April 16, 2013

Beer Barrels in Heaven...


We had our first Thunder Boomer of the season last week.  The kind that shakes the house with each explosion of thunder. The kind that makes you glad for those rubber-soled sneakers you are wearing considering the wicked lightening strikes.  At least I'm grounded, right?  The kind where the dogs and kids (and sometimes moi) cower in the corner.  The kind where dad would make us unplug all the appliances, while telling us...

 "What are you afraid of?  That's just Grandpop Hagenmeyer rolling beer barrels up in  heaven."



"Prost"
Hagenmeyer Brothers - Heidenheim, Germany
(Grandpop Hagenmeyer, far left)


Which as a little kid totally confused me.  I might have only been in kindergarten while living outside  Washington, D.C....BUT, I darn well knew Grandpop Hagenmeyer was living up in Philly.  And we ALL know Philly ain't no heaven regardless of what we profess.  But I knew better than to question my dad.  The story always stuck in my mind and before I knew it, I was telling my own Things the same story when a big Thunder Boomer made it's way thru our 'hood. 






As scary as those storms are, there is something about them that seems to clean the Earth.  Wash away it's grit.  The next morning the sun always seems brighter than usual.  The world literally shines and sparkles.  The Thunder Boomer last week did just that, gave the Earth a good power washing.









By the next morning when the sun came out...Spring had literally burst forth.  And I was living in a disco ball.








Thanks Grandpop.  Prost!  Keep on rollin' those barrels.


--Kathy

linked to:  Tuesdays Around the WorldTones on TuesdayOur World TuesdaySweet Shot Tuesday52 Weeks of HappinessTuesday MuseInspired Tuesday



37 comments:

  1. How cool! Love the old pics!! I'm waiting for our first thunder boomer!

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    1. Thanks Tamar...I have a bunch of old family photos that I have been working on to restore. This is one of them. They are true treasures to have.

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  2. wonderful shine, color and sparkle. some new days genuinely feel that way.

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  3. beautiful bokeh!! and i agree wholeheartedly... the days after a storm are always more blue, more shiny, more... lovely. :)
    xo

    patty@findingserendipity.com

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  4. Too cute and I do love that old shot you have! Aren't those so great!?? That blue flower almost looks as if it is a bluebonnet, although I can see for sure it isn't. What kind of flower is that?? Lovely shade

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  5. We love a good rain and thunderstorm. It's that darned lightening that can put the fear in ya.

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  6. Love those shots - the bokeh is amazing!
    We've had a few thunder boomers already, but the temps are still toocold to bring forth the spring bounty. I think we're gonna roll straight into summer....

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  7. I detest lightening but I agree that and the rain sure do make the earth smell clean again.

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  8. I was told bowling pins! That next to last image blew my socks off!

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  9. Love the grape hyacinth, they are such vivid colours

    Mollyxxx

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  10. Such gorgeous photos. I have to agree that the rain washes away the earths grim. And it smells so good..

    Hugs~

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  11. Wow!Your pictures are stunning!!!

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  12. Absolutely love your analogies. We've had some wikked thunder boomers here lately too. Lovely spring blossoms to soften the blows.
    Visiting from Tuesday Muse.

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  13. Oh wow!!! This is so gorgeous!!! I love having huge thunder boomers, and to have Spring appear out of thin air would be just wonderful right now. These are so gorgeous I guarantee this will be featured on Inspired Tuesday next week :)

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  14. Great story.
    A Spring thunderstorm does seem to clean the air. We could use some of that, here in the Texas Hill Country.

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  15. That is some pretty big hail! We were always told that St. Peter was rolling bowling balls in Heaven! :)

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  16. Oh boy - you've had all kinds of weather! Beautiful Pictures, especially the bokeh at the grass & the Deep, blue flowers!

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  17. I love the Hagenmeyer Brüder and their wonderful old "Bierbembel" . A wonderful picture. Ahh and spring finally arrived here too!

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  18. Love that old pic, and the others too! :-)

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  19. Cute story and amazing photos! Perhaps your Dad meant HIS Grandpop, not yours! :-)

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  20. What a great old photo--such a treasure. I love a good thunderstorm and we had our first one too last week. I'm sure it was "your" storm first. ;) My Mom used to tell us that "God was bowling" which to me was not such a comforting thought. What if he threw a gutter ball? Would it fall to earth and hit us on the head? But my Dad used to hold me up in his arms when I was very small and show me the lightning so that I wouldn't be scared. Thank you, Dad.

    I love the beer barrel explanation!

    www.rickandlynne.com/lynne

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  21. It's amazing how rain can wake up nature!

    Ranch Wife Robyn

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  22. It is true how much cleaner things are after a good, hard rain. Right as rain! speaking of which, we are getting a gully washer as I type. Beautiful flowers and nice disco ball effect.

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  23. Love the story! If the grape hyacinths are any example, the storm brought a beautiful spring to your area. We don't often get thunderstorms like that in the part of Oregon we're originally from, but we sure do here in Florida...I won't say I'm really scared, but they keep me awake, that's for sure!

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  24. I agree, the world looks so beautiful after a rain!

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  25. What vibrant, fresh spring colors! I love the old photo of your grandfather. What a treasure!

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  26. Love these! You captured some true beauty! I love a gentle thunderstorm, especially while sleeping.

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  27. Both story, plus spring, plus incredible bokeh gloriousness. Thanks, Renee.

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  28. Wow - what gorgeous dazzling shots!

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  29. Beautiful beautiful pictures. Thats the beauty of Spring!
    -Reshama
    www.stackingbooks.com

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  30. This was a fun read from start to finish. It is still sleeting/raining here in Wisconsin...it better bring May flowers ASAP!

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  31. We had one of those storms this afternoon and the dogs were barking at every clap. :) Lovely images!

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  32. What gorgeous photos! I love the detail in the purple flower shot and the light in the last two. Thank you for sharing and for linking up with Tones on Tuesday!

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  33. These are all beautiful shots!! :)

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