The Weather in Minnesota

                                                                                                                  Photo by RavenHawk

Drought, brown crunchy grass, and dying newly planted baby trees - now wind, rain, and hail.  Welcome to the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota, where temperatures can jump easily 50 degrees from one day to the next. This area experienced some significant damage due to high winds and large hail recently, but the southern part of the state of Minnesota is flooding(water runs down -right?). They did lose 22 lives thus far in the flood area. The top rainfall in 24 hours was 10 inches previously and we hit 15 inches in some areas. There are thus far 4200 homes affected and most of those don't have flood insurance. since they are not in a designated flood plain.

Our poor Governor Pawlenty, as this follows our 35W Bridge collapse. 

Here at Hearts and Pines Ranch, we lost a few trees and the small highest roof on our barn.  It could have been much worse , but  our tornado of 2001 didn't leave that much to blow down. No wounded animals or people this time, so all is well - thanks for all those inquiries into our status - you guys are great!

I did a previous blog on that  tornado entitled Tornado Season - Are You Ready?

that should be checked out as the hurricane season that is still upon us, also can spin off tornadoes . Our state of Minnesota gets its share of Tornadoes, although no Hurricane would ever get this far.

                 All of a sudden in Brainerd, small white cars that look like dimpled golf balls are  the norm! 

          photo by rickswanson

photo by philstoltzfus 

                                We get the influx of fly by night contractors - who just want to help!!!                   

                                                                     photo by johnthomas