Answers to your questions!

*Ike*

Mandy was curious to know how many hours our family has spent in our "tornado" closet since we moved to AR. "It seems like there's very frequent storm weather in your area--I guess we're both in regular "storm watch" areas of the country now ;) Does tornado weather happen seasonally, and if so, does it coincide with hurricane season?"

Well, we do have tornado sirens here, that go off every Wednesday at noon for testing. In fact when Becky was here, and she and Fluffy heard them go off, and she asked him, "Do you know what that sound means?"

Fluffy responded nonchalantly, "Yep! It's Wednesday." :)

So anyway, they go off on other days, too. It seems to happen when there has been warm weather, about to be hit by cold weather, or vice versa. I've heard that there's KIND of a tornado season, from about March through November, peaking in April, but I've also heard of January tornadoes. A couple of years ago we had some just after Thanksgiving. It was very odd.

Hurricanes tend to spawn tornadoes, yes. But we don't have to worry about hurricanes like you south Floridians. They tend to have died down a bit by the time they make it up here. (Whew!)

 

*Horses*

Okay, okay. I have to admit I was baiting Becky in my post about the horses.

Here's the story.

We were driving from Provo to Snowflake for the first time after my parents moved there in 1997. DC and I were newlyweds and I was expecting Exacto, having recently found out he was NOT a girl. (One of the great shocks of my life).

We had never really driven on the reservations before, and it was a bit of a culture shock, especially for Becky, apparently. (See, Becky, I told you you should have told this story yourself! ha)

If any of you have been fortunate (or not) enough to drive across the Rez, you know that it is beautiful. It is also tedious.

We passed many, many cows. Then we happened to pass a single, white horse. Becky exclaimed enthusiastically, "Look! A horse!" Yes, the big excitement was seeing a horse. After all, it had been only cows and bush after scrubby bush for many hours. She has never lived it down. Bless her heart.

Incidentally, things only got worse from there. Our car battery went out just before Chinle, and we ended up having about 7 hours'  leisure time to just sit and appreciate the scenery!

*A Good, Cleansing Friend*

Mom asked about my cleaning product of poignant fame. Yes, Bar Keeper's Friend is a gem. You know that great non-stick spray (Pam) we use for everything  nowadays? You know how it leaves that hideous brown speckled stuff cemented onto your dishes? Well, BKF gets it off! It also takes off rust and cooked on stains, without scratching. I first discovered it in a catalog of Amish stuff (it's been around for a while).

They do sell it at Wal-mart, though! Yippee!

You'll love this stuff. Try it sometime.

*Cranford*

Becky asked about which books Cranford  is based on, so she can read them. I want to read them, too, so I was glad for the impetus to look it up! Here we are. . . .

Cranford, My Lady Ludlow, and Mr Harrison's Confessions

 

*background*

Mom noticed my new background. Thanks, Mom! :)

Let me just say that when I first put it up and proudly showed my sons, they started giggling hysterically. "It's your PAJAMAS!"

Yes, it's true. The pajama bottoms I wear almost every night just happen to have a pattern I drool over (good thing it's dark most of the time I wear them, eh?) :). So I took a picture, tweaked it a little in Photoshop, and now you get to feast your eyes on my nightwear!

Ho, dear.

 

  ~Moma