Last Monday, August 10, a storm called a derecho moved through central Iowa hitting the southeast areas hard! All we got was needed rain which we were so thankful for but it sounds terrible about 150 miles southeast of us. Honestly, our news talked about Marshalltown but not much more so we had been unaware of the widespread power outages and the damages. Kayla has been without power and internet for several days and I kept wondering why she didn’t respond to my emails. Now I know. I had no idea until I read her mom’s post about taking the generators to her son and other relatives. And the many cars lined up at the gas stations was shocking as well. Read Jo’s Blog post here.
I’ve been busy preparing music for a funeral tomorrow of a beloved church member – she was my sponsor 40 years ago when I joined my church. Margaret and I have practiced many hours getting it perfect and lasting exactly 30 minutes. Quite stressful.
I’ll close with the Dirty Dozen quilts up to the present and then I’m hitting the lawnmower.
Please let me know if your quilt hasn’t posted – you may have to resend to me.
It’s heartbreaking to hear about all the storm damage. Crops, homes, cars devastated.
On the bright side…all the dd’s getting done is truly fun to see. Thanks to all who send Mary pictures.
The storm and crop damage is devastating. Cedar Rapids has over 80% of all properties damaged. Marshalltown is bad. Bear in mind these towns have barely recovered from previous natural disasters.
One of my cousins is a lineman and is working to get power back up in the areas hit by the storm. The pictures he’s posted are pretty dramatic. I feel so bad for the farmers who were impacted. The crops were looking so good this year and in an instant they are gone.
Karla T., I love your Bear Paw—always one of my favorite blocks!!
I love the small quilt with the flower buttons. While I admire the big bed quilts, I enjoy seeing the small quilts as they are doable for me to get finished.
It was so shocking to read Jo’s post about the damage. We had some wind in Indiana but hadn’t heard how severe it was there. Everyone is so wrapped up in election and Covid news that we hadn’t heard how bad it was. Keeping them in my prayers but wish there were more I could do.
Linn County among others was devastated. The damage to fields, trees, roofs, power poles etc that we saw on our way south on highway 13 to Mount Vernon to help our daughter and family was overwhelming. It will be a long recovery process. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
I am so sorry to hear about Margaret. You certainly did spend a lot of time preparing music with her. I hope there is someone else that plays the organ so you have accompaniment on the piano.
I follow a shop in Bondurant IA that is near the intersection of I-35 and I-80 NE of Des Moines and they don’t have power and a lot of internet down because of cable lines down. She posted their town is full of trees down. I think the storm stretched over to Chicago even. 2020 just keeps the hits coming!
Amy M – you misunderstood me – Hilda died and Margaret and I are practicing hard for the funeral since Hilda was choir director for many years! She was always a music supporter as well as Margaret’s aunt. Sorry I didn’t make that very clear.
I headed to my basement that day when the emergency weather warning came in my phone. I was without power for only 2 hours. Learned the next day that there were 2 EF0 tornadoes within 5-10 miles of me. That’s too close!!
I too, was sorry to hear about the storms and all the crop loss in Iowa. Jo’s blog showed what a struggle it is for everyone in the area.
Karla T. , your quilt is beautiful (as are all the other finishes). Great combination of pattern and colors. Thanks for sending the picture in to Mary to post.
Very sad to see the damage on news and to read about it here today. Keeping all in my prayers. We have been under red flag warnings up here in Idaho. Was 54o this morning; doubt my altitude gets to 78o today.
Thanks for the pictures posted today, Mary…and to those who sent them.
Launa – are the red flag warnings because of possible fire?
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend & mentor.
I know you will miss her, find comfort in your memories of time spent together.
My sympathies on the loss of your friend. It is never easy. Yes, we too didn’t realize the extent of the damage. We still need rain, but I am glad that we didn’t a storm. Hugs, Mary.
I have seen some of the video’s, it looks absolutely awful. It will have a longer effect than people realize. We are south central MN so very thankful it did not reach us. Our crops look wonderful. I love seeing all the finished quilts. I work at a clinic and this COVID stuff needs to go away, people are being very short tempered and self centered. I have not been able to do my quilting just because I am emotionally spent by the time I get to my car and drive home. IT is SUCH a HUGE BLESSING to see what others are working on and all the different colors.
Thanks for being the highlight of my day!
Donna Wyatt – and are you seeing quite a number of positive cases near you? I don’t know anyone personally who is sick but I know the county numbers keep going up!
Not alot of cases, but they are out there in the community.
So sorry to hear of your friends’ passing. Will be praying for you tomorrow. I am sure it will go well.
I came back to MN on Friday, so I missed the storm Monday. My cousin’s home had a at least one tree go through the roof, and many branches down. They have huge old trees all around the house, so glad more didn’t go down. No windows broke, thank goodness. She is getting ready to sell and now has to deal with all of the repairs from this. She stood in her shower while it went through. I was going to go back down this week..I will be waiting for a bit now. She still doesn’t have power and doesn’t know when it will come. She was able to stay at a friends in Eldora last night, they are about 15 miles north of Liscomb. Their power was out for a couple of hours that is all. They said WM will open tomorrow. The damage in Marshalltown seems to be worse than the tornado of 2 years ago and more widespread. The pictures Jo had posted yesterday didn’t download so I couldn’t see what she posted. Hope I can go back next week, a couple of us were going to get together and sew!!
Beryl in Owatonna – sounds like your cousin needs your help!
Sorry for the passing of Hilda. I am sure the music will be lovely.
The finished quilts are amazing; so beautiful!
Hi Mary and all the friends of the blog. Sorry Mary for the loss of your friend.
I live 10 miles East of Marion and the storm was terrible. High winds, 2 3/4 inches of rain in less than an hour. At the worst was that it lasted for at least forty minutes. We lost a few trees and lost of limbs and leaves over all the property. We were without power for 25 hours. Today we went into my sisters who lives in Cedar Rapids. They had damage to over 40 trees. Thankfully no damage to the house or other buildings. We took a large tree down today that look like it might damage the house if it fell. We’re going back tomorrow to help cut limbs that are hung up in trees along the driveway. It will take a long time to clean up this mess.
Rita in Iowa – oh, thank goodness you’re close enough to lend a hand to your sis. Everybody needs help and cleanup will take a long time. We’re all thinking of those of you impacted by the storm!
Cedar Rapids looks like a bomb hit it. We have two trees on our house and six large trees uprooted. We are very lucky they didn’t go through our house. The governor is coming tomorrow. They want FEMA and National Guard to help. Power just came on a few minutes ago. I’m going to take a shower!!!!
Jackie – we’re all thinking of you guys and your enormous cleanup!
Thanks Mary. So sorry about Hilda. We can replace trees but not people. You have my deepest sympathy. Take care.
Jackie
Jackie – the news is finally covering CR and it looks awful – honestly it will take years to move all the huge trees and debris! Just a side note – my Jackie is almost completely deaf and her fur is beginning to look “old” – I imagine I’ll walk into the shop some morning to find her dead. If so, she’s led a charmed life!
Wind storms are just horrible to experience. The remnants of the last hurricane came up the eastern states and tore trees down so they are still trying to restore power to areas downstate. Utility crews are trying to remove trees to even get to the wires and the pictures still look like a war zone so I know what you are all going through out there too. 2020 can’t leave soon enough for all the havoc it’s been for so many people. We will be thinking of you tomorrow Mary as you say goodbye to a dear friend. It gets harder as we think of our own years left on this earth. The quilt pictures sure are a joy to all of us who admire them and love seeing what your readers sew.
Kathy in western NY – because of Hilda I have played at my church for almost 40 years. We spent many of those years with her as the choir director and me as the accompanist – she was a dear soul and so ready to move to Heaven!
Mary so sorry for your loss. We all will follow one day. It is promised.
The town I live in is about 20 miles north of the line where the damage starts. My sister lives abit south of Marshalltown in the country. Her house was hit on the north and the south sides by big old oak and hickory( I think) trees. So sad all the trees on her place are down.
My daughter drove from southern Iowa to bring her an lp generator on Mon. after the storm.
Today I was reading a doll making friends posts— they were hit very hard. Lost their home. I texted her to see if she needed a generator. They did and I had one Tom only ever used once– that I remember in the shop. They came for it. I could never have lifted it into the pickup. So glad to be able to help a little. Hope Jeff can sleep tonight —he is on a c-pap machine and has not been able to sleep.
I was reading up on this type of storm it is like a hurricane on land.
Some places had 126 miles an hour registered winds. Crops are just gone—— laying flat. I am so grateful no one was hurt. So sad for all who have to suffer this. 2020 is really one for the history books. In the future people will look back on this year as one of many many trials, sufferings and tribulations.
Judith – a couple years ago we got a pretty bad thunderstorm with hail and wind that flattened the corn around us – it was awful. Lots of farmers chopped what they could for sileage. It wasn’t our turn this time. But I certainly feel sorry for your sister and others who got hit badly.
Mary,
My condolences to you on the passing of Hilda.
As you know I used to live very close to Marshalltown. I just received some pictures gr the family that rented our farmland. They lost a cow barn and a huge machine shed plus many trees down. The buildings are just piles of wood. My daughter who lives about 20 miles West had the electrical wires ripped fr the house, they lost several big old trees. My grandson fracture his kneecap while cleaning up storm debris. The hospitals we’re running on emergency generators and the ER was packed he had to wait almost 6 hours to be seen. The next day was his 18th birthday, not a fun way to celebrate that milestone. They lost their cabana and their fence also but other than Alex they are all good.
Ginny – oh my goodness!!! I did think of you being in that area before you moved but I simply forgot about Gina. Poor Alex! Oh, it’s a mess and I’ve only seen the pictures and the news – can’t imagine what it looks like in person!!!! We are so thankful we weren’t hit! How’s Tess doing?
Praying and thinking of you today, Mary. You are a blessing!!
I’m going to order your Rug Book & Disk. I had a list going of several of your patterns.
Also praying for the Ground Hurricane folks who have an incredible amount of work ahead of them.
Your friend is HOME! I hope my parents have met her already. Gloria
Gloria Gleason – yes, she is home and the funeral was not at all sad – the message was “Wait” – she had wanted to go for a long time being 95 years old but the Lord said “wait” – He knew the perfect time.