A Storm in the Morning

We awoke to lightening brightening up the bedroom this morning, early, around 5 AM. 

Next thing I knew... the wind was blowing hard, and rain was hitting the windows.  Keith had gone into the spare room, and told me afterwards that all three dogs were with him... I'm sure they got nervous with the storm. 

Here's what we saw when the light came up: 

and from below: 

Somehow, the glass topped table did not break. 

By the HEALTHY, younger walnut tree next to the old henhouse, a whole ring of branches came down, as if a giant had reached up with his penknife and made a semi-circle cut. 

I'm hoping we can load these all in the back of the GMC and take them to the brush pile at the bottom of the pasture. 

Of course, the tree we always worry about, the very old walnut tree with the hollow trunk... dropped nothing but a few walnuts.  

It was our gigantic old maple with it's soft wood that shed so many branches, here seen as I walked across the yard from getting the paper. 

(Yes, those are MORE branches down on the ground on the right).  

The camera was fogging up... but these guys watched from the pophole while I did the outside waterers.  Then I brought them into the yard for the morning and part of the afternoon.  While Keith is gone to the grocery store, they are back in the pasture for a bit.  We feel better when they don't have a twelve hour run of the henyard. 

This, folks, is a two duck-egg snake. 

Ask me how I know. 

(and he was BIG) 

And yee ha, let the Fall Baking Begin! 

Apple crisp made from our VERY OWN APPLES this morning! 

The first of many, we hope. 

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