Wednesday 23 September 2009

Dust Storm!!


Toowoomba awoke to a distinctly hazy day this morning, as the leading edge of a huge dust storm began to roll in. When I first arrived at work, this was the view from the door of my office in two directions ...


This is looking out to the west and usually, we have a lovely clear view of the Bunya Mountains, but not today!


This is looking south to the end of our Village and usually is a view of rolling hills and cow pastures. Now ... these next photos were taken about an hour later when the dust storm was at its worst ...


This is the same view in the first photo - definitely not seeing mountains today!!


And this is the same view in the second photo. The dust was so thick that you could smell it in the air and the sunlight turned to an eerie orange, 'end-of-the-world' kind of glow.

About an hour after I took these photos, it was back to the intensity of the first two, but stayed that way right through the day, until this afternoon, the setting sun looked like this ...


And this ...


Very freaky!!

Apparently, the super dust storm was caused by a few things - we've had the driest winter on record, the hottest August on record and gale force winds started in South Australia and just kept blowing all that dust eastwards!! The weather man is telling us it will be clearer but still hazy for the next couple of days and asthmatics like me aren't going to be moving very far without Ventolin in our pockets. And I don't even want to THINK about how much of that dust has come into the house under windows and doors - I think there's enough dirt in the hallway to plant a vege patch! OK, maybe not, but it sure isn't fun to walk barefoot at the moment. SIGH! I guess that means the weekend will be spent spring cleaning - RATS!

The only upside of today's weird weather was that it kept me inside and I spent the afternoon in the sewing room putting some finishing touches on my Hug Swap items. I drew the lovely swap-mamma Jenny as my partner, so I can't show you any sneaky peeks or I'll spoil Jenny's surprise, but I promise to show you the mug mat and mug hug once they've arrived in Jenny's mailbox. Two things crossed off my "To Do" list, which is nice ... and two things ADDED to my OPAM finishes list! YAY!! Don't forget to update your sidebar lists, all you OPAM Challenge gals! Or if you're able to send me an email of you finish tally, that would be great too - it's my turn to do the end of month round up and prize draw, so I guess I'll have square eyes this time next week! :0)

And now ... I'm off to have a cup of tea to wash the dust out of my throat, I think! So, unless the dust storm is actually just a cover for aliens to invade, I'll catch up with you all again soon! Til next time,

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

12 comments:

Bec said...

Watching the dust during the day has been amazing. I recently read a story about a bad dust storm many years ago that lasted for a week or so, the family had to string ropes between the house and the buildings so the animals could be fed. I am sure I would have run out of rope!
It was very lovley to be inside today. *grin*

Wendyb said...

The dust storms reached North Queensland about 2pm today but never got the red intensity to them....just that eerie yukky grey glow that makes the sun look like an eclipse kind of colour! They say 75000 tonnes of dirt is being dumped every hour!!!!! There won't be any left from whence it came??!!!! Hope it clears quickly...and our noses and throats and lungs and .....!
XX ;o) Wendy B

May Britt said...

That is amazing. Duststorms. Here in Norway we have snowstorms but that is much more cleaner than your duststorms. I have seen photos of it on several aussi blogs and what amazes me is the colours.

Four O'Clock Quilt Company said...

That is just like here in Arizona.
It's so fine that it gets in the house and the windows are filthy from it. Living in the desert does have it's drawbacks, heat and duststorms! Yuck!
Jonelle

Chookyblue...... said...

Yuk..........

Sew Useful Designs said...

Wow Kris, I've never seen anything like it! Hope the dust doesn't get on to your gorgeous fabrics!!! That would be my top priority! he he he

It is very freaky looking isn't it... like Mars!

I'm looking forward to seeing your mug hug gifts! You're the best at giving bear hugs!!!

Vikki xoxo

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Wow... that dust storm traveled a long way. We had it here in Port Macquarie too. It was eerie alright.

Hope you are breathing easier today.
Take care.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

Dawn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dawn said...

Blogger Dawn said...

Hi Kris, so sorry I sneezed and sent you all that dust... he he ( I live in Adelaide S.A) I can't beleive I have never seen your blog before... I love it... I just grabbed a cuppa and read and read... and giggled and giggled till I nearly wet myself... he he.... Loved visiting and have added you to that 'LIST'.. LOl... wonderful and keep up the good work...

Gail McCormack said...

Hi Kris
I was wondering how things where going for you all up in NSW and Qld - no washing was hung out on the line yesterday for you I bet!! - must have been quite scary, I was interested to see your photos

hope everything has settle down now??

thanks also for your very thoughtful comment you left on my last blog post - interesting to hear thoughts from others

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Did any of that get into your house? We had to tape plastic over the bedroom window as hubby had chosen that morning to pull the window out!!
I hid in the sewing room covering all my lovelies. ;-)

Your Hug Swap items were posted today Kris-love!!! Are you sure you don't want to share some sneak peeks of mine.....???

julia said...

I'm speechless! I always thought such things were reserved for some Hollywood horror scenarios. I've gotten some goosebumps now...
Hope your asthma won't be too bad...
And I hope your swap goodies will arrive soon, you made me curious ;o)
Hugs, julia

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