary we chose to spend three days in Black Hawk/Central City, Colorado. Those are the only two towns in the entire state that have casinos. Black Hawk, elevation 8537 feet has 118 residents. Central City, right next door, sits at 8510 feet in elevation and has 733 residents. Many people who work in Black Hawk actually live in Central City. It is almost impossible to tell when you have driven from one city to another. But the personalities of the two are as different as daylight and dark.

 

I love this sculpture. It is gigantic and quite majestic. For a reason I cannot explain I always say, "I need to go see the eagle". Obviously from the name alone this is not an eagle. It is a hawk. Either way it is very nice.

The Monarch has a display of live orchids that

they change quite frequently. I always go look at the 

orchids even if we don't eat there. I enjoyed this mixture of colors.

The Isle has just completed a remodel of their buffet area.

Look closely. This "chandelier", funny though it be, is actually quite

clever. It is made with rolling pins. I love creativity.

 

Central City has not allowed changing of the old buildings. Years have taken their toll and most of the city is in bad need of refreshing and repainting.

 

I do believe this building was a jewelry store when we were in

Central City last. That was over 30 years ago but I have reasons for

remembering this store. It is now for sale and the windows have

things in them to keep the building from being an empty eye sore.

Sad.

 

It was misty rain or light rain the whole time we were there until the morning we left. The temps were in the mid 50s. After the heat we have had on the plains we were so happy to be in the cooler rainy weather that we actually sat on a bench outside and breathed the clean air. It was wonderful. We had a really good time and it was nice to get away for our anniversary.

Estes Park-August 3, 2017

On Tuesday we slipped away for a day in the mountains. We went to Estes Park for lunch and to walk around. It was such a beautiful day. Sunshine, cool air, not too many people. Just a good day. We had an excellent lunch and shopped but only bought our favorite Salt Water taffy. We didn't buy enough because we have two little people who happen to like the same taffy we do.

The changes being made in the Big Thompson Canyon are leaving deep scars. The beauty is being destroyed. And they are altering the course of the Big Thompson River. We do not think that is what should be done. But they didn't ask us.

This is the most water we have ever seen in the Big Thompson River this time

of year. This is an indication that the farmers on the dry Eastern plains are

calling for extra water. This makes for a prettier picture than the normal flow.

 

Upon entering Estes Park, you see the Estes Lake dam and the

beautiful mountains in the background. It was such nice weather

on Tuesday. Estes Park is 7522 feet in altitude.

 

The river runs through the city. Their leaders have carefully preserved open

space and kept the river clean. It's very nice to see.

 

Estes Park, like Loveland, has some great bronze art work.

I thought this saddle was great. Of course, for the visitors,

they had to put a sign that says "Saddle may be hot". Ya think?

 

This is the smallest bronze statue I have ever seen. He is so cute.

I did not notice the trash left by two legged human pigs until I

had already taken the picture. Otherwise, I would have taken it

from a different direction.

 

 

This canyon was chiseled and blasted through the Rocky Mountains. What

a job that had to have been all those years ago.

 

This is my favorite spot when leaving the canyon. It appears you will drive

right into the solid rock walls.

 

This is a really pretty spot in this area. If you can tolerate the traffic and all those out of state people, it is a fun day away from the rat race on the plains. As with all of our travels in the past we know how to find the places where the locals eat and stay away from the tourist traps. We had a fabulous lunch and a very relaxing day in the mountains.