November was a roller coaster ride in temperatures, clashing of the seasons, warm weather, grass to still mow, even our first measurable snow. In our state (Indiana) the last few years, November storms have packed quite the punch. It was our turn to find this out this Sunday, November 17th. There were several tornado touchdowns in our state that date, and one of those tornado paths found its way to our farm. We are fortunate in that no one was injured. I had just left for work (and had shut the chickens, ducks & turkeys in the barn just prior to leaving since high winds were forecast - those can be tough on the barn doors if they are open). The horses somehow were not in their run-in shelter at the time it collapsed (in two different directions that would've trapped and probably killed them had they been in there). My husband and the dogs got into the house just before it hit. They got about 10-15 feet inside the door, my husband hit the floor and grabbed the kitchen island and the dogs laid down on the floor beside him. It was thanks to the one dog that they even got in the house. They were in the garage - watching the radar and it was mentioned that there might be a tornado (location given was about a mile from our farm). One dog barked at my husband, in a bark he never uses.....husband decided they better go in and check the radar further.....they got just inside the door when it was upon us, a rain-wrapped tornado so you couldn't see it. We were without electricity for several days with all the utility lines being brought down by several trees (there are several acres of trees taken down between us and a few neighbors) Thank goodness for the generator that my husband bought a few years back not even sure we would ever use it....It paid for itself those 5 days in keeping our farm running until our power was restored. We were able to get by with our woodstove heat, generator for power, heating water up and cooking on the woodstove. We also had our gas grill for cooking (the gas grill was right in front of the garage that was destroyed, but the grill survived untouched). Other areas of our county suffered as much - and maybe even more damage, so we still feel fortunate. We have found since that time what a wonder circle of family, friends, neighbors and co-workers we have. The next morning most all of the neighbors came by and checked on each other, all offering assistance with whatever was needed. Our family and co-workers pitched in, giving up the weekend before Thanksgiving packing up and getting needed items stored elsewhere for us. Co-workers and friends (new & old) came and started clearing trees and fence rows, taking care of probably 1/2 of it in just the long Thanksgiving weekend. We had a wonderful group of young people (along with some adults) made up of local high school kids and church youth group members that came and cleaned and piled debris from our farm clear thru a neighboring field in bitter cold temperatures. Strangers (that we now consider friends) that just came out wanting to do something to help. We have seen the best in people the last few weeks. I was able to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table and we truly had so much to be Thankful for. Everything else will get back to normal. It will be a long winter/spring making repairs, but with everyone's generous offers to assist and all the prayers, I am sure we will get there. (I hope to get a few pictures posted in the days to come).
Wishing all of you a very blessed Christmas & holiday season. I hope to get to another post before Christmas gets here....but as we have found out, you never know what is going to happen from one day to the next.
