Thunderstorms!!!!!!

Last night I sat in my living room and watched the awsome power of Mother Nature. We had a storm come in that had gusts of 65 to 75mph and what I hadden't expected was the thunder and lightening that lit up the sky. When Cal and I moved to Laughlin we were looking forward to the Monsoon season (July to September) where the big thunderheads would move across the vast expanse of the desert we lived in and from our porch we could sit and watch the storm hit the small line of jagged peaks. The lightening would bounce all over and it was like being in the middle of a 1960's light show. We would open a bottle of wine and sit out there watching for hours until it was upon us. The rain would pound down and rage for a while then just a quickly as it came it would be gone. It would be soaked into the sand and a couple of hours later you would hardly notice that there had been any storm at all.
Here at the ocean, it is more wild. The waves are huge! I can see them crashing and building up farther out in the changing gray of the sea. The rain sounds angry and then the lightening was all around us at once. I am surprised with all the wind we had we didn't lose power. I watched the power lines outside swinging as if they were a jump rope. All my windchimes were working overtime and this morning I took most of them down as we have another one coming through tonight. Best safe than sorry I guess. We had snow in the mountains and it will be beautiful if I go out and look. I pity anyone that had to be out in it last night, but it was beautiful to watch from the safety of my home.
Cal and I have traveled through a few storms in our travels, and I will write about those in the coming days now that I have remembered them. But we were in the southwest in Mesa Verde with his sister Patty. Driving out to one of the sites there. It had already been a great trip with Patty. The road was on the top of a mesa, and it was a straight stretch of road when we saw the clouds gathering. Then at the end of the road where we were headed, a big bolt of lightening struck a tree right in front of us. We were all three dumbfounded. Cal pulled over,and we were deciding to turn around when we saw the smoke begin. Then came the ranger telling us to evacuate and go to the visitors center for instructions. Well they were so prepared for these types of fall storms they had it out in an hour but it was very scary for us. That was an amazing moment for us all and we had a great story to tell everyone at the Visitor's Center later. But I was awe struck at the raw power and yet amazed at the beauty of Mother Nature. She sure knows how to put on a show. I for one sure like to watch...from a comfortable distance and inside...I admit, I am not going to chase storms. But I do love the pictures of those that do.
Enjoy the winter. I think it just arrived.