A chill is in the morning air everyday now. The plants are getting serious about setting seeds, or bursting forth into bloom so they can set seeds. This chill is a whole month early. I feel like I’ve lost summer, the season I most enjoy.
Oh, well…maybe we will have a very long Indian Summer.
Right in the beginning of our whole 5 weeks of extreme stress our giant Johnson Cottonwood dropped a huge limb. It was the limb that held the rope swing our children played on while they were growing up…a loud snap and crack in the middle of a lovely, calm, warm afternoon — then BAM! The whole giant limb was on the ground.
I must say the tree worked hard at not smashing any buildings or even any of my flower beds, instead forming a lovely arch that we were able to drive through for several days.
We were rather forced to leave it in place for a few days because of …. well, everything. Gradually Terry was able to start cutting it up while Shannon and I hauled leaves, branches and logs to the upper end.
Shannon’s tree climbing dog, Houston had a great time playing in the leaves.
Finally only the huge heavy parts are left…our tractor with the loader issue is still under repair (if it isn’t one thing….well, you know, then it is another 🙂 ) These logs will wait until we can get them into the loader and then haul them to the upper end to dry.
Now (possibly) we have moved through all the crisis and will be on the upswing again. Everything goes forward, you just have to go forward with it.
Once more thank you for being with us in mind, or body, and spirit!
Your hopeful friend, Linda






Love the dog in the tree. “Thanks, guys, for bringing down so I can climb it.”
Maintaining a farm must be like keeping everything going in a household times hundreds.
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Linda I’m so sorry these past few weeks have been so troublesome but glad to hear that it’s all becoming history!! We’re still in Paonia and enjoying the cooler weather because the 100+ temps will be greeting us when we arrive back in Phoenix next week 😦 take care my cyber friend!! Teri
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Glad it was just a branch and that you didn’t lose the entire tree…. AND it did give you a nice arch so that you could drive under it!!!!! Glad it didn’t fall on any buildings or destroy any flowers either…. SO–it certainly could have been worse!!!!!!
Hopefully, your busy lives will get back to a different kind of busy soon –but not as stressful.
Hugs,
Betsy
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oh, what a gorgeous tree! sorry for the limb loss, but so lucky nothing was damaged but the tree! and even to let you drive under it! i loved the dogs!
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I do hope you have a long, PEACEFUL, Indian Summer. It’s a shame about the tree limb, It was huge.
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We both lost trees this summer…it’s sad to watch those beauties go. Will the rest of the tree survive? I hope so. And I do hope all is on the upswing!
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Beautiful grandbabies, beautiful flowers and you keep the most amazingly positive attitude through everything!
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You’re very fortunate that a tree limb that size missed everything. well you wanted firewood anyway. However it’s a big job that you didn’t need right now.
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Bite the bullet and just keep going as we say in the UK.
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Your grands look happy here and in the header photo (which I love!)…a tribute to good parenting and grandparenting in light of all the worry they’ve been through.
Sad the swing limb was the one that fell, but good it missed hitting anything important (and yeah, just what you needed right now, doesn’t it always happen that way?)….still sending good thoughts and thanks that you are able to find time to get back on line (I think that’s a miracle even when your life is just ordinarily busy!)
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That’s a big “limb”! It did make a beautiful arch. Love the dog in the tree! And the ones hanging out the car window! lol! 🙂
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Firewood! Oh, wait. Cottonwood STINKS when it burns.
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Oh Linda, so sorry to see your huge tree lose such a big branch. What alot of work for all of you. I like your spirit though and know you will continue to move along, making the best of everything. Know that I am thinking of you and praying for you through all of the stresses that have been happening to you and your family. Take Good care!
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You’re all very lucky, yes.
*hugs*
God bless and have a wonderful weekend. ♥
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How polite of that tree, to drop a major branch without crushing anything 😉 Love the photo of Houston…
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Wow! That’s quite a tree and a huge limb! I’m glad it found a safe place to land.
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Good golly, I go out of town for a few weeks and miss my blog reading, only to find that you’ve been in crisis! I’m so very sorry that it’s been one thing after another for you and your family. I will lift you all up in prayer. Especially that Misty gets a diagnosis from whatever is causing her problems. Hang in there.
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Cottonwoods are known to do that! Glad no one was hurt!
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The bark is great for carving:) So sad to see a limb lost…that is one massive tree! So glad no one was hurt:)
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What an amazing grandfather tree to shelter ll your beautiful grand children, and the darling dogs.. Funny you should feel you’ve lost a month of summer.. we’ve lost a month of winter and everyone says it feels like September, with the grass growing and the mild weather…
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A tree-climbing dog? Now that was unexpected. How nice of the cottonwood to be so careful where it placed itself. 🙂 Cute kids!
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