July 4, 2011
On the 4th of July it was sunny and clear. Michael and I had been working in the yard most of the day. Around 3:30 a few clouds had formed blocking the sun, it was nice. We cleaned up what we were working on because we had plans to go to some friends house for a BBQ and swimming. Michael finished putting tools in the shed and went to take a shower about 3:45. The wind picked up quite a bit and the clouds completely covered the sky and turned black. The clouds split open and rain DUMPED. Michael got out of the shower and I realized the windows were down in the cars. It had only been raining for 5 minutes when Michael closed the windows, but there was water dripping from the ceiling in both cars. They were completely soaked. The wind was so strong it was blowing things across our yard, trash cans, patio chairs, everything that wasn't super heavy! After our last strong wind and trampoline problem Michael filled five 5 gallon buckets with cement and tied them to the frame of the trampoline
adding 450 lbs. or it probably would have blown away too! We watched from the windows as a huge section of our fence blew down into the neighbors yard, knocking down a chain link fence they had up. We saw two HUGE branches break off the tree behind our back wall and blow away. We lost two sections of fence in the front as well as the one in back. The kids were scared, and I must admit, I was nervous, I have never experienced anything like that in my life, it was so CRAZY! The rain and wind lasted about 10 minutes and then it just stopped. It was the craziest thing! At our friends house 20 minutes south of us it was clear as a bell. As we drove through Rosamond it seriously looked like a hurricane had hit. Enormous trees had been completely uprooted. Huge branches and leaves littered the roads. There were several trampolines that had blown over fences, and were completely destroyed. Fences were down all over the neighborhood. The power was out too. It was the strangest weather I have ever experienced! Our backyard was underwater after 10 minutes of downpour and the next day it was a huge mud hole, so the kids played in it for a while. We made it to the Knapp's house and had a great time swimming and eating and visiting. We also had a few small fireworks for entertainment. Thanks Ryan and Krista - we had a blast!
