A Scary Night and the Aftermath

Normally I love a good thunderstorm. But not last night. East Tennessee and Southeast Virginia was hit by the same super cell storms that had devastated the rest of the South, Alabama being the hardest hit.
I really was not paying attention to the storm until my sis called to see if I was ok.
What?
“Turn on the news!”
I did so and saw that a tornado warning was issued for my area.
Ok, not good.
Luckily that one passed me. The next super cell came through about a hour later around 9:30. Wind and rain first, than it hailed so loud poor Barney crawled into my arms and stuck his head under my arm he was so scared. It got quiet then so I thought it was over until a lightening strike took out the pole next to my house. Cable went.
I turned on the radio to hear the emergency broadcast urging people in my area to seek shelter. I don’t have any shelter. Tornados just don’t happen around here. This is a mountainous region. I was really scared.
So I grabbed my phone, purse, laptop, and Barney (duh) and crawled into my walk in shower.
And prayed. Not really for myself, but for my family, friends, and strangers in the path of the tornado.
I stayed there for about twenty minutes. The storm had passed and I felt it was ok to come out. Me and Barney went to bed listening to the third storm rumble by overhead. I was so tired I just didn’t care anymore.
This morning I didn’t see too much damage. I did have to hunt my trashcan down (it was in the road) and dodge debris on the road. On the way home though I could see the damage and downed trees.
The news said this was the worst storm systems they have ever seen here. 26 dead in this area.
Bad snow storms this past winter. Now this. May is traditionally the month for tornados. May is not until two days away. I hope this is not an indication of what Summer has in store.
So I spent today exchanging calls, texts, and facebook messages with friends and family checking on everyone.

http://www.wcyb.com/slideshow/news/27700590/detail.html

Another Necklace

Abstract Circles by kellyjeanetteswift
Browse Abstract Necklaces

And Another Neccklace

Forever Butterfly by kellyjeanetteswift
View more Abstract Necklaces

New Necklace on Zazzle

Stars and Circle 1 by kellyjeanetteswift
Browse more necklaces

A Short Story Repost

I shut off the vac. In the absence of it's industious roar I could hear the squeals of little boy delight and the screams of abject terror. Sighing deeply I left off the never ending housework when there are childern around. I went out onto the porch, stepping over my black chow Pudgin (don't ask), and looked up just in time to see one of my nephews, Patrick, careen around the corner of the house, his face pale and tears in his eyes. Behind him in hot pursuit came his four year old baby brother, Dalton, giggling that evil laugh that you only hear in a Stephen King movie. He had something in his hand raised up as if to throw it at his fleeing brother. Pat rushed up the steps and hid behind me. "What is going on out here?" "Dalton's trying to kill me!" Pat wailed. "He's throwing honeysuckles on me." I looked at the white blond-haired, big blue eyed mini demon in front of me and saw that in his hand he indeed held a tiny honeysuckle blossem. The wooded area behind my house was covered in them. Normally the throwing of honeysuckle blossems would not matter, but recently we found out that Pat was allergic to the nectur inside. He had sucked it out along with his brothers last summer and blew up like he had been bee stung. Which resulted in a trip to ER, many doctor visits, and shots. Understandably he was very paranoid about honeysuckles. "Dalton, why are you chasing your brother with that?" "Fun!" I shuddered. I swear Dalt sounded just like that kid off of Pet Semetery. "Dalton, sweetie, I want you to find something else to entertain yourself besides terrorizing your brother." "No!" Why is it that that is the first word every child learns first? "Do it or you will come inside for a nap." He started to cry. "Don't want nap." He stomped his little dirty feet. "You're mean. Going tell my mommy." "Yeah, right. I'm shaking in my flip-flops." He stomped his foot again, threw down the blossem as if to make a dent in my porch, and ran off toward the swingset, Pudgin right behind him. "What if he does it again?" Pat said, sniffling. I looked at the red-headed eight year old. Time to nip this paranoria in the bud, pun intended. "Patrick, did Dalton force you down and stick the honeysuckle in your mouth"? "No." "Did the honeysuckle spit evil sweet-smelling goo at you?" "No..." "Did the blossem sink little teeth into your skin to suck out your blood?" He just stared at me. "Then I don't think you'll fall over dead if a honeysuckle should hit your skin. Now, go play-quietly while I finish the housework." He shuffled off the porch and headed in the other direction from Dalt. Somehow, though, I knew was not the end of this. I fully expected to be back out here breaking up another fight within the hour. As I turned to go back inside my eyes landed on their older brother, Cory. "Why didn't you stop this?" He shugged. "I knew it wouldn't hurt him and it was fun to watch." I let out an aspirated sigh and headed back in with a slam of the screen door. And it was only alittle after ten am.

A New Painting

Just something I have been working on. It's a 30x40 mixed media abstract. I began it with a poem by my nephew written on the canvas and a letter I found, as well with tissue paper, paint, pen, gesso pen, stamps, sticker, and my favorite, interferance paint.