Hail storm

We had the worst hail storm tonight I've ever experienced.  I pity any creature that didn't have shelter.  It was bad, and it lasted longer than the ones I've experienced before.  It looked like the balls of ice were being hurled from the northwest.  I was surprised at how much was on the covered porch.  The open deck was worse.  The hail was obliterating the plastic rain buckets.  Leaves were being torn off the magnolia.  The air smelled like pine rosin.

The porch--

The deck--



 

Golf ball size--

 

It was horrible sounding as it pelted the roof.  I opened the door a smidgen to grab a few pieces off the deck when the storm was just starting.  I got hit in the nose.  I think it was a ricochet and not a direct hit.  My husband said that was what I get for sticking my nose where it didn't belong.  My son added, "Yep, you'll catch 'hail' for it."

I glanced at some of pictures sent in to the local TV station.  One picture was of even larger sized hail, and one was of an odd-shaped piece that had lots of projections on it.  I'm sure there was lots of damage.
https://twitter.com/MissMeryn/status/585989236672876545/photo/1
https://twitter.com/WRALJulia/status/585987105370832896/photo/1


 

'Sir Winston Churchill' daffodil

The very cold morning that we had in late March set back some of the daffodils, but the clump of Sir Winston Churchill daffodils by the end of the sidewalk fared a little better.  Perhaps the heat retained by the house and sidewalk helped.  They are looking absolutely lovely.  They are especially pretty in the evening when the creamy color stands out in the fading daylight.  They are fragrant, too.  Definitely a winner in my book.

Garden peas planted

The window for planting garden peas here in central NC ends March 31, but I took a chance on planting some heat tolerant 'Wando' peas a week late.  I used the 4' x 4' area that I had used for sweet potatoes last summer.  By planting throughout the bed, I have roughly 32 linear feet of peas.  (Yes, I used that broken, three-tined fork to turn over the soil.)  Having something planted gives me a feeling of satisfaction amid the overwhelming feelings of trying to stay ahead of the rest of the yard work.

 

 

Grow, peas, grow!

 

Raised for our justification

Jesus  was delivered to die for our offences and raised again for our justification (from Romans 4:24, 25).

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

 

 

 

 

Christ the Lord is Risen Today
by

Charles Wesley

 

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

2. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

5. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

6. King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

 

 

 

 

 

Almost full moon

Tonight's moon just moments before being obscured by clouds.

 

 

 

 

Marcel Ledbetter school of engineering

I enlisted some taller help to get a few sycamore limbs that I couldn't reach.  Of course the taller help had some accoutrements for the job, one of which was a length of paracord.  If you've ever heard Jerry Clower tell of how Marcel Ledbetter tried to lower a piano from a second story window with a block and tackle, or if you've ever seen The Red Green Show "Handyman Corner," you probably get the idea.  My job was to stand on the ground and pull the limb away with the paracord so that it wouldn't knock the taller help off the ladder.  Of course, one time, the taller help decided to tie the paracord to the saw, so we could work it like a two-man saw.  I wondered if I was far enough to be clear of the limb.  I had the option of running backward.  Fortunately the taller help reminded me if I needed to run in that instance, I should DROP the paracord.  I retorted he COULD drop the saw if I did not remember to drop the paracord.  (It's very important to remember if your cord is tied to a saw that the precariously balanced help is holding or if your cord is tied to a limb that you want to pull away from the precariously balanced help.) 
We managed to get it done without injuring ourselves. 
Here is the taller help stringing up the paracord.

 

Incidentally, the taller help suggested I not sing "The Eerie Canal" so fast when trying to make a rhythm for a two-man saw.



New vegetation brings joy and alarm

This time of year there are flowers galore, and every day brings the new swelling of bud tips.  The beauty of the flowers is such a pleasure.  On the other hand, I am alarmed to see how quickly the honeysuckle vines have leafed out.  They have a plan to take over the world and are losing no time getting started.  The battle continues.

The golden bells are nonpareil...

 

 The veronica 'Georgia Blue' is striking...

 

The redbud is elegant...

 

The honeysuckle is frightening...

 

Besides the war with honeysuckle and English ivy,

 

I have awaiting me some trimmings that need burning

 

 and an asparagus bed that needs weeding.

 

 Now who's feeling blue?