More Tree's

OK, I'd like to promise you that this would be the last post about trees but I don't like to make promises I can't keep.

Today was to be my bread making, Thanksgiving preparing, day of bliss. But instead I spent the morning and part of the early afternoon being completely panicked and seriously contemplated drinking the two 24 ounce cans of Budweiser that I bought to soak my turkey in (see November 2005 archives).

The weather this morning was cold and rainy and I had looked at the online weather report early this morning to see how soggy the day would be. NO where did it mention that there might be accompanying winds that, given the chance, would gust to a quick and tornadic like way and take out 7-8 trees in our yard. One tree was quite big and it was very, very scary.

Let me tell you why.

In our back yard their has been a tree that has been dead and the Mister has been concerned for some time regarding this tree. So when the tree guys were chopping down trees next door on Monday I asked if he would look at that tree (and one in the front that died during the drought this summer). Now I live in an area that is known for it's ridiculously tall pine trees. Like I would liken it to going to New York city after only seeing it in picture...You know the buildings are tall but when you get there you realize that they are in fact so much taller than you could have even imagined.

The trees around my house are like that. They are ridiculously tall.

So this tree in the yard is a concern but I had just talked to the tree guy and it was going to be handled.

Let's just say that this storm this morning just saved my a hundred bucks.

But here is the REALLY scary thing that makes me sick to think about even 6 hours later. Normally The Boy gets up in the morning and takes Kona out to "do her thing" before we leave for school. But it was a soaker of a rain at the usual time so I had him wait. Around 10:15 I asked him to go ahead and take her out since the rain had slowed to a slow drizzle. He took her out, hung up the leash, and ran up stairs to continue playing in his room and the winds suddenly started to pound against the house and I looked out the office window and saw trees bending at a very odd angle while the leaves and debris were being blown like so many socks in my dryer.

At this point The Boy has reached the top of the stairs and is yelling "Mom trees are falling down stairs" and he races back down stairs with eyes the size of saucers.

Then the power went out.

The huge dead tree snapped and fell right where The Boy and Kona had been standing not three minutes before it toppled.

I began to frantically call people on my cell phone trying to find somewhere to go....preferably some place safe from trees. But the power was out and I didn't know how to raise the electric garage door.

So I called my parents in AZ so they could panic with me. But unfortunately I hadn't had my cell phone plugged in and I was running out of juice. Not a good thing if you suddenly find yourself hunkering down in the hall bathroom with a tree as a new fixture.

So we stayed in downstairs and prayed that the wind would go away.

The power didn't come back on until almost 2.

The good thing is that my turkey is happily sitting in it's beer brine bath and the bread has all been baked off and all is ready for our day of fun, feast, and family tomorrow... Where we will all give thanks that my sweet Boy is not a pancake.

God's Blessings to each of you and your families as you celebrate tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving!

La Vida Dulce!