Sedona AZ (April 9, 2013) – Harley McGuire’s pal, Skipper, wags a dog tale about his Mom’s favorite tree and an exciting afternoon:
Dear Harley McGuire,
Boy what a weird weather day we had on Monday! Very dark and blustery but Mom still took me with her to run errands for a couple of hours, and then the weather got really threatening and started to rain, so we headed home.
As we were pulling into our driveway, I heard Mom say, “Oh my gosh, look at my beautiful Cypress tree!”
That 100 year old tree was almost in pieces! Its big limbs had just snapped off and fallen on the neighbor’s car sitting just below our driveway on the other side of the tree! The neighbor’s car was covered and we couldn’t get all the way up our driveway because some of the cypress branches were in the way! Mom quickly carried me in the house and, as she was going back to the car, I heard a loud “crack” and Mom screeched! I thought the sky was falling on her! Guess what, Harley McGuire? Another huge limb had broken off!
Photographs by Lea Martin 2013
The wind was blowing harder and I got really scared. I was watching out the window and then this big truck shows up with something called a thrasher – and pretty soon these guys were wrapping ropes around what was left of the tree and then a loud buzzard-thing was cutting it all down – and pretty soon the tree was all gone and inside that thrasher machine!
The yard looks really empty now. It was my favorite tree to…well…you know what I mean, Harley McGuire.
Well, Mom says that next year when pollen season hits, we probably won’t be sneezing as much and the neighbors behind us now have a better view of the red rocks. I guess that’s the way to look at it since we couldn’t do a thing about it exploding and falling down.
Hey, Harley, check out these photographs! Somebody said it must have been a micro burst that made the tree explode and one big branch split from the tree!
What a day! I’m pooped and ready for a nap. ZZZzzzzzz.
Your loving pal,
Skipper in Broken Arrow Vista, SR 179 off of Morgan Road
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Oh Mercy Maudie, Skipper, that wind was as feerce as I’ve evah known it to be! And guess what? You weren’t the only one with broken branches. The humugus tree out front (Ma named it Cyrano many years ago) took another hit during this wind, and if you’ll remember we had broken trees when it snowed big time just one year ago.
Well, off came another branch from Cyrano – who now looks like he’s been on a crash diet for the past couple of years. Then our old, old friend, the dead cottonwood out back . . . well, only one long scrawny arm remained on that huge trunk and shor nuf that tornedo or whatever it was split it to where it almost came tumbling down. It’s gone but maybe the squirrels and birds will still be able to amuse us on the big trunk that Ma says looks like a totapole. Just the other day one of them funny looking birds with a tip-knot . . . a kwale I think . . . was up there peeking around the corner at us.
And so, you see, you weren’t the only one who had a headache listening to that grinder machine . . . what did you call it? A thirster? Oh no, thrasher. My head was hurting a lot. Thank goodness for my Thundershirt to help me thru the shakes.
Mom just a few days ago had been out front propping up the rail fence. Spose that was the end of her creativity on that lost cause because the wind pretty much flattened it, too.
Skipper, we survived. Last year it was the sploding furnace and snow. Wunder what 2014 will have in store?
Lovingly,
Harley McGuire
Waggin’ back at ya
SORRY YOU LOST YOUR OLD TREE. BELCARO (MY HOME) IS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OLD TREES. WE ALSO HAD SOME VERY, VERY HEAVY WIND BUT I DO NOT THINK WE LOST ANY THING OF CONSEQUENCE. SPRING IS HERE AND ALL IS BLOOMING AND A YOUNG MANS THOUGHTS . . . (WHAT ABOUT AN OLD GUY)?
enjoyed this plan to send on for a niece in arkansas she loves animal stories and skipper told a good one
P.L. Goldfine, Phoenix snowbird
Dear Harley,
Ever wanted to go to Spain? How about a helicopter ride over Sedona? Come join us for our second annual Humane Society of Sedona Auction on Saturday, May 11th. It will be held at Sedona Wine and Beer Co. Preview starts at 11:00 a.m. The auction starts at 12:30.
Come early and peruse the auction items. Bring your friends, have a glass of wine and enjoy the fun. Bid on spa packages, golf, local fine dining, gorgeous jewelry, art and lots more! Check out our on-line catalog! All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Sedona.
Hey, good news that the Sedona Humane Society is alive and well. Maybe . . . just maybe the thought of a glass of wine will convince good old mom it’s time for us to rock n’roll. :-)
Lovingly,
Harley McGuire