The September sun rises in the sky...
just to the right of the barn in the field...
where as in July it rose in the sky...
to the far left of the barn in the field.
~
September brings changes to the garden too...
the Purple Coneflower has lost it's hue...
The fall's Autumn Joy now bids it adieu...
~
while another Joy walks into my view...
it's Amanda Shayne...grandchild number two.
~enlarges~
~
This drive has seen many changes over the years...
~2005~
~2006~
~
...Last September...
~
while another Joy walks into my view...
it's Amanda Shayne...grandchild number two.
~enlarges~
~
This drive has seen many changes over the years...
~2005~
~2006~
~
...Last September...
this was the evening just before...
~
It's not always sunbeams...
~Hurricane Ike passed through Ohio
with winds of 77 mph...leaving 2.6 million
in Ohio in a blackout on September 14th!
We were without power for 5 days...and
used a gas generator for necessities.
~
...That's when the drive...
...That's when the drive...
suddenly changed
and
looked like this...
~enlarges~
~enlarges~
It's not always sunbeams...
that I find in the drive...
Once there were hundreds of nuts...
Once there were hundreds of nuts...
hickory and walnut in my yard and drive...
there may have been thousands...
and grandson Dylan always managed...
there may have been thousands...
and grandson Dylan always managed...
to find his share!
~
The high winds blew constantly for over an hour...
that brought down this huge limb...
stripped from this tree...
which Herhusband trimmed and left as a bench
The winds left us with many broken and...
damaged trees.
There was a mess to be picked up...
but we did get it cleaned up...
Well,
Some of the trees blown over were decaying
~
The high winds blew constantly for over an hour...
it was nothing like this gentle breeze from last week...
~
Even this photo...
~
Even this photo...
didn't capture the strength of the wind...
that brought down this huge limb...
stripped from this tree...
which Herhusband trimmed and left as a bench
at the start of the bridge.
The winds left us with many broken and...
damaged trees.
There was a mess to be picked up...
but we did get it cleaned up...
Well,
most of it anyway!
There are still remnants of Hurricane Ike
on the property here and there!
Some is just too hard to get to!
Some of the trees blown over were decaying
from within already...like this one...which
left an interesting hollow stump....
and also a hole in the canopy of leaves...
left an interesting hollow stump....
and also a hole in the canopy of leaves...
which will change and slowly disappear over time...
because things do grow and change....
just like grandchildren...
...she once rode her bike up!
Amanda and brothers Nathan & Nick!...
and of course now...little sister Alivia!
Four of my nine Grandchildren!
because things do grow and change....
just like grandchildren...
like Amanda walking down the same drive
...she once rode her bike up!
Amanda and brothers Nathan & Nick!...
and of course now...little sister Alivia!
Four of my nine Grandchildren!
39 comments:
Wanda, What a lovely sunrise. It is amazing how mother nature can turn on us so quickly! Your tree damage reminds me of this area after last year's ice storm. It's so sad to see such wonderful old trees brought down.
Sunny
HI WANDA -
Oh how I loved the "then and now" photos - your natureland withstood the changes so well. I really enjoyed walking with you - and wow , nine grand children? How wonderful.
Love Gail
peace.....
Hello Wanda,
From Nature's destruction, you have created serene beauty. You know that the curvy drive is always one of my favorite images. I couldn't believe how it has evolved over the years - the litter after the hurricane is amazing. I like that Herhusband left the downed limb as a bench. The nuts on Dylan's shoes are hilarious! The photo of Amanda and Alivia gorgeous - their beauty shines through.
Wanda what a nice post..your yard and property are so beautiful..isn't it wonderful to live in the woods,forest,hills or just surrounded by trees and nature????
Your grandchildren are beautiful...I've decided that you surround with beauty...and that's a very good thing.
I love the blue orb in the photos...
Hi Wanda
the picture of Amanda on her bike is so like Alivia is now, and you can see how Alivia will look as a teenager...
Ellen was also talking about this hurricane today and I mentioned being in Kauai before Iniki hit - thank fully we had reached home.
We get cyclones here - same as a hurricane- but we are on the southern extreme of the cyclone belt so often only experience the winds rain and oh yes the great high seas that draw the surfers from all over...there are often good sides to down times...
What a lengthy cleanup you must have had...it is obvious you put in a huge amount of work to have your property resemble a park.
Do you still have all the nuts falling...
Happy days
I can't get over how much alike Alivia and Amanda look! I thought the photo of Amanda as a little girl was Alivia!
And I can't get over the damage that Hurricane Ike caused to your lovely property.
The log bench is wonderful! I love hearing how folks will do some kind of a keepsake with a storm's 'gift' to them.
Really such a difference in the after-storm photos and the peaceful normalcy! But I actually liked looking at them all. My goodness, you had your work cut out for you with the clean-up though!
Okay, I'm trying to think of how many of the nine grandchildren have we seen? Have you posted pictures of all nine? I'm counting and I think it's only six or maybe seven now.
I think it's great that you are all so close and that they come over all the time. So sweet.
Well, thanks again for bringing us around your property.
Love,
Eileen
Hi Wanda,
I remember those hurricanes of 2006 very well. That year there was Ike, Frances, and Jeanne. We were affect by them all. Seeing all the trees down and the winds brought back memories. I can't remember which one it was, but with one of them part of my fence fell down. I even remember watching it go back and forth, then of course in the morning it was down on the ground.
Amanda has gownup to be a beautiful young lady. All your grandchildren are good looking kids.
Take care.
Hi Sunny...The sunrise is hidden most of the summer by trees, but I do appreciate the shadows.
Thank you Gail...yes 6 boys and only 3 girls.
Thank you Barb...I think we had more than 50 trees damaged...it was a mess...we could hardly walk for the hickory nuts.
Hi Andora...I love the woods and being a little secluded...as I know you do!
Thank you Jackie...I liked the reflection too!
Hi Delwyn...That was the first time in history for a hurricane to reach that far inland to Ohio...the nuta do fall...just not all at once...the squirrels eat through the shell and it sounds like pebbles falling through the leaves.
Hi Eileen...yes they do look alike, I've posted photos of all 9of them...just not many of the 4 oldest boys at the age they are now...15-16-18-21...which I am about to do soon!
Thank you Anne...Amanda is in her 3rd year of college...on the Dean's List...and editing a book! She works very hard!
Hi Wanda,
How interesting to see the changes over the years. Not only on the property but in the grandchildren! I am really noticing how fast they change with my two! It looks like you have quite a bit of work around your property. I wonder if it's just you and your husband that do the work or if your children and grandchildren help you? I have a postage stamp yard and I can't keep up with it myself!
Love Di
Wanda! What a walk through time!
Children changing ~ Landscapes changing
You've been good stewards of the land you live on... If I were the fauna and flora around you, I'd say Thank You for taking good care of us. I'm sure your grandchildren already do :)
All the best, Maria
such a wonderful pics!
thanks for sharing :)
I sant even begin to express how much I admire your blog--the pictures, the universal truths that evolve from your depiction of the destruction to the recovery after the storm, the simply beautifully captured beauty of your children and grandchildren and of some of the natural gems left. Thank you for such love of nature and beauty.
Oh my gosh Wanda, Alivia and Amanda look like twins when Amanda was Alivia's age, I love seeing the photo's of your grandchildren, they are all adorable.
Looks like you and herhusband were really been busy cleaning up after Ike and what a great job you both did. (now I know how you stay to slim)
I am sure when I close my eyes and go to heaven I am going to be in a place that looks just like your beautiful drive and fields.
Lovely post my friend, luv ya and have a wonderful Tuesday....Hugs
I love the way you show us your home and the surrounding woods. It all looks so calming. I suppose not when hurricanes come through though. I lived in St Louis for a year and we had our fair s hare of tornados going through. It was kind of scary but I found them interesting as I had never witnessed a tornado before.
The pic of the hole in the canopy had some kind of impact on me, may be the blue/green contrast. I love the way you introduce facts and happenings then some beauty, reality, a twist or two. You live in the most incredible place.
All of you make me feel so humble and grateful...you have brought me to tears...blogging with you has given me so much in return...this is just simply home...I don't mean to present it as anything more or perfect...because it isn't...I just have a love of my life and everything in it...including all of you. THANK YOU ALL.
Nature in the form of storms can really alter our landscapes. You have done a marvelous job of restoring. Love your time lapse photos.
That hollow stump would be a great "what is this" photo. I'd never have guessed.
Hi Diana...I can't believe 5 of them are driving! We do have a farm type tractor that helps with the mowing...having retired early there's more time!
Thank you Maria...I am blessed with loving grandchildren appreciate nature!
Thank you for visiting White Forest!
Thank you Bernie...I am thankful I discovered your blog...you are an inspiration!
Bernie...You are so kind...I think my camera does magic with my photos...to make you say such...wish it worked on myself!
Thank you Loree...and I enjoy your photos of Malta as well!
Hi Lizzie...I find your home in Somerset(right?) England incredible...and I love reading of your journey an accomplishments!
Thank you Patti...I enjoy reading your wonderful blog of happenings in your life that are relevant to all.
I love to see changes through your eyes and your lens Wanda. Mother Nature is not always all beauty and gentleness. But we tend to forget what was and how it was so fast sometimes.
I didn't get home until 9:30 p.m. last night after prayer group, church and the meeting, so I missed your beautiful post. I am ewver so glad that you keep and find older pictures to show us.
It was amazing to see all the damage that was done to your lovely storybook land and even more amazing that you did so much hard work to restore it to its' beauty! It must have taken you days and days, but oh how beautiful it looks after you did so much!
Like everyone else I was amazed at the resemblance between Alivia and Amanda! Hopefully you passed on not just the pretty genes but the love and caring for nature genes too.
I just loved that little circle among the trees...thank you for looking up, down and not only all around but into and between for us.
I also appreciated all the sweet rhyming you did!
blessings and loving hugs,
marcy
Oh Wanda..having lived in Houston for 21 years I know full well the devastation a hurricane can cause. In 1983 hurricane Alicia took half my house. I was 8 mo pregnant and had removed my 22mo old son from his bed minutes b4 a tree crashed through his roof right into his bed. The lord was guarding us that night ! As always your photos are wonderful..love the way you capture the suns rays ;-)
your friend,
Janet
Oh Wanda..having lived in Houston for 21 years I know full well the devastation a hurricane can cause. In 1983 hurricane Alicia took half my house. I was 8 mo pregnant and had removed my 22mo old son from his bed minutes b4 a tree crashed through his roof right into his bed. The lord was guarding us that night ! As always your photos are wonderful..love the way you capture the suns rays ;-)
your friend,
Janet
Hi Jientje...that's why I love photos...easy to review the past!
Thanks Marcy...the rhyming is always for you...I think they are in tune with nature...they know I have something for trees and rocks anyway...
Thank you Janet...that was my first experience with wind that powerful and length of time!
Thanks. I really needed that philosophical look at time and tide. I spent some time outside this evening after work, enjoying the last of the sunshine that we'll have for a few days. I need that, too!
You have beeyootiful grandchildren!
Things DO grow and change! You have captured it masterfully, friend! How frightening it must have been to watch the wind do its damage last year! (I still remember a VERY bad storm when we lived in Michigan. Trees snapped like toothpicks!)
We've been going out in the morning before sunrise. The sky has been SO clear and we've been able to see stars, planets and a sliver of moon even though we live in small town, Indiana!
Thanks June...I enjoy reading your thoughts and views on things.
Thank you Rebecca...I live in small town, Ohio...dawn is my favorite time of day...I'm always up before daylight comes.
Hi Wanda~ I love the morning rays of light when everything is fresh and awakening. I've heard of nature's pruning, but this is too much! I think the driveway survived and thrived, though, based on current photos. Isn't there an expression about "when the center doesn't hold...?" Dylan's shoes are hysterical! with the green walnut casings shoved in there! He made skates! Alivia is going to be looking so much like Amanda soon--you can tell in the bicycle photo. I so enjoy the hearts running down your right panel! oh, and the fawn and the robins' eggs... You live in paradise, Wanda! xx
And what beautiful blooms your two grandchildren make in your final photo!
Love all the photos. I especially like the first two and the one of your grandkids on the bikes. The processing looks a little vintage. Nice effect.
Wanda, do you know what's going on with Jackie's site (Teacher's Pet)? It said it had been removed. I hope she's not leaving us!
~Cindy
More lovely posts and photos...I always feel like I'm walking along with you!
September brings lots of changes and a good deal of beauty - for you it brings hurricane season as well, it must be frightening to be caught up in a full strength hurricane. Dylan has a novel way of collecting walnuts:)
When I want to get that "peaceful, easy feelin'" I just go to Wanda's blog. As always, what great photos!
I can only imagine the sound of those trees coming down in that storm!
Left a comment and then deleted it by mistake!
I think what I said was that I loved your sunshine through the tree photos. Change can be a challenge when it happens but then gives a new and different perspective.
So glad I could inspire you.
Thank you Margaret...The morning rays substitute as my sunrise which is hidden all summer by the trees.
Thank you Jinksy...they are unbelievably sweet too!
Hi Cindy...it's just an old polaroid photo scanned.
Thank you Jann...I like your excursions in the Black Hills too!
Hi Rowan...that was a freak of nature...because we live so far inland ...it has never happened before...ever!
Thank you Jacquelyn...the sound of the wind alone was extremely loud!
Hi Penny...I hope to never experience change brought that way again though!
Wow. What a storm!
Hurricane Ike...I remember him very well..we had high wind warnings for a whole entire day! We were without electric for a while too. We watched it rip half our tree down in the backyard..blew down all the gutters on the front of the house. Blew our privacy fence down..and completely blew away our yard barn...it was horrible!
But the major ice storm we had last winter was worse..it lasted for like 3 days....it was the worst ice storm we have had here in my lifetime and according to my parents...they never saw anything so terrible either...
Your yard is beautiful and so are your grandchildren...very pretty!!
Hopefully we won't have any bad weather this yr. like we did last yr. We need a break from it :)
Love, Jerelene
Good looks surely run in the genes. Amanda in the last picture looks DROP DEAD GORGEOUS :)
Sorry to see the damage the hurricane caused! But I am glad to know there was no loss of life. Everything else can come up again :)
The pictures of your drive way are my FAVORITE. The sun streaming across them looks wonderful!
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