Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Summer Thunder...

...no, I'm not talking about my thighs in shorts..uh..I don't wear shorts..


Nope, I mean the thunder storms that roll through this time of year..you know....summer.


When I was a kid in Arizona, I remember some summers that had terrific storms every afternoon  about 4-ish {maybe that's why 4pm is my favorite hour of the day..? Hmmm}

{My brother Larry, teaching me to shoot in Arizona}

Anyway, the air was electric..the heat a tad bit lower as the clouds covered the burning sun..and then the show began..


Lightening, clouds claps of thunder, cooling rain..


Also the gully washers....seems Tucson Arizona wasn't built to withstand some of those cloud bursts..I remember our house on Stone Avenue looking like river-front property with all the rain rushing through..




But, scary as it was..I loved the storms.  Looked forward to the cool {although brief}  change of temperature..

{Me & Kathy - on the ranch outside of Tucson- circa 1956}

Sometimes the storms were so angry, branches were torn off the trees and usually someone didn't respect the power or the warnings are were either stuck in a once dry wash or more seriously, struck by lightening.

The smells after the storm? wonDerFuL!  The Palo Verdes, the Pepper trees, the scrub brush..all the scents of the desert..even the hay and the alfalfa..


So what brought all this up this morning?  There's a storm headed in today..and it's already 79 degrees, overcast and wonderful.

 It looks gray, feels like childhood..and I love it.

Isn't it wonderful what triggers those sweet memories?  What summer memories are you experiencing this summer?  Hope they bring a smile to your heart..

Smiles!
-me

14 comments:

Laurie said...

I LOVE thunderstorms Colleen, as a child was scared to death of them, but now look forward to them as long as no tornado warning is attatched. But I enjoy watching out the window, or standing on my nieces enclosed porch. Blue jays bring back summer memories of my aunts cottage. They would wake me up every morning. I loved it!

Vicki/Jake said...

AWW...Thunder storms..I love 'em too Colleen. Aunt Louise who left us on Mother's day loved to sit on her back patio with a quilt and watch the storms roll through Spanish Fork. That's one of my cherished memories, sitting there with her and a quilt....
Thanks for bringing the memories :)

just call me jo said...

Storms in the desert ARE a unique experience that I'm fairly new to. I love the lightning and the cactus picture. I'm a desert dweller, but deserts in Idaho are not what you have here. Loved the pictures of you as a little one. So special.

RoeH said...

EeeeYup! We get some goodies that roll through here. But I hate it when nature gets all fired up and the news breaks in every 1.5 seconds to tell us of the HUGE storm we have coming and to take cover immediately or your life will be in peril.......and then it doesn't do a dang thing. Grrrrrr!

Unknown said...

it's gonna be a hot one today isn't it! but i do love the thunderstorms!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

You describe them perfectly!
I adore summer storms.
Edward.... not so much.

Unknown said...

I like thunder storms too....I like to be all curled up in bed taking a nap with the thunder as background noise...

Vee said...

Ahhh, brought back those Arizona skies to me, too. Though I was only there two and a half years. We called that period of afternoon storms the "monsoon season." July was particularly monsoony.

No, John wasn't grumpy, but he sure was tired and hot and with all the humidity, he was sodden wet. I think I'd call that his look of sheer determination. I've never seen him grumpy yet. Hope that I never do. :D

Pearl said...

I love the storms too and your pictures are awesome! What a wonderful memory of your brother to.

A Wild Thing said...

Getting up before the sun and smelling the air before the traffic hits the 4 lane...ahhh sweet peace! Sometimes it reminds me of Florida air, my paradise as a child and those trips to Granny's house in Daytona Beach...thanks for the smiles sista!!!
s

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Happy for anything, which brings sweet memories...

Charmingdesigns said...

OH that does bring back...one memory, sitting under the picnic table watch the ONE thunder and lightning show...just once, oh so long ago...in Oregon...does Calif have thunder and lightning...I'm think not. Enjoy your memories and wettness!!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Love the pictures from the past.
We have had rain here in Florida almost all week. My joints are acting up with all the humidity.
Actually I have to stop now because my shoulder is killing me.
It seems to be moving from joint to joint, new one each day. Have a great 4th!

Jenny said...

This was a fantastic post!!

I love the storms out here in AZ - it is so beautiful watching them in the beautiful desert sky!

Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories with us.

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