Georgia weather can turn on you faster than a rabid dog.
After supper, around 6 o’clock, Janie, the crew and I watch the movie Low Down starring Robert Duvall. We’re halfway through the movie when the thunderstorm hits.
A hot summer day with a cloudless, blue sky lulls you into a lazy, inattentive state. Within a few minutes the sky turns dark followed by fierce wind gusts and violent sheets of rain pounding the windows.
Okay. No big deal. Late afternoon showers are not unusual.
A safe landing for the Leland Cypress.
I get up to shut the window and we continue watching the movie. Soon I hear “Crack! Crack!” Crack!” I jump up to the window and look out at the back yard. My huge Leland cypress is split right down the middle and half of it is lying across the back door and in front of the bedroom window!
In about 15 minutes the storm passes and I venture out. I see it tore the tops off of several 20-year-old trees in the backyard. Half of a chinaberry tree is in the garden. I go around to the front and find my favorite sittin’-under tree, the redbud I planted several years ago, is ruined.
I start to take a quick check of the house roof and windows, the shed, the fence and . . .
Oh, no! The PTV is parked right in front of the cypress!
I race around to the side of the house and there she is, sitting pretty and unharmed. Whew! Thank God in heaven!
Once a great little shade tree, perfect for taking a break after working in the garden or for long conversations.
Janie checks the damage from the storm.
This morning Janie, the crew and I walk around the property again to get a good look in the morning light.
Surveying the damage to the once great and glorious cypress tree, I am struck by my good fortune.
That tree could have fallen in any one of four places: on top of the shed, on top of the house, on top of the Perfect Tow Vehicle (in which most of my belongings are now stored), or precisely in the relatively small area between the house and the shed.
A twisting, raging wind placed that big tree as if it were setting a fork next to a plate.
Another event that causes me to pause and wonder.
Felix and Julio are back from El Salvador.
Felix stopped by yesterday (before the storm) and I could see right away that his health is back. He looked happy and rested. Felix is one of those guys who works all the time. It’s a blessing for him to be forced to rest, even if for surgery.
We have a lot to be thankful for.
rvsue
Barbara,
These close calls make an ordinary day seem pretty good! I don’t ever want to have a tarp on the roof.
Glad it turned out okay for you, too.
Sue, We live in Oklahoma. Normally, there are many storms in spring and early summer. This year it is just HOT and dry. They seem to have moved East of us. Glad to hear that nothing was damaged, but I know you hate to lose the trees. Sorry about Kitty. C and H Garvin
Herb and Cindy,
You Oklahomans know about wind. I’m sure you appreciate a break from storms. The heat is unrelenting all over the South this year. Usually we have a day or two here and there where it drops into the 80s. Not so far this year.
As for the trees? They’re just trees.
On the Left Coast it’s hard to imagine how quickly the weather can change like that. Glad that everyone is safe and in one piece. Hope the trees that fell will make good firewood this winter.
Hello, Laura,
You folks on the Left Coast have your own set of weather-related problems.
I hope by this winter I am far, far away from that stack of firewood . . . living in my camper.
Hi
So glad your PTW is OK. When I started my brand new mobile dog grooming business, we had a huge storm and my willow tree dropped a major branch right on top of my tow vehicle! Was that a sign or what?!
Take care
Pat
So you are or were in the mobile dog grooming business. I’ve wondered at times if I would have liked doing that kind of work. I’m sure it’ has its down side like most every job.
Yes, I’m very fortunate. A damaged vehicle or house would cause big problems right now.
I’m so thankful that “they’re just trees” and no damage to the structure or the PTV. Since Felix and Julio are back, they can help get the trees cut up and stacked up for firewood for themselves. You’re getting pretty close to time to leave for Texas – right?
Felix will cut up the trees and clean up the yard. The crew and I should be ready to go by the end of the month, but I hate to make any predictions.
I can totally understand not making predictions. I’d love to get together for lunch when you’re in Texas to pick up your Casita. It’s fun to see the new ones. We’re about an hour or so away from Rice. If you’re interested, pm PRTEXAS on the Casita Forum.
Reine,
I’d love to meet you, too! I will pm you later today . . .
Warning: I am more interesting in print than in person!
Hi Sue,
I always expect a tree to fall on me. Mainly because I have spent so much time trying to save them. The irony would be lyrical.
I was going to PM you this, but realized I don’t have a way to contact you and, anyway, you probably know about this website already: http://sunseekerimages.blogspot.com/
Can’t vouch for the content because I haven’t read it myself, but I thought of you when I saw his photos. His rig strikes me as the perfect set-up for full-timing. A PTV with a solar panel attached!!! I see that in your future.
Kim,
Yes, I have seen his blog. I think I discovered it after reading a post and seeing pictures of his set-up on a forum. I mentioned him in a comment several weeks ago, but didn’t remember where I’d seen it. Maybe in the Casita forum under solar?
I am considering outfitting the PTV with solar. There are those who say yes, others no . . .
Thanks, Mumsy . . .
Yes, downed trees are just Mother Nature doing her job.