Oh the Weather Outside was FRIGHTFUL!

Yesterday we lived through a HUGE windstorm. The wind was going 96mph or faster in some areas. Anne came down to my room about 6:30am and said, "You know that branch that I can see out my window and it scares me sometimes? Well, it isn't there anymore." I thought that maybe it fell off, but oh no, the entire tree fell down. The Pine tree in the back had forked into two huge trunks and one fell at around 6:30. I took out our fence, the neighbors tree, and their power cables connected to their home. I called to let them know that my front tree, that was hanging over their car, looked like it was ready to come down and that they should move their car. About 10 minutes later he called to say that the second fork of the pine fell into their garage!
The freeway was littered with semi trucks on their sides and transformers blowing up. The town over was in a worst state of disaster. The winds died down about noon and left us without power and a huge mess. (Our bishop lost 7 trees and at least 4 other families lost 1-4 trees each.)  Robert came home to help and a neighbor/ friend came with his chainsaw. Together it took them all day just to cut up tree and help out with a few other homes.
I went out to get them some lunch and it took me an hour to drive up the street, quickly realize that all the stores were closed, and come back home. Our little grocery store was able to open up, but they were being cleaned out fast. I grabbed some sandwiches and headed home.
Luckily, our propane in our grill wasn't frozen yet so we were able to fire that up and cook some chicken for dinner. After dinner we played Uno with the kids by candle light. We brought the kids downstairs with the sleeping bags and they were all bundled up ready for a very cold night while Robert read to them. We were all in bed by 8:30. and the lights came blaring on at around 11pm.
What an experience. I am so thankful that none of us were hurt and that the kids now have a memory of this crazy event. On a side note... When Robert and I got married almost 13 years ago, on the way home we experienced this same thing. That was pretty scary too.

Kyle went out and took a picture before the second half of the tree fell.

at the base

Post second falling

Robert getting a start on removal

Chris and Robert clearing the roof

the men clearing the first fallen tree that took out the power line 

Now we have some firewood... If only our fireplaces were in working order. I guess we can use when we go camping instead. My battery died in the camera before I could take a picture of the clean up pile.

back half of the yard

the clean up piles up chest high and runs the length of my house plus into the garden

some of the larger logs... the waist- arm size ones are still in the clean up pile

the big daddy base logs. We were guessing the tree to be as old as the house so around 65 years old

When I went outside and saw all those pine cones and I thought to myself, Craft Project! I know, how could I think such a thing, but it has been on my mind a lot, so how could I not? I rounded up 1 1/2 trash bags full of pine cones before my back said to stop. I think that should be enough to make the wreath that I saw a loved. Woo Hoo! Thanks mother Nature for providing me free crafting material.

Here's my loot. I am sure there is 3x this amount still to be had.