Granny's Pantry #53: Good-Bye to an Old Friend

For all of my life--a considerable length of time--a majestic oak has stood in the middle of the elliptical drive beside of Granny's house at High Rock.

I'm not sure what type of oak it is, but I suspect White Oak. The life span of this oak can be 200-300 years. So this tree may have been mature already when the High Rock house was built in the late 1800's.   

It likely watched the walls of the house go up and oversaw the coming and goings and life changes at High Rock from Granddaddy Cole's generation (b. 1895) and into the summer of 2019.

On July 6th about 3 in the afternoon, we visited the High Rock farm for a few minutes. It had been a while, and we just wanted to be there for a little while. As we drove up and parked in front of and beside the old oak, we could see a distinctive crack down the trunk and a bit of a lean to one side. One of our party had an uncanny feeling of distinct danger, and warned us to move the vehicle and take care.  

Another of us was not as  careful, and stood just under the tree to take pictures of the peacocks walking underneath.

We wandered around the yard and through the house, so full of poignant memories. About 4 pm, we drove away down the cedar lined drive and turned toward home.

Sometime in the two hour space between when we drove away and 6 pm, when the grounds were checked again, the old tree gave up and tumbled to the ground. There was no storm, no wind...she just was done. She took with her the car shed and wheat house, ancient structures that will also be missed.

remains of wheat house

remains of car shed

[Update on car shed and wheat house--11/9/19]  

It's still smoking...]

No one was there to see her end...or to hear the thundering crash it made as it fell except the peacocks

and faithful Thea.

We may never know when the old tree fell, whether as we drove down away down the driveway or just before it was found lying on the ground two hours later.
What we do believe is that we experienced a miracle, and God was merciful in letting the tree do no damage to any of us who visited that Saturday afternoon. We are grateful.

Good-bye, old friend.            

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life

(Psalm 138:7a)