Saturday, June 1, 2013

Running from the Tornados and a Giveaway Winner

What a combination subject for a blog post. I live in Oklahoma City and, as you may know, last night there were 9 (at least) tornadoes wrapped together making several big ones coming into the city and heading right for my house! Most people here don't have basements, even though we are in tornado alley, because the soil is red clay and basements become swimming pools over the years. So when the weather guy says that if you are above ground, you will DIE, you hop in the car and take off.
See the green sky? I'm so glad to have a photo of that because when you tell people that green skies mean the tornado is near, they don't understand that the sky is really green....not greenish. It only stays green for a few moments but there is always a tornado when the sky does turn green. This photo shows just one of the several tornado clouds coming right at my house. My daughter, Gina, and her kids live 2 houses away from me and my son, Eric, lives about 3 miles "up the road" with his family. We all hopped in our cars with our dogs and drove to Edmond, a suburb to the North. The storm did a sharp turn and we were spared but our friends to the south were not. We sat at the Sonic Drive-In in Edmond in the pouring rain and waited out the tornadoes. I just had a little damage at my house:
That is half of the little tree that was by my sewing room window. The other half is gone. I have no idea where it is but that tree was nowhere near the air conditioner. There are assorted size branches around but most of what would blow down, already blew down last week. Charlie, my little shih tzu, is deathly afraid of storms and he had a really hard time riding the storm out in the car. The tornado sirens were blaring and the wind was blowing with 60 mph gusts and this went on and on for about an hour. This was outside the tornado zone. Imagine what people in the south part of the city were going through. I thank God AGAIN and STILL because my family is okay. I am so sorry for the 5 people who died last night and the hundreds who were injured.

And now, the winner of a half yard of each of these fabrics is:

Belle Johnson
from Belle Bottom Blog! I've sent you an email, Belle. Congratulations! Tomorrow I will announce the June Giveaway. I think you will like it! Thanks again to everyone who supports the blog, enters our giveaways and who emailed me to see if I was okay! You all are amazing! Cheery wave from Bev

20 comments:

Dana Gaffney said...

Oh Bev, thank goodness you're all O.K., this has been a terrible year the stress must be constant for you.

Missy Shay said...

Wow, what a scary thing to go through. I live in TX, but have only had one tornado near where I live. I'm so glad you are okay, that green sky is scary!

Unknown said...

wow...that green! I never knew! Glad you and your family are okay Bev. :)

Mary said...

That green is only good for the Pantone Color of the Year. You were way too close to the Tornado Alley, glad you and yours are ok in OK!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Oh my gosh! I had no idea you were in OKC! :-o How scary! That green sky is really scary~ is it because the tornado has picked up leaves? I've never heard of the sky getting so green. I am so glad you are safe, I was praying for OK last night. (hugs)

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I'm so happy you are safe! Congratulations to the winner.

sandy said...

Wow, so glad you and your family are safe. Had no idea about the green sky. Mother nature is sure being cruel to your part of the country this year.

20 North Ora said...

So glad you are ok! This Oklahoma weather is driving me crazy! It just keeps on keeping on.

Judy

Unknown said...

I am so glad you are all safe, not everybody trying to flee the storm in cars was.....That green sky made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! I could NEVER live in that part of the country.

Jacqueline said...

I am so glad to hear that you and yours are ok. What a scary time for you all.

sew.darn.quilt said...

You answered my question from yesterday! I'm so sorry to read about the 5 souls lost, thank God you and yours were spared. Stay safe Bev and family!

Nikita said...

Glad you are safe and thanks for the picture of the green sky.. I heard of the sky being that way but wasn't sure what to ever really look for ..a tint of freen..a greenish colour..
Stay safe!

Barbara O. said...

That sky is frightening indeed. Glad to hear that you're ok.

Unknown said...

I remember the green skies when I lived in Kansas. Don't miss them. I have to say though, here in Arkansas you can't see them coming like you can out on the open plain. :)

Glad you and yours are okay, I know that had to a tense time for you.

Lisa said...

Bev, i am so glad you and your family are safe. What a scary night you must have had! It has been a bad tornado year. Hopefully, it is mostly over! You are all in my prayers! Be safe!

Lurline said...

Oh, Bev, that green sky is amazing - they talk about green skies here in Australia, but I have lived all over and never seen anything like that - do you mind if I re-post for Aussie friends? We sit here and our hearts sadden for those affected - bless you all!
Hugs - Lurline.

Tammy said...

What a scary colored sky....Glad you are well and made it through the storms.

Carolyn said...

I thank God that you and your family are safe! How afraid you all must have been.

GO STARS! said...

Bev, I live in the Dallas area in Texas. So scary what our northern neighbors are going thru this spring. My son is in the Tulsa and Pryor area this summer. I pray these storms end soon. Try the Thunder Shirt for your little dog - my neighbor puts her dog in one during storms and he settles right down.
Take care!!

Stephanie said...

Glad to hear you are ok. I will be in OKC next week and then for another 3 weeks coming up and would love to know the must see things and also the go to quilt shops. If you wouldn't mind dropping me a line and letting me know that would be great. daniel(dot)stephanie1997(at)gmail(dot)com