I do love sitting here listening to the wind as long as the gusts don't get too hard. We moved here thirty eight years ago and have gone through some "hellacious" wind storms.
One storm early on broke our boat dock, on Wallowa Lake, loose from its anchor and set it adrift. The damage could be repaired and we spent many summers, boating, water skiing and fishing while using the dock with friends.
Another year when Rusty had his sheep, during lambing time, we struggled to get from the house to the "sheep shed" to check on the ewes at night. Not only was it hard to stand or walk but pieces of tin roofing were flying through the air. On those windy nights, both Bobi and Rusty could be found sleeping downstairs because the wind shook the house with each gust, rattling windows and blowing through the cracks. These winds usually came, along with a warm front, so the melting snow turns to a solid sheet of ice. Standing is difficult and walking is impossible. Cars driving up or down the hill on our road, have ended up over the steep bank, in the field below.
Then in December of 1982 when it blew the roof off of the school cafeteria, filling the school with water as the rain and wind lasted for two days. School was let out for Christmas break two days early and construction crews replaced the roof, suctioned up gallons of water and school started on time in January, as if nothing had happened.
Just four years ago, wind and rain raged through the night and we awoke to find our lean-to shed in a heap of rubble and the neighbors carport roof practically in our backyard. The latest wind storm toppled trees and blew the top out of our yellow pine, depositing it on our deck, inches away from the big window in our living room. So far our house, nearing its one hundredth birthday, is still standing and with a new roof, insulation and windows, is more wind proof than it was thirty eight years ago. Every year we think that the wind has blown away everything, that is possible to blow away. But it never ceases to amaze us as it exerts its power, letting us know that it is still in charge.
Bunco party went very well yesterday. We had four full tables in Willa's nice big living room. The perfect place for a party of that size. Our Phi Master chapter hosted the party, for the fourth straight year. Our members furnished a nice array of finger foods for everyone to enjoy. We played four rounds of bunco and over the din of sixteen voices, you could barely hear the bell as yet another bunco was scored. Cash prizes in the amount of $40.00 were awarded to the winners and an equal amount will be donated to the local food bank. A good time was had by all on this blustery, winter day.
On with my day as my thoughts turn to preparing for our Arizona trip. OWAV;)
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