No Hail Here

So far, this area has been lucky. Earlier this afternoon, a hail storm dropped 6 to 12 inches of hail north of Denver, but south of Boulder and Niwot. The hail ranged in size from pea gravel up to the size of regulation baseballs. There is a great deal of damage to vehicles, homes, trees, gardens, and livestock. Roof tiles were broken and shutters ripped off, and siding has been holed; windows of cars and trucks are gone, and if a convertible or soft-top Jeep was parked outside, the tops are now rags and the interiors are filled with hail; trees and gardens have been stripped and flattened; newborn livestock have lost their lives. Total estimates of loss will not be available for 2 weeks or so. So, of course, my mind goes to wildlife - birds and nests, ducklings and goslings, squirrels, rabbits... The wild animal world, as well as livestock, is once again paying it's tribute and homage to Mother Nature. - Unfortunately, the flora and fauna along our coasts are paying with their lives for man's greed for fossil fuels, dying from the BP oil spill... and not being a kill from natural occurrences.