francene--blog. Year 2013
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May 21st

5/21/2013

 
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Humans may think they're in control, but the forces of nature are unstoppable.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those in Oklahoma who have lost loved ones after the terrible tornado swept away schools and houses and left devastation in its wake.

Here in the little village of Elstree, a 200 ft. high horse chestnut tree in full flower dropped onto the busy two lane road in the early evening. It avoided passing cars. The candle-like flower reaches higher than a hand and contains considerable moisture. In full leaf after the dormancy in winter, the weight must have toppled the giant. You could say it's over-production for future generations of trees caused its downfall.


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The Highways Department rushed to the scene along with other services. Police closed off the road. After hours of cutting the trunk from the partly attached root, a giant work vehicle tugged the trunk off and lifted it onto its back to haul away.

Sometimes tree hugging isn't enough. Every year, surveyors assess the trees. Two trees were removed further uphill before the leaves formed. The Highways Department missed the tree that crashed ten feet away from our neighbor's house. He rushed out and cut away branches to allow busses and   vehicles to pass in single file.


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I love trees. Every morning for the last ten years, I've offered a prayer during meditation for the trees to take up the goodness from the soil and spread it into the atmosphere to protect our Earth. Trees keep the planet alive. However, horse chestnuts are diseased like so many of England's other trees.

The Guardian UK, gives more information. Horse chestnuts have been hit by two potentially life-threatening diseases. The first is bleeding canker: bacteria infects the bark, cutting off the water supply to the crown. The other involves a relatively new pest to the UK: the leaf-mining moth, originally from the Balkans. It is indiscriminate, attacking workaday horse chestnuts and grander trees alike. Click here for the article to help save the trees.

Mother Nature constantly shows who is in charge of the planet. We must cope as best we can amongst the forces of wind, floods and earthquakes. My prayers join those around the world for the survivors in Oklahoma.

Cher link
5/20/2013 09:27:47 pm

Hi Francene, lovely post, and I love your prayer for the trees :) Oh yes mother earth is always in charge x

Francene Stanley link
5/21/2013 03:21:45 am

It's times like these that we really know it is so.

Amy link
5/20/2013 09:33:45 pm

Francene,
I feel a real connection (and gratitude) for trees, too, Francene. You're right, that so much of what happens on the earth is out of our control. We lost so many trees to the awful drought last summer, even very old ones. In our back yard, we have blue spruce trees that are 40+ years old, and some of them display damage that destroyed at least half of the tree: the green parts have new growth, but the dead parts (the top half) are brown! We're going to have some mighty ugly trees, but I'm thankful that they are still alive. My heart goes out to the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes, too. Such an unsettled world we live in, we need to be grateful for every day of "normal" I think!

Francene Stanley link
5/21/2013 03:22:58 am

It's really sad to see our great trees die. I'm glad yours have been spared.

Kathy Hadley link
5/20/2013 11:28:22 pm

We are in control of many things and yet there are some things we are not in control of. However, knowing this, we can still be in control of how we react to things, the meaning we give them to ourselves and how we operate the rest of the time.

I posted this on my FB page yesterday PRIOR to anything happening:

"It is in the contrast that you get an opportunity to really appreciate even more of all that you have.
Your entire life can change in less than a second.
But that is nothing to worry about....it is just a reminder to not let any seconds go by in any state other than absolute LOVE, PEACE, JOY and GRATITUDE!!!"

:-)

Wishing you all the best,

Kathy

Francene Stanley link
5/21/2013 03:24:56 am

When momentous things happen, we remember each precious second. 'Live each day as if it's your last'. And, as you say, live it well.

Michelle Liew link
5/20/2013 11:37:39 pm

Francene, I share your thoughts and sentiments, and love your prayer for the trees. May those with losses find comfort in Him.



Francene Stanley link
5/21/2013 03:26:26 am

With caring people like you, their grief should pass faster.

Beth link
5/21/2013 01:09:01 am

Great post Francene I really enjoyed reading your prayer for the trees.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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