Powerful Stuff!

  The storm grumbled for quite a while off north of us before descending on the Bayou in a rage!  The winds picked up, the rains came and the thunder rolled.  It was the lightning, however, that was the star of the show.  One strike after another pounded just out of close range as my son, Michael, and I sat at the supper table.  I had decided to cook early just in case the storm knocked out the power.  Then, within just a couple of minutes....Wham!  Wham!  Wham!  Three strikes close enough that the Little Bayou House actually shook with the force.  The last of the three was so close that it concerned me a bit as I was afraid that the lightning might have struck the new shed.  From the back door, I could smell pine sap.  Well, I guess at least I knew what to look for when went searching for the poor tree that was zapped.

  Sure enough, directly behind the shed in a group of three trees, a tall pine was scarred from top to bottom.  The lightning bolt had cut a wide slash winding around the tree. At some levels, it looked as if some giant rodent had gnawed at the bark of the tree.  The slash oozed with sap filling the air with the thick scent of pine.  Wow!  I am sure glad that I was safe inside during this storm! The sheer power behind the lightning bolts is mind-boggling.

  As I sit writing this, I can hear the storm as it moves out over the Gulf but, also, hear another in the distance coming our way. These late afternoon storms powered by the heat and humidity make for interesting times.  As darkness starts to envelop the Bayou, I prepare myself for another evening of dazzling light shows.  I love living on my Bayou!