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I suppose November doesn’t bring wind storms to all of you, but around here the first thing that comes to mind when I think of November is wind – and lots of it!
When we were young teenagers and riding horses, November terrified me. I remember sitting in typing class staring out the window dreading that I had to go down to the barn and face the dark, rain soaked path that we had to ride to get to our lesson at the riding club. Waiting in my class as the last few minutes ticked away on the clock, I would look around at my classmates laughing and counting the minutes until the bell, jealous that all they had to do was go home and watch TV and I had to go face certain death!
My horse in particular was spooked by the winds rushing through his legs and the dangling branches thrashing overhead. The ditch of water next to the path and the cars speeding down the road we had to cross had me spooked as well. And what they say is true – horses can smell your fear! Regularly my horse would take off and tear down the path, right across the road and rear up at the gate to the club. Yes, November was not my favorite time of year.
Now, I live in a very different fear of November. All over America people go online to shop in these last few weeks before Christmas. And hopefully a few of them will find their way to our stores, (allowing Susan and I to stay home with our little ones.) But, when the wind blows here, the power goes out. No power, no phone lines, no business! And not to mention, even a few hours without computers, we all get very behind in our work.
Today all the other surrounding suburbs, and even most of our neighborhood, have been without power. By some strange miracle, we have had our power all day. But with constant power surges, we have chosen to keep our computers unplugged to protect them. Fortunately our phone lines have been fine and so we have been able to keep up with customer service.
I am risking it tonight, and hoping my laptop surge protector will keep me safe. Susan’s DSL connection is down now though, so she is unable to get anything done on her computer. She is terribly behind on getting new listings up and answering emails and wanted me to let you know that she is so sorry.
Hopefully this huge storm will pass quickly and the power and phone lines will be working soon for everyone. Power outages are not fun for anyone!
How is the weather where you are? What months are the stormiest for you?
P.S. We have only had wind and rain so far. No snow yet. The picture I posted yesterday for Wordless Wednesday was from a local ski mountain that we and our friends visited this weekend. (No skiing – just playing in the snow.)
P.P.S. Sorry I didn’t go out and get a great photo of the storm to post here, but it is really cold and miserable out there! Jackson is home sick, so we haven’t ventured outside all day. I opened the door a couple of times and quickly shut it, relieved that Jackson happened to get sick this week! What a perfect day to stay home and snuggle up with a blanket.
Candyce Mackbee says
Janice,
Greetings from Northern California where the winters are mild with occasional rain and warm temperatures. As a Midwestern transplant I enjoy the mild winters. I remember as a child the snowy Thanksgivings and white Christmases. As an adult, I remember driving on black ice, scraping the windshields and warming up the car before driving down the road. Now as a Californian when I want snow, we pack up the car and head to Tahoe or Mt. Shasta. Where we enjoy the beautiful snowy plains, the majestic snow topped trees and the clear cold skies. When the get-away is over, we pack up and within hours are back home in sunny Napa California. Now that’s how I like to do the snow 🙂
My prayers are with you that you only suffer rattled nerves and not property damage in the storms. Snuggle up to the kids, have some hot chocolate and enjoy the stormy weather from their perspective – a whole lot of fun!
I love this site and finally took 5 minutes for Mom to share my thoughts with you.
Many blessings,
Candyce Mackbee,
Co-founder, MyOwnCartoon.com
(The Beta is Open – Sign up today!)
Proverbs 3:5-6
Ruth says
hi janice! for some strange and wacky reason my computer decided to stop commenting your 3 blogs that i know and love. yours included. someone sweet has determined the problem but we’re not sure exactly how to fix it.
maybe torch the computer and buy a new one? 😉
BUT i am at my moms house and wanted to send a note and say HI!
where we live the coldest months are usually january and february. it can get as cold as -50 !!!!
ew.
let’s not think about that right now. 🙂
Ann says
In Guyana we’re getting just a bit of rain but mostly sun.We’re lucky.
Jaime says
I’m in the middle of PA and it’s pretty windy here too. We just moved to a rancher on a cow farm, so there’s not much of anything for miles. Luckily we have some tall evergreen trees by the driveway, which I think break up the wind. The nights though are really loud between the wind and the cracked shutter that smacks the wall.
Diane says
Fall in Minnesota includes, not only dropping temperatures, but wind! And with unrelenting certainty, the winds pick up immediately after we have raked all the leaves off the ground from the October breeze. Just as we are done with this massive task…..an overnight wind comes up and spreads any remaining leaves hanging by a thread off the trees and out of the woods surrounding our yard! For a brief moment, the lawn was readied for the imminent snow fall!
So if you want to know when the November winds start….just ask when we are raking our yard, getting it ready for winter. We’ve tried waiting….it always happens….
doesn’t matter if we clear the yard the last week of October or mid-November….the winds always arrive within days of our yard work!
I’ve been on a horse that spooks….it’s not fun! You must be like our daughter…a real love for riding, undaunted by the near death experience of a spooking horse!
Diane
Life With All Boys says
It is very windy today. I had to chase the garbage cans down the street!
Sarah S. says
I live in West Texas where 10 mph winds are “a calm day”. Yesterday the wind blew CONSTANTLY at about 30 mph, gusting to 50. It was crazy. People I’ve blogged with all over the southern part of the US have said that it was windy there yesterday!
Spring in West Texas is scarier — tornado season. A gorgeous spring day can turn awful in minutes.
Susanne says
Praying your storm passes quickly so you can catch up with work. That must be nerve wracking! It was so windy here last night it kept us awake. But no phone lines down or power out or power surges!
Joanne says
We have had wind also and lost our cable internet/tv connection for several hours. My dh works from home and he couldn’t do a thing.
Do you still ride horses?
Heather says
It’s warm (50’s), but rainy and dreary in Northeast Ohio today. Our windy month is October. We got lucky this year and only lost power once, but my business doesn’t require me to be on the computer as much as yours. Take care of that little one and good luck with business!
Brandi says
The stormiest months for us start at Halloween and don’t end until May. In April and May the whether tricks you, it will be nice and you’ll be in shorts and then all of a sudden it snows A LOT! I remember also having to go out and feed my horses in the winter. I hated it because it was always dark so early. That was what always scared us!
I also wanted to say thanks for commenting on my post so quickly!
Carey says
We too her ein NY have had our share of wind last month. Its pretty windy today with rain, yet the temp is up into the 50’s. Kind of feels like spring, with no sun.
Hope jackson feels better soon, and you don’t lose power. Good luck with business.
e-Mom says
I think we’re “enjoying” the same weather you are, just south of the border. A good time to bundle up and stay put!
Kilikina says
It is cold, windy and rainy here in Oklahoma. Although tomorrow could be sunshiny, clear and no wind.
Maria says
Only a splattering of rain here in London at the moment, although it’s pretty dark!
God bless
Maria in the UK
http://www.inhishands.co.uk
Laura says
It’s ironic that you posted this tonight as I sit listening to the wind and distant thunder if the cold front making it’s way through southwest Florida. It terrifies me.
I hope the storms pass by you quickly and uneventfully!
Aimee says
I just found your site. I really love that you are helping moms be at home, and your blog is very nice as well.
We have had snow, rain, very cold days and nights, and some sunshine too. It’s crazy weather as usual for us! 🙂