Friday, August 21, 2009

Old roots, new day



I love the old roots that hold this tree into the ground. The gnarls and twists look as strong as the earth itself. The roots coil and wrap around rocks both seen and unseen like a Gordian knot. Solid is the word that comes to mind.

Last evening made me wish I could be as solidly planted. Tornados pushed through the area, fortunately doing limited damage and no injury where they did land and none at all at the cabin. One tornado passed nearly overhead at my office, never touching down or even coming close to touching down. I saw the second tornado heading away from me as I was driving home, a huge, tightly twisted thundercloud with a large black and pink area hanging down.

Today we are warned it may happen again. Hopefully not. But whatever the storms bring today, behind them, finally, comes some cooler and less humid weather. Once the soup clears out, the worst of summer may well go with it. After all, Labor Day approaches.

Waiting for the summer season to break and bring the first, cool breezes of fall means making it through the day. That shouldn’t be too hard, even if I’m not as solid as the roots that hold this tree to the ground.

7 comments:

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Man, that sky looks scary! I grew up in Michigan where tornados each spring swept through and sometimes killed folks, usually at night when no one could see them coming. So I have this visceral terror of funnel clouds. Thunderheads I adore, but funnels? Brrrr!

Carolyn H said...

Woodswalker: yes, it wasn't a great evening. i'm glad that one's over, that's for sure!

Carolyn H.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I wonder if it was the same weather system that moved through Minnesota on Wednesday? A couple of touchdowns here with a range of damage but no injuries. I've never seen a tornado. That's fine by me.

Carolyn H said...

Lynne, I'm pretty sure it was the same storm system. I kept hearing how a strong system was coming. I think St. Louis got a bad dose of it on Wednesday too.

Carolyn

Grizz………… said...

Hey, you'd like it here today. After a couple of days of scattered showers, the sun is out (part of the time), it a bit windy, and the air is cool—only in the low-70s at the moment. A fine almost fall-like day!

Great storm photo! And I love old tree root-masses. That's a neat photo, too.

Carolyn H said...

Griz: i hope to have your Friday weather on Saturday, assuming Hurricane Bill doesn't spoil the party.

Carolyn

Cathy said...

Great Photo, hopefully it didn't touch the ground.


Let's see I had two tornado warning for areas north & west of me. seems like Hawley was the main target. it was nothing but a hot and humid day. Around 3pm the t-storm finally came through, spent most of it on the floor away from the windows. And I just check the radar, maybe some more tonight. ugh!