If you follow me on Instagram, you already know this. We are mourning the loss of fully half of the huge maple tree that is right between the house and the corral. It happened in the late afternoon, when what we thought was the worst of the storm had left and winds kicked up.
They were some of the scariest winds I’ve ever experienced and even though they were only around for an hour or two, they did a lot of damage, the worst being the tree.
This was a huge tree and the limbs extend far beyond what you see in this picture. We are feeling numb this morning, trying to come to terms with this loss. There was a wind gust that was unlike anything we’ve ever seen, except for the microburst of a few years back, and I heard things falling on the porch (because I was in the den) and Don heard a crack from the back of the house. It wasn’t until we felt safe enough to go outside and look that we saw what had happened. The other half of the tree is still standing but we want to have an expert look at it to see if it’s secure. It also fell into another tree, so we have to examine that.
This will have to be removed professionally and that will cost money. We’ve already put in a call to a local company. There was apparently a lot of damage around here and our friends who live closer to the town center lost power. The positives – We never lost power. It didn’t hit the house (and it’s right next to the secret garden and could have slammed into the kitchen). We’re okay. Although I would have willingly traded losing power for the tree.
We went out and hugged the tree and told it how sorry we are that this happened. Some may shake their heads at that, but I know – and scientists know – that trees communicate with each other, that they feel things. It’s heartbreaking.
There’s also a lot of damage in the woods.
The last time I said this someone criticized me in a comment, but I will say it again: 2020 has been horrible. I believe I used the word ‘sucks’ last time, and I still maintain that. Yes, there are good things here and there and I always acknowledge them. I also express gratitude daily. But that doesn’t mean I’m Pollyanna. I’m not. This year has been terrible. We just found out a friend of ours is suffering from COVID. Don has Lyme. Over 155,000 people have died from the coronavirus. Our country is in a freefall. Corruption is rampant. We have no one leading us through this pandemic. On a personal level, we are both out of work and will be for many more months. We have no income coming in other than the basics and the basics don’t cover everything. I worry about money constantly and I also constantly work on trusting that all will be provided. But it’s a battle. Both Don and I practice gratitude; privately through meditation and prayer, publicly on this blog, and in our daily talks with each other.
And it’s all relative. There are people suffering far more than Don and me. Far more.
Nevertheless, this is our reality and that’s where we live.
Anyway, I have to get out there and do some cleanup.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
I’m so sorry for your tree loss and everything else you are dealing with..stay safe…keep on keeping on!
Thank you, Lovenna!
Stay safe.
I’m so sorry for the damage to your beautiful tree.
And you are right…..2020 sucks!
Stay safe
It does.
Thank you, Marilyn.
Stay safe!
Just because others are worse off than you does not mean you don’t have the right to be sad, to mourn, to worry.
Thank you, Brenda.
Stay safe.
I’m sorry someone felt the need to criticize you. Everyone’s feelings are valid, and this is surely a time for empathy, compassion, and kindness.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your magnificent tree, and the worry of the cost of removal.
Thank you for sharing your life, and your thoughts with us. And also (for me) a timeline. Your daily count is also mine, and you save me the keeping track chore👍
We are all getting very discouraged, and reading your very honest thoughts is like touching base with a friend.
Sending good thoughts to you and Don always, so hopefully you can feel some comfort in knowing so many of your followers/friends are doing the same.
Thank you for your kind words, Jan.
Stay safe!
This certainly has been a terrible year!! That doesn’t mean we don’t look for the good but in this dangerous time we have to realize that fact and be responsible not only for ourselves but the others around us. My husband is in a very high risk category for the virus and our two daughters teach school. I worry constantly about them and know that I’m not alone in these types of worries. We are stable financially and for that I’m eternally grateful. I can only imagine how that worry adds to the stress of these difficult times as there have been times when I’ve been in that same position. I’m so sorry about you tree. I believe they are one of God’s great creation and I hate to see them hurt. Sorry this is so long but your post really touched me. Just know it’s OK to let your feelings known, it’s your blog and your honesty is a large part of why we connect with you . Stay safe.😊
Thank you for your support, Janet.
Stay safe!
I’m truly sorry for the damage to your beautiful tree, but I’m relieved that you’re okay. When people say to me “things could be worse”, I say to them “but things could also be better”. You keep on doing you – you’re pretty okay in my opinion!
May the rest of your week be filled with some joy, a little peace and God’s blessings.
Thank you Nancy.
Stay safe!
I’m going to steal that response, Barbara! Thank you.
Stay safe!
The loss of your tree must have been very frightening for both of you. Thank goodness that your property and yourselves were unharmed. I’m glad you got to say goodbye to it and maybe take comfort that nature caused its demise not man.
You’re absolutely entitled to be fed up with this year, it’s been one blow after another. I just pray things start to look up for you soon.
I’ve just finished watching a TV drama series called Mrs America with Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly and Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem. There’s a host of other women such as Shirley Chisholm and Betty Freidan. It was excellent but my goodness American politics is complicated!
I really hope things change for the better for you in November.
The UK is far from perfect and is often referred to as ‘ The Nanny State’ but I’m constantly shocked how Americans are just left to cope without any government help.
Stay safe
We feel abandoned. Never, even with those presidents I wasn’t crazy about, did I ever feel that they would not be there during a crisis, that they would not be for there for us during a pandemic.
It’s appalling.
Thank you, Dee Dee. Stay safe!
It’s ok to feel bad, 2020 sucks, leadership is lacking, and America elected a ruinous ego-driven imbecile and we are all paying the consequences. I am grateful for what I have ….but I am not a fool and this could have been, and should have been handled better. Vote blue as though your life depends on it, because it does.
Yes, my husband just said last night, when we were speaking of this controversy on the mail-in ballots, that he now WOULD risk his life going to a polling place to vote because he could never stand by and not vote to get Trump OUT because Trump is ruining our lives and our country. What good is life anyway if we have to keep living under this tyranny?
You are so right about that, Vicki. Just this morning, my husband told me that if he had to go vote in a mask, face shield, gloves and hazmat suit…he would! And, I’ll be right there with him. Stay safe! ;)
We will.
Stay safe, Melissa.
Oh, Claudia. I’m so sorry about the tree; very glad it didn’t hurt you or the house. Yes, tree removal is expensive. I know what that is, to have to find an arborist (and pay their fee), trim huge trees, etc. How unsettling for you with everything else unsettling in indeed this year of 2020. I have a cousin dying in another state and I can’t visit him although his son and daughter-in-law are wishing I could, but there’s no way; I can’t risk my life traveling in this epidemic for which we have no control, no vaccine, not with my underlying/preexisting health issues. Our lives are on seemingly indefinite hold. I just wish hurt didn’t have to pile upon hurt.
I’m so sorry about your cousin, Vicki. Our lives are indeed on hold. We wait for a vaccine. We wait for people to wise up and do the right thing. And we wait to vote.
Stay safe!
hej, vicki …
prayers for your cousin, the rest of your family and you. may you all have peace.
kathy in iowa
So sorry you lost your tree. I have enjoyed your blog for about 6 months now. We also have a little bit of land, which we love but it is getting to be too much for us. You and I have similar ideas and practices showing thanks on the blessing we have. Hope you both stay healthy and have a peaceful day.
Yes, I often wonder how we’ll be able to keep up with this property in the near future. Worrisome.
Thank you, Cindy.
Stay safe.
I am truly sorry for the loss of your tree. I hope that the half that survived can still be viable. But…you certainly don’t need to apologize for loving your trees. I am also a tree lover…’hugger’ if you will, and any unnecessary loss of trees, is just devastating to me. I am thankful that you didn’t lose power and that you and Don are doing okay.
2020 does suck. There have been a few bright moments, but, it’s been a tough year for most, and for many different reasons. You bring a level of honesty to the blog world, that I so appreciate. You often write what I am thinking, and feeling, as do many of your readers I am sure. I hope that will never change.
So…keep on keeping on, as they say. We will, too. Stay safe!!
It is devastating and shocking and leaves such an emptiness.
Thanks so much for your support, Donna.
Stay safe.
That is so sad about your tree, but I’m happy your house and the two of you came through the storm alright. I can’t imagine how frightening it must be to have a hurricane barreling up the coast towards you. With climate change we have stronger and more destructive storms to look forward to in the future. And I completely agree with you. 2020 has sucked big time. We can only hope after Nov. 3rd we feel a bit better about this whole debacle of a year.
I hope so. But even that leaves me wary. They are trying every trick in the book to win.
Thank you, Kay.
Stay safe.
So sorry about your tree. Perhaps when it is removed you could have some pieces of
the trunk leveled and use them as side tables or sitting in your garden or along the trail.
We’ve already thought of that, Cindy. We’re thinking of something up in the woods.
Stay safe!
Seeing a magnificent tree like that fall hurts my heart. Oh, Claudia, I am so sorry. While I’m glad the house was all right, and you two as well, it still is heartbreaking to see something like this happen. Those of us who have lost trees to storms understand; I think others do too. It will be a costly removal. Hopefully it’s not in a spot where you have to do it right away.
Yes, this year sucks and anyone who says otherwise has their head in the sand. I won’t even get into politics because I’ll say things here that should probably be censored but the rest of it has been no picnic either. Too many have died or become ill and lives have changed in a way that doesn’t yet seem natural (will it ever seem natural not to hug?). And yes, I know I have much for which to be grateful and I am, and far better off than so many. But it still is a sucky year. I hope next year will be better.
I’m a hugger. My family is full of huggers. It seems completely wrong not to be able to hug. Thankfully, I can hug Don, but no more hugs with anyone other than Don? Unthinkable.
Stay safe, and thank you, Jeanie.
Just another thought, you have some many blogger friends who truly care about you and Don. And that, dear Claudia does not suck.
It is the best. And there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not grateful for my readers. xo
I understand. I have communicated and shared with trees all my life.
they KNOW. and for me… to lose one is like losing a friend.
and for people who chastise me for my thinking that way… well…
not knowing trees as loving sacred beings is their own loss.
stay safe dear Claudia. xo
It is their loss, indeed, Tammy.
Thank you for understanding.
Stay safe.
I understand your feelings. We are sitting pretty good. My husband goes grocery shopping and we have plenty. The weather has been sunny and warm. but I can’t listen to the news. It is depressing as @#$%!!! A lot of the shows on tv are violent. Constantly we are seeing the worst of humanity as well as the best.
Thank goodness for those glimmers of goodness and hope, Jan.
Thank you.
Stay safe.
I’m so sorry, Claudia. I fully feel your loss. Many years ago when we were on our acreage, we lived in the middle of the woods…….many fir trees. We had an awful wind storm and a lot of trees came down. I stood on our porch and cried. It’s not like there were no more trees but there were fewer trees. And I loved standing on the porch looking out at our forest. Now, we live in the desert and some days I really miss those trees. Thank God, we do have two trees in our yard…..besides all the cactus. Happy that you and Don are safe.
Thank you, Lynn. We are heartbroken, of course. And a little numb today.
Stay safe.
That poor tree, how terribly sad. I’m sorry for you all. It’s been such a trying year. You have a lot on your plate, it’s ok to be upset and angry and sad, but you have Don by your side so you’re a lucky woman too.
Take care x
I am. And I know that. But be that as it may, we’re both very, very sad today.
Thank you, Fiona.
Stay safe.
I totally understand your feelings of loss. 2 yrs ago we lost a tree that suffered a bad split into its trunk during a wind storm. We noticed it several weeks later and the village came (it was on the street right-of-way), and they determined it had to come down. The house we live in, at its “base” was built out of logs that my father in law harvested in the late 1930’s. It is sided over now, and many additions have happened, but the trees in our yard were planted by my in-laws. When that tree came down I cried for days. I still do when I think of it. We must never apologize for, or minimize our feelings about nature. It maintains our humanity. When we lose it we become beings like the idiot and those surrounding him.
2020 has been the suckiest of all sucky things ever. When people say we are all in this together, it is almost laughable. Some of us are in this Sea of Suck barely able to tread water, hanging onto a board we found floating by. Others go floating by on yachts sipping champagne and laughing at us. But what sucks the most is that almost all of this could have been prevented. Stupid is as stupid does.
Thank you for your wise words about nature, Chris. Just what I need to hear today.
Stay safe!
I’m sorry about your tree, but very thankful that it didn’t fall on your house and car. Also, you are right that 2020 is a very bad year!
Thank you, Joyce.
Stay safe!
Hi, friend. I remind you — say “adios, haters.”
Oh, I do.
xo
Hi Claudia, Oh girl, I am so sorry about your tree! Trees have a personality and the longer we live with them, the more we care for and about them. Another heartbreak to heap on the pile of 2020. Dang.
I’m thankful you, Don and your home did not get harmed.
Take care…
Kelly
Sorry for your loss, guys. We are still mourning an ancient tree that we lost a couple of years ago. One of the tallest we had. We heard it coming down and then saw it. Not a thing we could do. It narrowly missed the house, brushing just the back corner with some of the branches and taking some smaller trees with it. What a mess to clean up, but as we live at the bottom of a heavily wooded hill, we knew we had been lucky. Still, I love them all and it hurts to lose one. There are many more poised to do the same (and not miss the house!) so I worry, but still live here, hoping not to lose another. Glad you were not hurt—physically, anyway.
I’m so sorry, Claudia. You and Don were so kind to speak with the tree. We don’t know exactly how it will help, do we. We just know the positive energy shared is important. Thank you for taking the time to do so.
You are right, this year has been exceptionally hard. On top of that, not having a leader in charge of our country has made it all the worse. Some days it is downright overwhelming, some days are easier (to try) to ignore.
Hang in there you two, stay safe!
Hugs from California,
xo, Christy
As we were getting the torrential rains yesterday morning, I was hoping you would get some rain (not the torrential rain), because you mentioned how low the rivers were. I’m sorry you got the strong winds too, and that it caused the loss of you tree. After the rain finally stopped here, the wind moved in from the back of the storm. A couple of the wind gusts slammed into the side of my house, but thankfully there was no damage here. Other areas in the Delaware Valley weren’t so lucky.
Hang in there and stay healthy.
We got torrential rain, Denise.
Thank you, Denise.
Stay safe.
Thank you so much, Christy.
Stay safe!
I’m so sorry you lost that beautiful tree. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of it needed to come down. One of my sons is an arborist and lives on Maui. I am sure you realize the workload he has on his shoulders after Hurricane Douglas hit a week or two ago. He works for the county and Lana’i and Moloka’i are part of his territory. Lots of riding on ferries. But I am so glad your home was not damaged. This pandemic is taking every bit of strength and ingenuity we all can muster. You and Don will be in my prayers.
Thank you, Tana.
Stay safe!
I have not been responding to blogs. For quite awhile. Just can’t take it all in. However prayers to you dear one prayers. Brenda Burke
Thank you, Brenda.
Stay safe.
No argument here; 2020 has been a shit show and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight.
it won’t solve everything, but november 03, 2020 and january 21, 2021 are coming! :)
be safe! have hope! vote!
kathy in iowa
I agree.
Thanks, Sue.
Stay safe.
i am very sorry for you and don to lose part of that big, beautiful tree. i am glad you hugged and talked with the tree … for itself and for you (i do such things, too). i’m in absolute agreement with you about trees and all living things and so am sad for you all. hope the part of the tree that’s still standing is secure and can stay as long as you want and need it to.
i am very thankful that you, don and your home are safe and the power stayed on during such a scary time.
i hope don’s health continues to improve, that your friend heals quickly and you stay well. remember to take care of you, too!
doing okay here, all things considered.
hope you sleep better tonight.
stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy.
Stay safe!
Claudia, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful maple tree and I completely understand your feelings. When we built our home, there was a large oak tree close to the back of the house that our builder was going to cut because it was in the way of building our deck. We told him we didn’t want to lose the tree and to build the deck around it, even if it cost more. It made our deck so much more special! Unfortunately, when the remnants of one of the hurricanes (Wilma or Rita?) came through, the tree was blown down, narrowly missing the house. We definitely mourned that tree and I felt a deep sense of gratitude to it for falling in the only possible way that it could have and still miss our house and our neighbor’s fence. I was at the dining table when it came down and the trunk could even have kicked back through the French doors and into the area where I was sitting. Claudia, regarding the costs, have you checked to see if your homeowners insurance will cover the tree removal? Also, years ago, after my in-laws lost several trees in a storm, they found out that there was a tax deduction because of the loss of value in their property. I’m sure that the Republicans have long since done away with that but it wouldn’t hurt to ask your tax preparer. Wishing you both well.
Sherry in Little Rock
Homeowner’s insurance only covers it if the tree has impacted the house, I believe. But I’ll check for sure.
Stay safe, Sherry!
Brenda has summed up my feelings beautifully. And yes to Chris re the haters! I would totally hug the last 2 maples we have left. Thank goodness you two and your house (!) are still standing.
Hugs from NYC
Thank you, Naomi!
Stay safe.
PS
Just a thought…we once saved a piece of a beloved tree which we didn’t want to say a total good-bye to, and we then had a friend who was a woodworker make something with part of it. It was well worth the $ and now, on the very home where it could be seen from the back door, part of it still ‘lives on’…I find it incredibly comforting to be able to see and touch this part of our house’s family history, and our kids now know where the original wood from this piece well, originated…just a thought, since you are still the owner of the lumber which it will become, and best of all, this is not something you need to do immediately. Xo
We’ve thought of that. We’ll see what can be saved for us.
Thanks so much, Naomi!
2020 does indeed suck and why would anyone want to say differently? I’m very sorry about your beautiful tree and also grateful that it did no damage to persons or property. I hope your friend with Covid recovers well. I know people say this all the time, but never in my 66 years do I recall the first half of any year with major crisis and tragedy coming without cease day after day. Oddly enough, altho most of CT was (and a lot still is) out of power, our house which normally is first hit and last repaired, escaped. Sending you love and virtual hugs.
I’ve never experienced anything like what we are going through now. It’s just too much.
Thanks, Nora.
Stay safe.
We never lost power but lost internet for 30 hours. I agree I will be glad to see the back of 2020. An old expression I sometimes I use is ” it sucks canal water” So sorry about the tree, stay well.
I like that expression, Mary!
Thank you. Stay safe.