Snowblower, old school style

We inherited this snow blower from some friends of Erik's parents. I think the friends moved into a retirement community and had no use for it, so it ended up in our hands.

It hasn't exactly worked, so this summer we took it to the lawnmower place and they waved their magic wand over it. We just had to wait for it to snow. And we waited and waited. Finally it snowed ... and Erik fired it up and went to town! Beats the heck out of the back-breaking work snow shoveling can be. :)

Since we have 3+ inches of snow outside, I almost busted it out this morning, but it's darn loud (and the snow's still coming down), so I guess I'll wait until Erik comes out of hibernation to start clearing the driveway.

In other exciting news, the snow did NOT stop me from using my brand new miter saw this morning. Where there's a will, there's a way. And the saw was a part of starting baby plants for the garden!!!! (yes, snow on the ground and I"m thinking of gardening. I gotta stay warm somehow).

Kansas' very own hurricane

If any of you missed the chaotic weather a week ago, we very nearly had a hurricane here in Salina. Seriously. From the news reports I've seen, it was basically the same thing .... only we have no ocean.

There are no photos "during" because Erik and I were just sitting at our picture window with our jaws on the floor.


TONS of limbs down.




This was the ONLY real damage to our house.


The hammock swing got a bit wind-blown.

Anyhow, a few videos:

Garden gone wild....

Oh MY. Our garden is getting outta control.

After a particularly quick + fast rain, our garden EXPLODED!






While Erik was out front doing this ...


It looked like this in the backyard.



A few mornings later, our garden was thriving!


And after a closer look ...


What do you think Erik found?






Like this photo.


Yeah, it was a FOOT long zucchini.

How are you staying cool?

Ugh! It's HOOOOOT outside!

I realize I'm no longer 6 years old, but this is the perfect weather for freezer pops. You knoooooow. Those colorful popsicles that come in clear plastic bags.


I picked them up on a whim at the grocery store, but man are they nice to have around. I've had them on the way to the YMCA or even to the store. :) Yummie! :)

Anyhow, we are trying to not turn our AC down to a very low temp, so I want to hear how you other frugal, clever people are staying cool as the mercury climbs! Tell, tell, tell!!!!

Reflections on tornadoes

Watching the news coverage, reading the stories, and especially looking at the still photos from the tornadoes over the last few days is more than a little difficult.

I found myself in tears over this morning's paper, barely able to read.

I've never been in a tornado. I've never lost life nor limb to a tornado, but I'm still deeply moved by the people and places who are in the path of these storms ...

About a year ago, I headed to Greensburg with EMS responders from Hays to help in the aftermath (the Greensburg link is photos from the Wichita Eagle; I didn't take those images). Words will never to justice to the experience, nor will the images I captured. To write the story, a few of my coworkers had to get me liquored up. The story won several big awards in my news organization, but truthfully, I wish I never had to write that kind of story.


The most unreal aspect of a tornado's aftermath (at least in my opinion) is the trees. Their bare limbs seem to reach and grasp at the sky, begging for mercy. It totally unnerves me to see them, and in the coverage from this week's storms, they're all over. From Greensburg in 2007:


Lastly, a self-portrait of me and the Big Well. Kristine, Robin, Chris and I stayed in a bed and breakfast right across the street in 2006 when we went to Story Corps (I'll post about that a week from today, so check back!)


It's also crazy to think Erik and I stopped in Manhattan for a few hours on Wednesday ... how crazy life is.

Oh, and if you'd like to offer assistance, here is how you may do so (according to the
Salina Journal):

• Donations may be sent to the North Central Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, 145 S. Broadway, P.O. Box 1633, Salina 67401. If you want the donation to be used for local storm victims, write that on the "memo" line of your check. Otherwise, donations will be used nationwide. To donate by credit card, call the local office, (785) 827-3644. Astra Banks in the cities of Chapman, Abilene, Scandia and Belleville also are accepting donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief fund.

• To donate to the Salvation Army's emergency disaster efforts, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769), or donate online at www.armykettle.com. Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111. Donations may be earmarked for a specific use.

• People who are not Red Cross volunteers may offer their assistance by calling The Volunteer Center, (785) 823-3128.

Tornado time...

I've lived in Kansas for decades, and have (thankfully) never seen a tornado in person. We're hangin' here in KC with Erik's parents, waiting for weather to clear up so we can go home to Salina and see our cat!

We're safe and sound in the in-laws' basement.