A week ago, the temperature went from 60 F to 20 F overnight. There was a tornado watch in effect that night. At 4 am, I was awakened by the shrieking of the weather radio, which warned that a line of storms with wind in excess of 80 mph was headed our way.

The storms went south of us, and while there was a lot of damage, there were no injuries.

Later that morning I wound up the cuckoo clock and thought how lucky I am to have a charming little kitchen, a nice house and a cuckoo clock, all safe and sound.