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Saturday, February 25, 2006

A Thunderstorm.....

We have just had a huge thunderstorm. It finished about an hour ago. It lasted about 2 hours. I was at my parent's place for lunch, we looked out the window ... the sky was black. Chicky and I decided it was time to go ... don't like getting caught driving in a storm. We made it home, just as it started drizzling. The wind had picked up, there were branches and leaves flying everywhere. The downpour began ... wow, what a lot of rain. The gutters and drains overflowed, our garage flooded (the gutter in front of it was full of leaves ... ooops !!) The thunder claps were incredible, the whole house shook when it was right overhead ... amazing. Chicky was somewhat frightened, the cat didn't know what was going on. We had all the TV's, computers, turned off, in case the lightning caused a surge or something. The lightning was incredible, and when it hit at the same time as the thunder ... wow !!! I loved it ... I think electrical storms are amazing (so long as I am not outside in them !!)

This photo is of the retreating storm, looking down the end of our street, toward the nearby hills ... The Dandenongs.


Once the rain stopped, I grabbed the camera and went outside to see what I could snap. I love the look of wet plants and flowers, everything looks fresh and clean again (it has been very dusty around here, as there is a freeway under construction nearby, and it is generating heaps of dust ... you should see the color of my car - it is usually black, but not at the moment!).

These flowers were in the front yard of my next-door neighbours house. I am blessed with the uncanny ability to grow amazing weeds, but not flowers, usually !!

Anyway, it is now 8.30ish Saturday night. Chicky is watching Cheaper By The Dozen 2, Hubby is asleep on the couch, and I think I might sign off now and go and watch an old Elvis movie ... Flaming Star.

Have a great Saturday / Sunday (where-ever you may be when you read this !!), and take care of yourselves and your families.

Bye for now,

MEOW

34 comments:

Ruby said...

Nice shots! I love it when summer storms are over and the sky clears again. You live in a nice area. I'm having an "underconstruction" spot just in front of my door at the moment too! It's amazing how loud they are! I hate it!

Meow (aka Connie) said...

DaybyDay ... no, fortunately we don't get anything that severe here. We are in the south of the country (Victoria), and the tropical stuff doesn't happen here ... that usually only happens in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia - way up north !! We also don't get snow, but that's OK. We only have to drive a few hours to get to the ski fields in Winter if we want to ski. Thanks for the email, too.

Susie ... Thunderstorms are amazing, so long as you are in a safe place ... however, I love them when I am tenting (how wierd is that !!). Glad you like the rose picture ... a lucky shot !! Feel free to use it on your desktop ... I have it on mine, too. Do you need me to send you a bigger, higher quality version via email, or does that one come up OK ??

Ruby ... thank you. Yep, summer storms are amazing. So extreme, and so suddenly over. Amazing. Hope the construction zone out the front is finished soon ... so inconvenient !!!

Thanks everyone, hope you are having a great weekend.

Take care, Meow

Tree said...

Gorgeous photos; they make me ache for spring...

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Tree ... Spring isn't too far away, now. The flowers will be appearing before you know it. Stay warm, take care, Meow

Jenn said...

Great photos! I can imagine the smell after the rain just looking at them.

I always liked watching thunderstorms, except my dog is so afraid of them, if it's at night he will keep me up all night long, trembling and pacing back and forth on our bed.

Unknown said...

The close-ups are wonderful. I love to see the dew on the flowers like that. It's so pretty and delicate.

Hope you're having a nice weekend!

Dick said...

Nice closeup photos!

Yuma, AZ has had no measureable precipitation since 18 Oct but the 5-day weather forecast last night on TV said some is possible after the weekend. In the meantime we have daily temps in the low 80s (F), not too bad for winter. There is always dust here - it is the desert.

When lightening threatens go farther than just turning off your electronic gear. Unplug them from the power grid and remember to disconnect them from the cable, phone line or outside antennaes. High voltage can hit them from those sources, too.

Kylee said...

ohh how fun. One of the only things I miss about not living in Arizona or Texas are the storms..we have very mild ones in Washington.

Have a great night and day tomorrow!!

Cathy said...

I love the photos and I also love a good thunderstorm. I can feel the heat in the sky! I wish we had some.

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Jenn ... the smell after a thunderstorm is great, isn't it. All clean, fresh and electric, I think. Poor dogs, most of them are terrified of storms. Luckily my cat just sat, wide-eyed, but didn't appear to panic and hide.

Cinthia ... thank you. I am having a great weekend, hope you are too.

Dick ... hope you get some rain where you are soon, if only to settle the dust !! I will take your advice, next time there is a storm threatening, and unplug, rather than just turn off, my electronic gear. Never really thought of that. Thank you.

Kylee ... we don't get too many huge storms, usually only in summer, when they do happen. Winter storms are not as spectacular.

Cathy ... there was plenty of heat in that sky, believe me !!! Today is quite cool again, only around 20ÂșC, which is pleasant, and a bit wet.

Thank you, friends, for your comments. HOpe you are all having a great weekend. Take care, Meow

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

Minus floods, I love rain. It makes everything cool. Lovely flowers.

Greeneyes said...

just dropped in to say hey,,,great pics meow , will try and email you in next couple days , have a great night/day and get the Mommie radar on LOL
Greeneyes

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Fridays Child ... yes, rain is wonderful, without floods. Unfortunately, we have had drought like situation for quite a few years now. Our water catchments are only around 1/2 full. We don't get nearly enough rain ... wish there was more.

Greeneys ... thanks, the Mummy Radar was on, and all went well. Nothing much to report about the movie trip with the kids. Looking forward to your email.

Take care, everyone, and enjoy the remainder of your weekend. Meow

Meow (aka Connie) said...

True Blue Guy ... thank you. Rain does leave a gorgeous smell, doesn't it. Take care, Meow

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Connie, you must've snuck in whilst I was replying to True Blue Guy !! You are so not a chicken. I know plenty of people who actually have hidden under the bed during a thunderstorm !!! Thanks for the compliment ... I am really pleased with the rose picture ... I have it on my desktop. The water droplets look cool on the petals. Take care, have a great week, Meow

Phil said...

I love the lightning, hate the thunder. I didn't know you got weather like that in Oz.

Viamarie said...

The last thunderstorm we had was before Christmas and it flooded many of our streets including our backyard.

Pictures are beautiful. Btw, I tagged you.

Cheers!

Jona said...

I love storms too! Though we rarely seem to get them in the daytime. And the colours look amazing with that sky.

The flowers look uncannily like Jersey Lillies, and makes me wonder if you can find them all over the world, (but Jersey didn't know that and claimed them as their own, lol ;o))

Fred said...

Ever since I got nailed by Hurricane Andrew, I'm not a big fan of thunderstorms. Yet, here I am still living in Florida.

Have a great weekend! (I guess it's over already, sorry...)

Clare said...

Wow those are great pictures Meow and that thunderstorm sounded amazing though scary too. Hope the cat has recovered from the fright.

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Phil ... you don't like the thunder ???? Wow, that's the best bit ... the lightning scares me somewhat. You would be amazed at some of the weather we get here. Up North, they get cyclones and alll sorts of nasty stuff. Ours is a bit more sedate !!

Viamarie ... thank you. I will check out the tag later. Just having a quick computer break between other stuff !!!

Jona ... I'm not sure what the flowers are, other than they are some sort of lily. I'll ask my neighbour and get back to you !!

Fred ... wow, you got through Hurricane Andrew ... I'm impressed. Hope you weren't hurt, and didn't lose too much stuff in it.

Clare ... thanks, and yes the cat has recovered !!!

DaybyDay ... great advice, thank you. Will have to give it a go !! Stay tuned !!!

Thanks everyone, hope you all had a great weekend. Take care in the upcoming week, Meow

eyes_only4him said...

I too love a good thunderstorm..

your picutres are quite lovely;)

Mise en Place said...

I love storms like that too....the kids HATE them, lol!

The sky looks very cool, all though very dark. And I love to flowers...nice shots.

. said...

I used your photo of the suburban sky as my background wallpaper. Hope you don't mind.

jay are said...

Beautiful pictures!!!! Hope you survived the storm okay :)

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Bossy Britches ... why, thank you !!!

Momyblogr ... thank you, too !!

Madi ... glad you liked it, enjoy it !!

Jay ... thank you , yes we survived.

Have a great day, take care, Meow

Anne said...

I used to love storms. I would stand outside and watch them roll in and still do at times. I've changed since I got trapped in an elevator during a tornado that hit downtown Nashville, TN about 8 years ago. Maybe it's because I have kids now. Any time the weather gets really bad I want to snatch the kids out of bed and run to the basement.

JM said...

Thunderstorms scare me to this day.

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Anne ... that must've been a very scary experience. I don't blame you for being worried when storms hit now.

Angel ... a lot of people are scared of thunderstorms. It is such a shame, as they can be quite spectacular (although quite dangerous, too).

Have a great day, take care, Meow

ange said...

my back yard and front yard were like a swimming pool! the top of my street was flooded. the drains were all clogged up! And i too love a good thunderstorm..funnily though, my cat isn't scared of them.He sat at the door wonder why he couldn't go ouside!

JJ said...

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing.
I see you,
JJ

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Ange ... amazing storm, wasn't it !!! And what a huge amount of water in a short amount of time. Glad your cat was cool !!

JJ ... thanks for stopping by, it is nice to meet you. Will stop by your blog later on and visit, also.

Take care everyone, Meow

sonia a. mascaro said...

Amazing photo, Meow!

Very beautiful your neighborhood!

I would love to stroll with you!

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Thank you Sonia ... it would be wonderful to stroll with you, too. Take care, Meow