So we had this windstorm out of the east, see, and it made a mess. We expect howling blowhards to come out of the west, and prepare accordingly. When the wind sneaks up on us out of the east, we are unsettled. However, on this occasion we appear to have been darned lucky. I have no reports of any injuries or any significant damage, and I’ve been checking around. It could have been so much worse.
On the good side, the whole Township smells like Christmas. There are a bunch of busted trees, but we know what to do with those. Whenever the rain paused, the whine of the chainsaws started up again, and by Thursday you’ll hardly know we had a storm. Meanwhile, you can see for yourself. And if you missed the post with Chris’s photo of Torch Lake Gone Wild, you can see it right here.
The top row in the gallery is The Evidence Against Mama Nature. The middle row, well, I couldn’t resist taking pictures of the tippy tops of tall trees. The bottom row is Evidence in Favor of Adaptability. I meant to show you this last year, when it was happening, but you know how it goes. Anyway, in 2010 Dale Burns lost three big trees at his place. Snapped right off. But Dale is a creative man. The standing remains of two of them were trimmed into a handy woodrack. The third was chainsaw-sculpted into a bear with a fish. I am a fool for chainsaw bear sculptures. I can’t help it, that’s just how I am. I thought you would like to see one too.
So. If you are here, you lost power for a few hours but probably everything is fine now. If you are Away, you may rest assured that in all likelihood everything is fine at your place. If you’re a compulsive worrier, send me a note and I’ll go spy for you.
While I was out and about taking pictures in the rain, I stopped in to see Nora Metz, who is just fine, thank you for asking. The only trees she lost were to the power company trimmers. She’s very unhappy about those, but at least they didn’t come down on the house.
Nora is always good for my state of mind. She is, as she likes to remind me, quite a few years older than I am, and if she can do it, I can do it too. And she can do anything. I left her house feeling set to rights.
Torch Lake Views 
Lauren
April 27, 2011
Wow! Glad nothing worse happened… we had nothin’ here in Honor, just lots of rain… maybe we were in the eye of the storm.
Gerry
April 27, 2011
I think it was a freak storm that blew through in a very narrow band. If it weren’t for the mute evidence of the broken trees I don’t think people from ten miles away on either side would believe me. We were lucky.
Sybil
April 27, 2011
I’m a blowhard and I live on the east coast. I can only feel this is my fault !
I’ll try not to let it happen again.
Love the wood figures made by your clever friend.
Glad you’re OK.
Gerry
April 27, 2011
I’m positive it’s not your fault, Sybil, but if it is, CUT IT OUT!
Isn’t the bear wonderful? High Kitsch is what I call it, and I love it. Chainsaw art is a true expression of the North.
P.j. grath
April 27, 2011
What is it about an east wind, anyway? Always feels wrong, seems to bode ill. Glad it wasn’t worse, and yes, the chainsaws will be kept busy.
Gerry
April 27, 2011
Y’know, I think all the Guys in town are secretly delighted at the opportunity to use their chainsaws. I used to have a chainsaw myself, but gave it up when I decided I was more likely to create havoc than firewood. I understand the appeal, though. There’s something exhilarating about dealing with one of Mama Nature’s tantrums when no one got hurt.
Fee
April 27, 2011
I’m so glad no-one was hurt – we forget the power of Mama Nature at our peril. My Papa (mum’s dad) used to say forests needed a good storm every now and again to clear space for new growth. Then he’d spit on the fire, but that’s a whole other story (and a fairly icky one, too).
Gerry
April 27, 2011
The biggest natural disasters in Michigan history have been vast forest fires, fed by the debris left behind by lumbering. The same hazard exists in the wake of tree-toppling storms. D’you suppose spitting on the fire was sort of a way to ward that off, like throwing salt over your left shoulder? Oh I’m muddling my signs and superstitions as usual.
Patricia
April 27, 2011
How long was the storm? We lost a huge pine tree when a gust of about two minutes came through Ann Arbor. The complete root ball uprooted and down came the tree. Ms. Nature doesn’t need much time.
Gerry
April 27, 2011
The strong wind was brief, although more than a couple minutes. The power outages ranged from 2-4 hours. Mama on a tear is powerful.
Robin
April 27, 2011
Da Big Blowhard is here in Ohio today. Freaky winds have been huffing and puffing and trying to blow down trees for a few hours now. The weather service says the winds will calm once the storms move through this evening.
I’m glad no one was hurt. And I have to admit I like chain-saw sculptures too. Especially bears. 🙂
Gerry
April 27, 2011
I do not know what you will get next, but what we have been getting next is rain of biblical proportions. More trees are coming down in swampy areas as the softened ground gives way. Mama on a tear. Bears are particularly well-suited to chainsaw sculptures, aren’t they! Owls, too, and squirrels, but bears take the cake.
Scott Thomas Photography
April 27, 2011
She sure has been kicking up a fuzz lately. Drove through a hail storm yesterday. Flooding, lightning, wind and more in the forecast for tonight. Maybe she’s upset about that oil spill in the Gulf last year.
We have not learned to stop trying to fool Mother Nature.
Gerry
April 27, 2011
If it starts raining frogs I recommend you head for high ground. Right after you post the pictures! 🙂
Nye
April 28, 2011
It’s scary to have huge tree near the house, we had ours cut down several years back. I can sleep better at night now when it rains.
Gerry
May 3, 2011
I would have to cut a whole forest down. Maybe if I just have the roof reinforced?
Dawn
April 28, 2011
Glad everyone is OK there. Lots of bad weather everywhere…
Gerry
April 28, 2011
Spring. We are a little damp here at present. Back later.
uphilldowndale
April 28, 2011
Goodness, it hasn’t rained here for weeks! The world is all topsy…
I wish our neighbours gardener would swap his leaf blower for a chain saw and do something constructive rather than rearrange the leaves EVERY week
Gerry
April 28, 2011
Be careful what you wish for. We got all our rain in one afternoon. The world is all topsy.
isathreadsoflife
April 29, 2011
Amazing and frightening ! The huge wave on the Lake tells it all. We had a cedar tree that fell right along our house a while ago, a strange feeling… Just saw terrible images of tornadoes down in Georgia and Alabama, such devastation and loss ! Mama Nature will always be the strongest, will we ever learn it ?
Gerry
May 3, 2011
I guess we’ll just have to see ourselves as part of it all and try to ride the wind the way the rest of the creatures do. Or don’t. Just doing our best anyway.
uphilldowndale
April 29, 2011
Gerry, such storms in the US, you are in out thoughts.
Gerry
May 3, 2011
Thank you, on behalf of all the storm-torn.
Anna
April 29, 2011
Wow! that was terrific wind! Good grief! Great wood sculptures and creative! We are getting horrific wind gusts today and it was very difficult to drive! Glad that all is well with all after the wind storm.
Gerry
May 3, 2011
The way Preston tells it you drive like the wind! I passed Dale’s place today and he’s up to something new with the “woodrack” trees. Dunno what.
Belinda
May 2, 2011
So glad to hear Nora is alright. I’m looking forward to seeing her this sumnmer. We’ve had some good storms out here in Va.
Gerry
May 3, 2011
You will enjoy visiting with Nora. She’s a peach. Keep safe out there in Va.