Wednesday
I just wanted to provide an update to my sad story about the apocalyptic hailstorm last 
Thursday evening.
Yesterday, “Aaron the Allstate Good Hands” guy came out to do an appraisal. He was a nice chap former contractor who wandered around, took a bazillion pictures and measurements, and sat in his car for over an hour doing whatever adjusters do in their cars. When he came and he apologized that he had forgotten the checkbook but explained that he would call me today and go through it line-by-line so I would understand all the numbers. I haven’t gotten it yet however; suffice it to say I’m not qualified to be an adjuster. What I believed to be two broken windows, dented vents, and a few missing shingles turned out to be a more epic project, or projects.
As I said, I haven’t seen the numbers but he was talking thousands of dollars and new roofing. Whoops! So my summer of repairs is not over yet. Stay tuned.
After he left, I drove into town to get some grub and snapped a few pictures along the way. What surprised me most was that most of the storm damage was in the area north of town. As I got closer to the business district, the trees and grass to areas seemed untouched. They had enough water damage to lose power but the wind must have dissipated. Very strange, but probably a good thing. The adjuster did say that he had at least 20 calls to make in the area.
* * *
This is the time of year in the high desert when the air is filled with the scent of roasting
Hatch chile peppers and the rural roads are lined with tall resilient sunflowers.
The drought has diminished their numbers and the hail and 60mph winds succeeded in ripping the survivors to shreds.
Who knows where those seeds have blown and maybe next year they’ll be even more.
We live in hope!
Words of Barrett 
I love it – the resiliency of sunflowers. I’ve been working with their energy a lot lately so no accident I open your blog this morning and there they are. Thanks for the update and pictures.
You’re welcome. I think they’re interesting flowers to survive and thrive in such harsh conditions.
Sorry to hear of your travails, Jeanne. Let’s hope that’s the end of it. Hurricane season is upon us, though. Keep your head down!
Thanks, Nann, I think where nearing the end of monsoon season out here in the southwest. I’m not sure how people cope with the threat of hurricanes because this was frightening enough. Thanks for stopping by, I hope your life is smoothing out a little.
I do know you’re in the SW. I’ve always had this gut feeling that hurricanes spawn violent weather in other parts of the globe. Too bad they don’t rescue some of the US that’s in drought.
I’m doing well. Thank you for asking!
Hugs,
Nann
Well, hunker down, looks like “weather” is coming. I hope it stays a little dry until I get some repairs made.
take care.
Glad the storm is behind you, Jeanne, and keep up that positive spirit!
I’ll do what I can and you stay safe, hear me? And dry!
Hail can be incredibly damaging. How big was it? Where I live, there is a compact weather system over the river. It has a life of its own. Pretty fascinating to watch. We get hail too, but mostly just rain and very strong winds. Strong enough to knock my doors off the tracks. I hope your fields will be scattered with those sunflower seeds.
I’m guessing by the 10 inch drift by the patio door, that was pea size or smaller.But ice crystals at 60 miles an hour can wreak a lot of havoc. So it seems.
I know what you mean about wind, I’ve lost one storm door and several lawn chairs. Thanks for stopping by!
Sorry that you’re having to go through more home repairs. But, as always, you have a positive and hopeful outlook. I like that about you, Barrett. Take care and let’s hope for more flowers next year.
Thanks, Bev. I don’t have much choice. You we take the cards we’re dealt and learn the lesson. All I can think about are the people in New Orleans or Joplin… I still have my home intact,and we’re okay.