So yesterday was basically a normal Sunday.
I hung out with my husband. We helped out at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation wrapping station. We drank coffee. We talked about normal stuff, like a trip we’re planning…and how we need to get a car to replace my van (which seems to enjoy the repair shop more than our driveway)…
Then we drove home. It was icy and rainy, but when we got home our porch view still looked a little something like this:
Picture brown grass and ice tipped branches
Icy scene from the shopping mall
Fast forward to 11 at night. I walked to the front door to lock up and I heard a very loud WHOOSH sound. My first thought was that it sounded like someone jumping from our roof carrying something heavy.
Santa going for a trial run??
Actually I didn’t think of the Santa thing until much later. Paratroopers came to mind.
Yeah, I was thinking of a Red Dawn sort of invasion. (Have I told you I’m a writer?)
So I flicked off the lights and peered out the front window (because that’s me in stealth guerrilla warfare mode, apparently).
No Russian or North Korean paratroopers were landing on our front lawn. Whew.
Except it wasn’t really a “Whew” kind of sight.
If a tree falls in your front yard does it make a sound? (Yes–whoosh!)
Anyway the view from our front porch looks like this:
Very large old tree (possibly of the Dominoes variety)
Now we’re in the market for three cars.
And INCREDIBLY thankful no one was hurt.
Mother Nature has a sense of humor.
How’s Mother Nature treating your neck of the woods?
Happy Monday!!
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Coleen Patrick 
Jeepers creepers Coleen! Glad you weren’t in there. My poorly car is at a garage now. I’m expecting a blizzard when I have to walk kids to school lol.
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Blizzards are only good when you can curl up by a fire with hot cocoa!! Thanks, Catherine.
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I always wondered about the sound. This same thing happened to our car when I got out of the hospital after my heart attack and was recouping at Aunt Maggie’s till I got cleared to travel home. Their neighbor’s tree fell. There were 4 cars in the driveway and apparently ours volunteered to hold the tree so it didn’t touch the other 3–at least it was a heroic death
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Strangely I didn’t hear any crunching metal/glass sounds at all, just the whoosh. So nice of your car to take the hit. I noticed in my last photo, that the tree looks as if it’s hugging our car. I guess it was grateful for the catch. Thanks, Trisha. 🙂
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Holy cow! Glad no one was hurt, but that sucks about the cars. This weather across the country has been crazy!
Also, love the new header of your blog!
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Thanks, Phil!!!
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Coleen – that whoosh sound sounds awful. I can hear it now. We had snow Sunday afternoon – but nothing like what you had. Sorry about your cars – sounds like ‘mayhem’ struck your area Saturday night. I hope everything else is fine – your house and especially, your family.
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Yeah. It was such a strange sound, one I couldn’t really place, hence the paratroopers. Thankfully, we’re all safe and sound. 🙂
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Oh man. Can any of this be covered by insurance? Auto? Homeowners? So glad no one was hurt, but my goodness, what an awful experience.
I had something similar happen to me – sort of. I had stopped in a clear space along the side of the road a few years ago, along with about 15 other people, to put my tire chains on. I was having trouble, so I asked a nice looking gentleman in a large utility-type truck, if he would mind helping me. (Yes, I played the damsel in distress card.) He had stopped to use his cell phone (good driver) and was getting ready to leave, but he said he would help me before he took off. A few minutes later he trudged over in the ankle deep snow and as he squatted down to fasten my chains, a huge oak tree fell on his truck.
I was mortified and started crying and shaking. I was apologizing profusely because, had it not been for his Good Samaritan act, he would have been long gone. I still feel guilty about that to this day. He assured me that it was not my fault and that I actually might have saved his life, because he could have still been sitting in that truck talking on the phone and would have been crushed. Another driver said that if the big truck had in fact left, another car would have taken its place and that person could have been in a smaller car and been killed, so I shouldn’t blame myself, I probably saved someone’s life. However you choose to look at it, it was frightening and undoubtedly very expensive for that poor guy.
Several of the other drivers came over and tried to help get the tree off, but it was not budging. His truck was smashed and then he was stranded there. He would not let me drive him anywhere (probably because I was a blubbering idiot and he just wanted me to leave), so I don’t know what happened in the end, but wow, scary.
So, I know how you’re feeling right about now.
And, silver lining, new car for Colleen!
Hang in there my friend. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Wow! That story is really a miracle, Patricia. I’d be blubbering too. What an ordeal!
As for my cars, I’m just so happy it was only the cars that took the hit. Luckily our insurance will cover the cars. So, in the end just a relief. Thanks for your sharing your story. 🙂
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We didn’t get hit badly,though I spent part of the morning watching TV to see if the gym was closed. Went, drove slow, worked out, no hot water so I drove home and showered. Cold showers and cold outside don’t mix.
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Definitely a big no to a cold shower in December. I could do it in the middle of summer but that’s about it. Hope you get your hot water back soon!!
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Wow — what a story. Glad you are alright. Hope your insurance covers. Guess you get a new car.
We had 7 in of snow in southern Ohio — and ice.
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That’s a lot of snow for you all, right? The ice is what makes me nervous. Hope you are staying warm and cozy!
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Whoa, it must have taken a bit to make that tree come down. So glad you’re all safe, covered, and having a sense of humour about it all 🙂 We’re supposed to be having summer here. But it’s rainy and cold, so I’m not doing as well as you on the humour stakes! xo
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It looks like there may have been some rot at the roots, so the combination of the very wet ground and ice on the limbs just made it go. I try to keep my sense of humor when situations like this arise, just wish it did more for the mix of adrenaline and anxiety that comes along with life’s speed bumps. I just have to wait for that run its course! Hope you get some sun soon, Alarna. 🙂
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Wow, Coleen, I’m very glad no one was hurt. That looks scary! Last night I saw on the news how ice from a roof fell onto a car, crushing it. This was somewhere in Texas, and I can imagine how unprepared they are for ice falling from roofs.
Our weather here is a bit strange. We are getting a 1-2 punch from two different blizzards. Ah, the joys of winter.
Stay safe and warm!
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Wow, ice on a roof, in Texas? Some things are just so surprising and or random. I guess there’s only so much we can prepare for. I hope you get some cozy fire/hot cocoa/reading time with your wintry weather. 🙂
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Wow. Mother Nature is on a roll right now. Sorry to hear about your car! I’m glad everyone is safe, though. And as always, fab pics!
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Thank you, Emily! 🙂
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“No Russian or North Korean paratroopers were landing on our front lawn.” Oh Coleen, I love your stealth gorilla mode! What a nightmare! Why does everything happen at once. No, you don’t just need one new car. That would be much too easy. And more affordable, needless to say. Eee gaz. Three cars? That was some huge tree. I had heard that the ice storms were really bad. And to think that you missed “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” Coleen. I am so glad that you and your family are safe and sound. 🙂
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It’s so ironic how I considered car shopping for one car a bit annoying (at least a time suck), but now, well, all we can do is laugh. Mostly. 🙂 I have to say I’m really enjoying driving the rental car around—it’s brand new and RED! Snazzy.
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I’m glad you are all safe. Oh, the sound of falling trees hitting vehicles. Not nice. Good luck in the search for a new one.
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Yeah, I really thought I would’ve heard metal or glass noises. Very odd! Thank you, Stacy!!
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Holy smokes! So glad no one was in any of the cars! And that you have good insurance, judging from your prior comments. And love your positive outlook, enough that you still took some lovely photos!
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Yes to decent insurance–although I’m thinking they probably are not liking us too much right now! 🙂 Thanks, Jennette.
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What? Three cars? Oh, Coleen, I’m sorry. I’m glad, though, no one was hurt.
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Yes, I second that, again and again!! Thanks, Pat. 🙂
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Wow, that is an impressive feat that tree and the weather conditions in your area seem to have managed — every one of its hundreds of roots appears to have been torn out in the process of the fall, and no part of it was left in the ground. It sounds like you have managed to maintain a sense of humor about it, which I think is a great achievement as well.
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Yes, it was mostly a clean fall. Very little roots were left behind in the ground. I’m still in awe and so thankful it happened when no one was around. Thanks, Chris!
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Are you still driving your snazzy, red rental car? Or have you decided on one of your own? I’m thankful no one was hurt. Our snow and ice stayed on the roofs and ground a week, and now the thaw has set in with mud tracks everywhere. Weather forecast is for lots of rain this weekend with possible thunderstorms. Not looking forward to that.
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As of today, I’ve got my own! I liked the model of the rental so much that I found a used one almost exactly like it. It feels just as snazzy. I hope the weather is getting better for you, Freeda. 🙂
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