
We had some excitement last night, waiting for severe weather to move through the area. We were under a tornado watch for most of the evening until it got ramped up to a tornado warning.
Everything turned out fine where I live but it sounds like a tornado touched down in an area where I often hike and where I had intended to hike last night.
When my phone started buzzing with notice to take cover, I packed up Scout in his backpack carrier and we headed to my parents house where I spent the evening in a small bathroom with my folks, a German Shepherd named Fritz, and Scout’s carrier strapped to me while I relaxed in the bathtub.
Fritz and Scout didn’t understand what was happening but they were troopers. The other three cats who live with my parents hid out under the bed.
As of this writing, I’m unclear as to the damage elsewhere but the power outage map is pretty comprehensive.
Since I tend to find humor at inappropriate moments, I’ll tell you that I had to giggle at one point. I went to meet a tornado dressed in hiking clothes and a sun hat with my cat and a big purse filled with snacks, water, a book and my journal.
Clearly, my priorities are straight. At least I had a book and cat.
When the tornado warning was downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning, Scout and I headed home to our dark house. While we don’t know how long the power will be out, I was happy to just have a home to return to when others may not be so lucky.
It was then that I saw a good omen- a rainbow so large I couldn’t capture it all in one photo.
Here’s one more look.

What’s the old saying? Don’t fear the storm for the rainbow’s never far behind.