We have had 2 days of very high winds, Mistrals….everything was flying around like in The Wizard of Oz. Rune seemed not to care or notice. He is usually very sensitive so I have been surprised that he wants to be out in the wind with his ears flying back behind him.
I don’t mind the wind but, I am surrounded by very large umbrella pines and I worry one will come crashing down. I am keeping Rune in as I am afraid a tree will fall.
Up above me, one did fall…the top of it anyway. Trees are broken all over.
It is super sunny and clear but everything is now dried out from the wind. The mimosa tree in my yard had every drop of water ripped right out of it by the wind and the blooms are dying. It barely started blooming. …add to all of that…allergens! …but, it won’t last. It’s going to get cold again.
The fallen tree brought back a different type of memory for me.
When I lived in NYC, I used to drive up to my parents “chalet” in Vermont, usually at night after NYC traffic. I was really the only person using the house. My parents were too old to stay over and my sisters family had no interest. I really made a good go of making it a comfortable place that I would go to often.
The drive was 289 miles. There were a few ways I could go but I got off the highway and on to the back roads as soon as I could. I had a fantastic disco program I listened to when I got into Massachusetts….I would arrive late, maybe 11pm or so. Sometimes I would be alone with a dog or 2 ( I used to take a friends dog up too) or a friend would come with me.
I would go all year round but the time I am thinking of was in the dead of winter. I think I had a boyfriend and 2 dogs in tow. The house was in the middle of nowhere with a big fast road in front. My father paid a man to plow the driveway, at least a little, for me to get in. The snow could easily be over my head. It was on the top of a hill. This night, there was a full moon. It was very clear out.
I was always of mixed feelings on the thought of getting there. I would drive for 4 hours and then had to prepare myself for all that had to be done once I get there. I would have been prepared for a few hours of being super cold and gearing up to open the house.
This night, we pull up, full moon, very clear, and there is a massive tree that had fallen into the house. It had fallen from the left side of the house and blocked the entire front of the house. It was massive. It hit the roof in one spot but lay in the spot where it fell, so blocked the hole. Luckily, I was able to get in through the front door, just barely. However, it had knocked out all of the power. It took down all of the wires….and there was snow, tons of glowing white snow!
Problem was, no electricity at all. ( not sure I had a cell phone)…and there was no phone in the house. I found lanterns , candles and flashlights.
I lit the portable kerosene heaters ( oh the headaches I had from those heaters!) It was freezing. I don’t think I was using the wood stove…the heaters would have thrown more heat. No hot water…don’t even attempt to go into the basement, lie on the floor and spark the hot water heater into life. No way.
I used to fire up electric blankets, always slept in my clothes the first night, in a sleeping bag…
But with all of that, I only remember the stunning beauty of the full moon on the virgin snow through the tree that was blocking the front of the house.
That was the thing about that house….None of the hassle or problems that occurred every time I went up to the house ended up meaning a thing compared to the incredible beauty I experienced every time I was there. I guess that is why I continued to go. It was a hassle to have no electric for the entire time I was there…it was an adventure and it was so beautiful . I have so many memories of being there at all times of year, but this night was so memorable to me.
Sadly, when I left NY, and my father died, it was sold for next to nothing. I guess I could have saved it but I was in California. My Father loved it there as much as I did. Can't wait to get all of my personal photos that are in CA....there will be lots of memories there and I am sure a photo os the tree crashed into the front of the house in the snow....if not, I have the image firmly in my memory.
If a tree falls here on or very near the house, I will not be feeling the same.
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| I always took Route # 2 from A to B |
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