I saw this storm coming yesterday afternoon and was casting about for something to stand on so Camera House and I could get a better view – then I saw the tractor. Aha, I thought. Forgetting that I had crostini in the oven and cheese straining and milk dishes in the sink I climbed aboard started her up and off we went. The dogs were all hiding because of the thunder and lightening and gathering winds, so alone, I drove the tractor down to the end of the track, turned North, parked in the middle of our little country road and waited for the storm.
I stood straddling the tractor seat in my short skirt and T shirt with my bare feet braced against the winds and waited. There was no traffic anywhere that I could see. Standing on a tractor seat in the middle of a road with my camera aimed at the sky did not strike me as unusual.
The storm thundered along.
Fast.
But not that exciting.
Hmm, I thought that’s not much of a storm shot. Interesting in a big country kind of a way, but we have been watching clouds like these for days.
Then I turned my head with Camera House following suit and looked to the North. I wondered whether this might not be a good time to skedaddle back home.
But of course I didn’t.
The storm was out to eat me. Bare feet and all. By now the winds had risen and the air was loud.
The storm clouds were changing fast, the temperature dropped significantly and the lightening began to flash with its friend the thunder getting louder by the minute, my hair was being blown across the lens, as the storm barreled down the road towards me so I decided to turn the tractor around and get on home.
In the end all we got were high winds and a bit of rain. Some of the towns close by were more badly hit, with big rains, damaging hail and dangerous winds. But we were OK.
The little layer flock were safe and dry in the new coop that Kim built. It is Part One of large complex and is perfect for the baby hens. They are off to a good start.
Not bad for the longest day of the year. Have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “Wild Storm Photos.”
Your first pix and words frightened the life out of me. I’m so happy you lived to tell the tale. What about the crostini etc?
Vx
We did get the rain up here – a torrent – but, not the drama of your amazing photos. I wish, sometimes, that we had the open place to chronicle the clouds as you have here. These are stunning shots, full of wrath, aren’t they?
Loved your library post. 🙂
Wrath.. excellent word.. c
Never would I want you to put yourself in danger, but…I am always in awe of the storm photos you capture and appreciate when you post them. In my neck of the woods we often get those same dark, menacing, rolling storm clouds, but the effect is lost when you are surrounded by suburban landscape and tall trees. Those open views are both sinister and amazingly beautiful at the same time.
That storm was a monster!!! Excellent photos, though.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
That storm looks insane! We haven’t been getting too many storms around here lately, but with the heat it’s only a matter of time.
I love these pictures. Well done!
Oh my the combination of thunderous skies and green fields makes for great photography
Love you images! I grew up watching storms at the beach on vacation and I do enjoy the exhilarating feeling of those charged negative ions still. But having had the house struck by lightning last year has made me more cautious and respectful of these storms brought by climate change.
Do be careful miss c. And try not to be the tallest thing around when lightning is present…we don’t want to lose you. 🙂
Love how the colours of a storm makes everything look greener! Beautiful pictures – such a lot of space you have!
Love the storm shots Celi! But do be careful, as we all are saying! I wish i could wear skirts and go barefoot like you do here! But the ticks and chiggers would eat me alive! xo
You are a crazy, wonderful woman and we love you for it!
Fabulous storm tracking photos. When I lived on the prairies thunderstorms were wild. We stand out in them watching the clouds form into ugly roiling dark mountains. As kids we would remain out in the pouring rain dancing because thunderstorms only happened after very long hot dry periods and we craved for rain. Here on the coast we experience winter gales but only occasional thunderstorms.
such a gorgeous image – kinds dancing in the rain .. shrieking with delight probably.. wonderful.. c
My cousin and I would stand on the clothesline platform, lift our full length nightgowns up until they filled with air from the wind. Then we would pull the hems down and hold them tight. We looked like two bubbles and so did the other prairie girls, who also shared this thunderstorm coming -catch the wind trick. My aunt took a great photo of this, which sadly she lost and she cannot locate the negative either. When the rains came and our nightgowns deflated we shrieked and rain danced, until we were commanded to get into the house and dry off. These are memories I’ll always treasure. Thanks so much Ceci, for bringing them to mind today with your photos and your storm story.
And thank YOU for your childhood storm story, that memory is full of delight.. c
Incredible photos!
What great pictures! My stomach was churning by the time I saw the last couple of photos and I fully expected to see a funnel cloud. We don’t get storms like that here in the high desert…..mostly dry lighting. Once in a while a cloudburst and thunder in the summer. You have guts, lady, to put yourself in danger for some pictures. I suppose the tractor has rubber tires….so, of course, that makes it OK. (smile)
You know what G? It never even occurred to me that it might be dangerous.. ah well.. c
Let us hope when the next storm blows through you will say to yourself “Been there, done that. Photos I got cannot possibly be beat. “