Super Outbreak 2 - wrap up.

(Photo right: Stafford, VA)

Not since the 1974 Super Outbreak have we seen such a violent tornadic outbreak in the US. In the past several days, over 160 tornadoes have touched down in multiple states in the Southeast, killing as many as 249 known people. Many are still missing or unaccounted for. It is a rarity to have such an outbreak in the DMV region, though we have had strong tornadoes in the past. Nine years ago today, an F4 tornado ravaged Charles County, and La Plata, MD in particular. But to have this many funnel clouds and Doppler indicated tornadoes, as well as spotted tornadoes on the ground is very much out of the ordinary.

The South also suffered horrific damage, including a horrific F5 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama. The Capital Weather Gang wrote a good summary piece about how this outbreak happened, and in their post, you can watch incredible footage of live news coverage from downtown Tuscaloosa as the monster storm approaches. Click HERE to read the article and see the video. And to step back and really look at the big picture on a human scale, you should look at this link of photos from the devastation. Click HERE. The photos bring tears to my eyes.

Below are several photos that I have found of tornadoes throughout the DMV region from yesterday. After this week's devastating and too close for comfort storms, my hope is that everyone develops a tornado plan for themselves and their family, in case you have not already done so. After 249 deaths, 8 of which occurred in Virginia, I really hope you do. Stay aware and stay safe.

SPOTSYLVANIA/STAFFORD VA

DUMFRIES, VA

CLINTON, MD

ANDREWS AIRFORCE BASE

You can follow your local DMV weather at my links to the side, Weather.com, Capital Weather Gang, or WTOP News. Tornado season is just beginning. Have a plan of action for you and your family.

xoxo
SGS

UPDATE: The death toll has risen to 272 and counting. This now ranks as the 2nd deadliest outbreak in the past 50 years.

Wyoming Sideway Tornado - AMAZING VIDEO!

The only glimpse of the inside of a tornado ever caught on film. Amazing stuff.

Candles By Stephen in your home...

Here is a picture that my Mom sent me tonight. This is a picture of her table already set for Mother's Day dinner tomorrow. I love how she used the green cloth napkins and the white linen table cloth with her Mother's Day gift (the May candle) as a centerpiece. I also love the Mother of Pearl base that ties it all in.
And with this photo, I thought of something fun to try to do. Those of you who have purchased Candles By Stephen and have them in your home, send in photos of how they are displayed. We will have a vote in poll and the winning photo's display will win 6 June candle tarts or floating candles (winner's choice).
So those of you who have purchased my candles, start sending in your photos! E-mail them to candlesbystephen@yahoo.com

I would love to see them in your homes!

Stephen, Buddha, and the Tent Worm Trail

I fortunately had the day mainly off today, and I got the pug harnessed up and took him on an expedition of sorts. While on our walk about a week ago, we found a location in Fairlington where I noticed the presence of Tent Worms in abundance. I thought that since it was such a nice day, we'd go investigate with the camera.









We meandered down through the lovely green freshness of the path. Passing gorgeous azaleas in bloom and Irises of many hues. Birds were singing, butterflies were on wing and the sky was baby blue. The sun was positively glowing, shining its light through the freshly sprouted tree leaves and lighting them up with its beams.
We started down a walking path that runs near a small forest and behind a little section of houses in Fairlington.











Well, almost immediately after taking this path, Buddha, seeing the "No Dumping" sign on our way,got down to business. Buddha has a great disdain for authority.










I told him and myself out loud that we had to be very careful and watch our step, as we didn't want to step on any of the little woolly worms. He of course didn't know what the heck I was talking about. And almost immediately after I said it, I felt the sickening squash beneath my feet of a poor little woolly worm gone home to Jesus!
UGHHHH! I cursed to the oak trees above!
I hate taking the life of a poor little caterpillar, even granted that en mass they can destroy acres of trees. They don't do it maliciously. They don't have some master mogul Caterpillar laughing in a leather easy chair and smoking Cuban cigars plotting out how they are going to strip this forest and put up "Tent Worm Town" and sell Tent Worm tee shirts and Bobble Head Tommy the Tent Worms.
No.
They don't really think that way.
They probably think only on a base level.
They are just hungry.
I surveyed the sidewalk stretching out ahead of me and observed several of them ahead, and made note to myself to watch my step.
















When you take a close up look at them, they really are kind of beautiful in an odd way. The patterns on their little bodies are intricate and interesting. And while I am a little loathe to see any insect gathering in large groups, I started thinking of this path as Tent Worm Trail. They all were very busy and on their way to somewhere.
After some research on my own, it turns out that they build their little tents in the tree with many different rooms and layers. The tent always faces the side of the tree that gets the most exposure to the sun. They leave their tents in the mornings to spread out and feed. They scatter in all different directions and find a tree to feed on. And get this and tell me it isn't pretty amazing: The leave a pheromone trail on their way out to explore, and if they find a successful feeding area, they leave a different pheromone trail on the way back, letting others know it found a good place. Those caterpillars then follow that trail and so on.
Their digestive system can only work above 15 Celsius, so here is why they make many levels and rooms in their tents. Depending on how warm it is outside or cold, they adjust to another room. Every room holds a different temperature. They sit in these rooms and then their digestive system digests the leaves they just ate. Since their digestive system is only designed to handle young leaves, time is of the essence to them, and they immediately go back out and eat again after the food is all digested. They go back and forth like 3 or 4 times a day.
Me and Inspector Buddha saw an area in which they seemed pretty heavily grouped, which was a hand rail next to the sidewalk.

Here they are clearly following that pheromone trail, Inspector Buddha said.
No. He didn't.
I'm lying.
The dog doesn't talk.












Here is another shot of their equivalent to the Tent Worm Turnpike.

















Well, as much as this Science Expedition of ours was fun, Buddha was lagging behind at this point as the mid day temperature soared into the eighties, so we headed home, making sure that we watched our step. It was fun to research and observe something random today, and learn how intricate and truly amazing life can be down to it's simplest levels. Who knew all of that even happened.

So readers, I am glad to have passed on this truly useless knowledge to you, but above all else please watch your step out there!
Luv,
Steve and Inspector Buddha

Can you guess what I'm doing?

Look at the scene of mayhem in the Smith-Conner/Halbrook kitchen. Yes, the crazy candle maker has been slaving away over a hot stove most nights this past couple of weeks. Business is busy, which is good. But look at this crazy mess!






I have now expanded my equipment and gotten multiples of things that I need, but man, they are everywhere! I do clean up after myself when I am done so that Matt and Ryan don't dump me into one of my own vats of wax.
















But despite all of this mess, look at what my recent work has yielded! Here in this picture you see much of the May candles, some April candles, a beach themed candle, and a preview of the June candle. Can you guess which one it is?














I'll take you a little closer. How about now?














Yes, here is a preview of June's candle. I think I am going to make the white stripe near the top instead of the bottom, but the same colors will apply. It is scented with Sun Dried Cotton, Eqyptian Cotton, and Fresh Linen. It is clean and crisp and the perfect complement to the clean air of June.




And may I remind you all again that Mother's Day is the 11th, one week from tomorrow!
A Candles By Stephen purchase or subscription would make the perfect Mother's day gift. Imagine the joy of your Mother recieving a different scented and beautiful candle each month of the year starting with Mother's Day!
Visit CANDLES BY STEPHEN today and place your order before time runs out!

MAY CANLDES HAVE SPRUNG UP!

May is a month that I romanticize in my memory for many reasons. It is the first kiss of the summer to come. It is the promise of warmer weather. It is me cutting my neighbor's grass in Pennsylvania and the scent that lingered in the light air afterwards. It is having your windows open and your clothes out on the line and a soft and whispy breeze filtering in.
It is a month to shut your Television off and go for a walk. Shut your Air Conditioning off and open the windows. Turn your lights off and light candles.
Yes, everyone these days talks about going Green, and now you too can play another part in reducing your own carbon footprint. This month, go Green with May's Candles By Stephen!
These candles are scented with field grass, lychee, bamboo, and lotus. They represent the highest green that grass achieves as it buds anew, the highest green that leaves on trees first appear in.
These candle make perfect gifts for Mother's Day. So place your orders now at www.candlesbystephen.blogspot.com!

May Candle Preview...

The full photo shoot will take place tomorrow, but till then, here is the living room preview of the May Candle, that is scented with Bamboo Leaves, Fresh Cut Field Grass, Jade Lotus, and Lychee Nut. It's scent is refreshing and clean. It smells of fresh cut grass, and the emerging scents of summer to come. It's bright and pleasing colors will bring a highlight to the darkest corners of your home.
More tomorrow evening after the official photo shoot is completed.

Much love,
Steve

Tornado Safety

As we see from yesterday's tornadoes in Southern Virginia, and the many more that have passed through Maryland in the past several years, we are apparently getting more of these nasty storms than we used to. Global Warming? Maybe so.
At any rate, I was sent this by Arlington Alert today, I'm sure as a brush up for readiness in lieu of yesterday's Virginia tornadoes. So, I thought I would pass it on to you as a gentle and helpful reminder to those of you who have either never experienced a tornado, or think that they can't come here. They obviously can come here, or near to here. So refresh what you know or think you know and read this tip sheet below...
Tornado Safety Saves Lives
Know the difference between a tornado watch and warning:
Tornado watch: Tornadoes could develop in your area. Stay tuned to your local radio, TV or NOAA weather radio for further information and possible warnings. Be prepared to take cover if necessary.
Tornado warning: A tornado has been sighted or has been indicated by NWS Doppler radar. Warnings are given to individual counties or cities and include the tornado's location, direction and speed. If you are in or near its path, seek shelter immediately. A weather alert radio is an important part of being ready for an emergency. These radios will deliver weather watches and warnings from the local National Weather Service offices, 24 hours a day. They can be programmed to receive alerts for specific areas, and some have a tone alert that will activate a weather radio even if the audio is turned off.
If a Tornado is Headed Your Way: Shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building. Go to the building's basement. If there is no basement, move to a small, windowless interior room such as a closet, bathroom or interior hall on the lowest level of the building. Be sure to use the stairs to reach the lowest level, not an elevator. Protect your body from flying debris with a heavy blanket or pillows. Take precautions if you can not get to a substantial buildings.
If you are in:
Open buildings (shopping malls, gymnasiums or civic centers): Try to get into the restroom or an interior hallway. If there is no time to go anywhere else, protect yourself right where you are by getting up against something that will support or deflect falling debris. Protect your head by covering it with your arms.
Automobiles: Get out of your vehicle and try to find shelter inside a sturdy building. A culvert or ditch can provide shelter if a substantial building is not nearby — lie down flat and cover your head with your hands. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass or bridge, because debris could get blown under them or the structures themselves could be destroyed.
Outdoors: Try to find shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building. If no buildings are close, lie down flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
Mobile homes: Do not stay in mobile homes. You should leave immediately and seek shelter inside a nearby sturdy building or lie down in a ditch away from your home, covering your head with your hands. Mobile homes are extremely unsafe during tornadoes.

Catch Up

Here it is 1:34 AM and I am up and blogging. I am making candles and pondering the Pope's visit hindering my commute tomorrow morning. I also just got another job today! A fantastic day all in all!
I want to share with you some of the Fairlington Spring time offerings that I have had the time to take pictures of. Enjoy!