Thursday, July 22, 2010

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

Yesterday began as a beautiful summer day, a perfect day to spend time at the family camp. Friends and I packed a picnic and headed to Hancock Pond. We enjoyed the morning swimming and paddling around in the kayak. The lake water was warm, a slight breeze to the air, most enjoyable. Around three o'clock the sky began to cloud and appeared rather "odd." We decided to gather our things and head for home. At four o'clock, I walked through the door being greeted by Winslow Homer and decided to start a load of laundry. When I returned from the basement the rain had begun in earnest and in no time at all a good "old fashioned summer thunder storm" rolled in. Winslow Homer promptly jumped in my lap, out went the electricity. The Heavens opened, darkness came and torrential rains began. The girls were out in their pen along with the two little ones, Fern and Pheobe. I knew the older hens would head inside, but not so sure about the younger ones. Eventually there was a window of opportunity and I quickly ran to the coop, scooped the little ones out of the water and safely got them settled inside. When I returned to the house the electricity was on and I heard the weather man instructing people to "head" to their basements, three funnel clouds and been detected in our area. Had I heard that correctly? "Tornado" "Maine" I had visions of Winslow Homer and I spinning off to Oz. The situation went from bad to worse, a barn collapsed, then another -trapping prized dairy cows, wires landing on houses, people trapped inside, trees snapped like toothpicks, flooded roads, hail. "Hello" this is Maine, not Oklahoma. By nine o'clock it was all over, the damage done. Today as I ventured out, the destruction was apparent everywhere, roads closed, detours, trees on houses, a swath made through corn fields. However, the most significant sight of all was neighbor helping neighbor and here at Dog Trot Farm, not a blade of grass was out of place ( just a few soggy hens.) Yup, I do believe in angels, how about you?

19 comments:

Flat Creek Farm said...

I believe! I'm so glad Dog Trot Farm survived unscathed, but sorry about those around you. It's something we aren't terribly surprised by here in Missouri... but Maine? Wow!

Kathy in KY said...

OMGoodness, Miss Julie! That sounds like KY weather to me! I'm glad you all are alright, and just had to deal with some power outage. I hope those dairy cows faired well. Where I live, for some reason usually gets skipped with really bad weather except for some ice storms in the winter. But the towns near the rivers running thru the state always seem to get pounded. Seems like we've had a lot of flash flooding this year for some reason. And, yes, I do most certainly believe in Guardian Angels - yours were watching over you all at Dog Trot Farm. Take care, from KY.

Pondside said...

The weather has been silly this year, all over. We don't have thunder storms here, as a rule, but every few years we get a big one. The big fear with such a storm is forest fire, as the woods go tinder dry as soon as the spring rains stop.
I'm so glad that you and yours are all unharmed.

Rowan said...

That must have been scary! Thankfully we don't get tornados in UK but from what I gather the thing about them is that they can destroy one house and leave the one next door untouched. Glad you were among the lucky ones.

Eve said...

"There's no place like home" Thank goodness you have a basement Dorthy...er...Julie! Uh Oh...I can see DH out under the coop digging a basement now!! I'm so glad everything at Dog Trot Farm is safe and sound...that probably wont happen again any time soon!
I believe Julie!!

Kim said...

Wow, I was thinking the same as you - We don't get that kind of scary weather often. Nova Scotia and Maine get about the same weather. I'm happy you stayed safe. And yes, I believe too.

Rock River Stitches said...

So glad to hear your farm survived the storm. Summer storms sure can be unpredictable! We've had a couple close calls this summer with tornados.

Tammy

Farm Girl said...

I am so glad nothing happened to Dog Trot Farm, and the chickens and that you made it to the house in time.
When I was a kid I would spend it with family in New Mexico and Oklahoma and the lighting storms and the rain was always incredible and scary. (I am glad I live here with the earthquakes) :) I didn't know that Maine got funnel clouds? How scary but I am glad every thing turned out nice.
I am glad all of you are okay.

Amanda said...

It was scary! I live in Southern York County and we had a doozie of a thunderstorm, but that was it. I was glued to the tv; watching the continuous radar images. A co-worker who lives in Gorham had a lot of damage in his neighborhood (not far from the collapsed barn).

I'm glad to hear all is well with Dog Trot Farm and all who live there.

Amanda

Jenny said...

Woah! That must've been very scary Julie. I'm glad you and yours survived unscathed! In my ignorance, I thought that conditions were not right for tornados up north? Don't you need lots of flat country around? Weird!

DayPhoto said...

Goodness I didn't know Main got funnel clouds! I'm glad you and yours were safe!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

So glad little winslow was there to keep you company and to snuggle in your lap. Hope the new roof kept you nice and dry. Glad the girls were all snuggled in their coop too.

Finegan Antiques said...

Mother Nature can be a truly wicked woman at times. I'm sooo glad you came out unscathed and I am sad for those who suffered damage.Life can change for either good or bad in a heartbeat.

Yes I definitely believe in guardian angels and you had one watching over you during the storm.

So happy to hear all your dear little feathered friends are ok.

Donna

Hey there, My Delilah said...

wow julie, it was a bit scary wasnt it? we went over to bensons that night once we had a sitter (kenny) and it was so sad, but they were able to save most of their cows...i was afraid my coops would fly away!!

Rural Rambler said...

Julie glad all is well at Dog Trot Farm! We have been having some stormy weather with lots and lots of tree limbs big and small to pick up. Storms that blow up out of no where with 60mph winds. A tornado in Maine, the weather is all confused this summer, it has been for about a year!

Rural Rambler said...

Oh, and yes I believe!

Genny said...

Your day on the pond sounds wonderful and I'm glad you all had the chance to enjoy a beautiful summer day. But tornadoes in Maine?! That's really scary. I'm so relieved to know that no one was hurt and that your farm sustained minimal damage. It's amazing how something like this brings out the hopeful humanity in all of us with neighbors helping each other.

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

i would give ANYTHING for a thunderstorm.....

oh how i wish

{sigh}

kary and teddy
xxx

Gail said...

You were very lucky. I hope no lives were lost. Tornados are not pretty.

After ours, I hope I never see another.