Where's Dorothy? (Reposted with more pictures)

If I'm not mistaken, summer is meant for summery things. And by summery things I mean swimming, popsicles, and long bike rides. And definitely picnics. Yeah, picnics are very summery.

{picture via Google images}

Currently, we're hunkered down in our home waiting out the storm. The trees outside are being bent as well as 150 year old trees can bend, but dozens of branches are quickly becoming casualties of the storm. Our little town is in the rinse and spin cycle of Mother Nature's mood swing.

Doesn't she know she's supposed to be happy the middle of June?

While I love a good rain storm and wind can be kinda fun every once in a while, the combination of the two is unnerving me today. The sheer power and magnitude of the elements mixed with the knowledge that we are completely weak and helpless is a humbling and intimidating place to be.

For example:

This is a 2 story wall (24' long) that was braced for the weekend but obviously not secure enough for the tempest. When we woke up this morning, the addition seemed to be holding up but it quickly became apparent that this wall wasn't going to make it. As the braces gave way and the base of the wall busted out of the driven nails and started to teeter, we immediately called Jerry. He is our contractor, (who had just driven by our house a few minutes earlier and thought everything was sound and safe) and he came down to see what he could do. Lucky for us, he's our former Bishop, a fantastic guy, and lives about 3 blocks away. He and Jeff tried to reattach the braces and somehow get the massive wall of wood to stay in place, but they soon realized that no such thing was going to happen. Jerry was straddling a support board when the second half of the wall went down and it swept him up like a rag doll and blew him off the structure. Thankfully, he wasn't hurt (at least he didn't admit it). I was a nervous wreck watching the whole thing from inside. Walls are supposed to be strong and give security. But when a lone wall is competing with gale-force winds, the latter will always win.

Mother Nature is in complete control today. She is calling the shots. She is making a clear statement that we are small and powerless against her fury. It is very humbling. And frightening. And 4 letter word inducing. (Sorry, innocent children of mine.) It also doesn't help to know that the wind is blowing in the direction of our neighbors and that their home is in the firing zone.

Damage done? Our chain link fence will need fixing, our neighbors have lost a large branch off of their cherry tree, a crane will need to be brought in to replace the walls to their rightful place, and my nerves are fried for the day. Everyone is safe and unharmed and our neighbors assure us they don't hate us.

{Yet.}