Gone gone gone

Last weekend the big tree in our front garden was broken in a storm.

 Some of it fell against our caravan.

 Fortunately the van wasn't damaged, despite one branch nearly spearing through the top.

A week ago it was a tall Eucalyptus nicolii, and now it's gone.

No more shade on a hot summer afternoon......the plants which were selected to live under its shelter a year ago are still there but now they won't have the benefit of its protection from hot sun or winter frost, the reason they were chosen for that garden.  Its shady branches provided board and lodging for many species of birds, and protection from the glare of morning sun for our neighbours' upstairs balcony - they told us they will miss it too.

The whole district felt the effects of the storm:  the wind was very strong, the driving rain was fearsome, many areas had no power and our tree wasn't the only one to be lost; many were completely uprooted while some, like ours, were snapped off part way up the trunk.  Trees fell on house and shed roofs and on cars, so we were fortunate we didn't suffer more damage.  The following day a tree surgeon told us it could not be saved so it was removed, cut up, and taken away.

Losing a majestic shady tree is sad.

On a happier note, our financial bloke told us we can afford to continue living.......just as well, because tree removal is not cheap.  The Big Smoke was big and smoky, as usual.

This weekend the quilt group is holding a UFO weekend but my machine will be staying home, because sewing on a machine which is sitting too high on its table is painful.  My Sew-Ezi table could be taken along for more comfortable sewing, but that means more to carry.......so it will be a handwork weekend, for me.  Fabrics and templates will be taken, and the remaining seven Flower Basket blocks will be traced and cut out. Who knows, all 225 blocks may be finished one day - only eleven still need to be made!  It was started nigh on eight years ago and will probably be the only quilt I ever make by hand.  At that rate I may not live long enough to make another......

"Manner an index of character.
A rude person, though well meaning, is avoided by all.  Manners, in fact, are minor morals ; and a rude person is often assumed to be a bad person.  The manner in which a person says or does a thing, furnishes a better index of his character that what he does or says, for it is by the incidental expression given to his thoughts and feelings, by his looks, tones and gestures, rather than by his words and deeds, that we prefer to judge him, for the reason that the former are involuntary."

It's true - we do try to avoid rude people, don't we?  Being with them is not pleasant.

Enjoy your days!