Thursday, June 11, 2009

Storm

Tree
We had an awful storm last night. Phillip took these pictures of our tree, on his Iphone this morning.

Tree
When we first moved into our home, I dreamed of when it would big enough to climb. 10 years later, the girls and Benjamin play in this tree every day, which makes it especially sad. I hope they always remember the fun they had.

Tree
I'm also thinking about how it could have easily fallen the other way, right into Phillip's office. We are thanking God for keeping us and our home safe.

41 comments:

Carole Burant said...

Omigosh, Kelli, it certainly is a godsend that it fell that way and not towards the house! I can well imagine how sad you are to lose this tree, especially since the kids played on it a lot. Sending big hugs across the miles. xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh Kelli! I'm so sorry about your tree, but relieved that you are all ok and your home isn't damaged. We have two very large trees in our front yard that are past their prime and need to be removed before they do the same thing. But at least ours are old trees and it's expected. It's so sad when it's a young tree. I know we need the rain, but it's a shame when we have to make that kind of trade out. So far, we're fairing fine. I will pray that is the least of your damage.
hugs
Theresa in TX

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Sorry you lost your tree.:( I saw on the news this morning where the Dallas/Ft. Worth area got some nasty storms last night.

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

We lost our Bradford Pear about 2 years ago, and last night I was so glad it was already gone! I loved our BP, but they're just so weak. I'm sorry you lost yours.

Those were some seriously scary storms last night! We didn't lose any of our trees, but our neighbors did. :-(

Charity said...

Glad you are all alright (except the poor tree!) That was rather a frightening storm last night!

GlorV1 said...

Oh I am so sorry about your precious tree, but thankful that none of you were hurt. How sad. Trees are so beautiful. We've had a few way out in back fall. Take care.

Keeper of the Home said...

Praise GOD for the Blood of protection that covered your family and home.
~Mrs. M

ItaJeff said...

Hi Kelli, I'm sorry about your tree and thankful that nothing bad happened to you.

Take care

Lots of luv,
Ita

KBeau said...

So sorry about your tree. We lost a weeping willow in a storm earlier this spring. Prior to that we had a tulip poplar in the same spot that also blew over in a storm. I'm thinking we won't plant another tree in that spot.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

This has been a particularly bad year for tree's around me. I can see it's been rough where you are also. Thank God that no one was hurt.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about your tree, but glad no one was hurt.

We had wicked little thunderstorm ourselves last night...LOTS of thunder and lightening.

Renee said...

So glad you all were kept safe and sound.

Missy said...

sorry about your tree :( happy that it decided to fall away from your home.

blessings!

Jen said...

Storms are so scary and tough. You are right though to count your blessings...

My open roads said...

oh no! this is so sad! glad you're all allright!

Paula said...

Oh, my! I'm so glad that your family and home are all right. Thanking the Lord for His tender mercies. :)

LadySnow said...

Oh Wow...glad it didn't fall on the house. It could have been much worse. So happy that everyone is okay. :-)

Linda said...

Hi Kelli....so sad about your beautiful tree, but thankful it fell away from your home. We were talking to our family in Paris, Tex during the storm when they lost their power...they said it was pretty bad. I'm glad today is a better day...hugs, Linda

Just Mom said...

Sorry for the loss of the tree. We've had trees that were taken down by strong SD windstorms. We've also had to just recently cut down our 30-year-old willow tree because it was getting too dangerous.

I'm thankful you all are safe.

Love Bears All Things said...

Is it an ornamental pear? They are nortorious for spliting like that. I hope the rest can be saved. I know how much a tree in the front can mean. We have two huge ones here at the new place. I've never seen them get this big. We've planted a couple of other kinds in the front yard in case we lose these or decide to cut them down.
Mama Bear

Katy said...

aw, I am so sorry about the tree. So glad there wasn't worse damage though! I am sure the kids will hold on to their fond memories of it! :)

The dB family said...

I'm so sorry to read about your tree! At the same time I am glad that it did not damage your home. It cetainly looked like a beautiful tree.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh...so sorry about your tree. Do you think you can save it at all? But wonderful that your home was spared!

Heather said...

Oh my. I am so sorry about your beautiful tree. I heard your area got hit pretty bad. I am so glad you guys are safe. We got a few trees down. Our area did flood alot though. Prayers!!

Elena said...

Oh that is so sad to lose a beautiful tree like that but sure am glad that everyone is all right!

Marianna said...

Glad to hear you are well. That was definitely a monster storm. The kids and I ended up under the stairs at one point!

My neighbor had to take down the two Bradford Pear trees in his front yard about three weeks ago because he lost limbs on both...He was afraid of having one fall on his house. They are pretty trees, but, unfortunately, just don't have very long life spans. So much so that our HOA will not approve them for planting! Even more unfortunately we have five of them lining the Southwest side of our house! I expect we will be taking them down sometime in the fall or next spring.

Karen said...

Good Girl! FInding the positive in any given situation! It could've been so much worse. And the kids will remember. Can it be saved or will you have to take the entire tree out?
Hugs! Karen

Heather said...

aww your poor tree. i guess you'll have to have the whole removed now? that's sad. thankfully it fell away from the house though.

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

Oh my gosh, how awful! Did lightening hit it? Can what's left be saved? Probably not. So sorry that happened. At least it didn't fall on a car or your home or somebody.

Susie Homemaker said...

It's always sad when wonderful trees are lost...so glad you and your family and home are safe though...

Blessings,
Susie

Anonymous said...

Oh no! I'm so glad that you guys are all right, Kelli! How scary!

Nancy @ Live love laugh said...

It is so sad to lose a tree-especially a special one, but so glad you are all safe.
~Nancy

Life with the Warrens said...

God left you half the tree and that is pretty amazing!

Brooke said...

Oh Kelli,

Ouch!! I'm so sad for you. We had minor limb damage, but our neighbors lost a huge tree too. It just breaks my heart. I can't tell from your photo how much of the trunk is left, but I'm hoping the tree can still survive.

Anonymous said...

Sorry for your loss. Thank God everyone's ok.

Amy said...

wow Kelli, I cant believe how much came off the tree. are the kids taking it all right? maybe they will have fun picking out a new tree and watching it grow..miss you guys so much!

Cathy said...

Oh, Kelli, that is terrible. I thought when I saw the picture that it could have fallen on your house. Thank the Lord for His protection.

Barbara H. said...

Oh no! Can the rest of the tree be saved? Thank the Lord it didn't fall on your house.

Troop 2449 said...

OMG, I feel so sad for the tree. It is so beautiful. I hope you find a worthy replacement.

Denise from Ark said...

Kelli, I've been subbed to your blog for a while now and enjoyed it IMMENSELY but without comment. This finally prodded me, because it was scary!

Advice shared from a County Ag agent: BPs are overused and not great trees, but their up sides makes them popular with homeowners and landscapers alike. The biggest issue is that this type of problem is what you can expect from them, sooner or later. They *are* giant shrubs, not trees, by nature, and the soft wood and shrubby limb characteristics make them very susceptible to this kind of damage.

The recommended tree instead is a tulip poplar, so when you are ready to replace it, that would be a good tree to look for.

The tree grows almost as fast, the wood is much harder, the branch structure has better angles that prevent it from splitting as easily, it blooms in the spring and has decent fall color.

There are also a number of other great trees that would grow fast, be beautiful, great climbing trees, and safe (I am partial to pin oak and willow oak) but they don't have the flowers and their fall color is more subtle, in the tarnished copper shade.

I have said for years that I want a mimosa tree for my someday grandchildren to climb, but they have to be planted out away from the house and water lines. They are worth it; they have a horizontal growth pattern that makes them GREAT climbing trees and of course those beautiful sweet smelling blossoms.

I am so glad that this time it fell away from the house and that your family was safe. It seems as though when we have wind and or ice storms, at least one person almost every time is seriously hurt by branches that fall into the house.

Denise from Ark

rohanknitter said...

Yikes!!! That is scary - so glad it fell the "right" way.