Want to let our blogging friends and family know that we, chickens included, are safe and sound during hurricane Isaac. Although there have been tornado reports and flooding, Lower Alabama has been spared the hardest part of the storm. We, fantastic as it sounds, have not even lost electric power or internet service. Wonders never cease! The beaches and Mobile Bay are taking a beating from the storm surge, but we are away from both. The same sandy soil that was a trial during the exceptional drought of 2011, is a blessing now. It is a perfect sieve for draining water.
The outer bands of hurricane Isaac slammed into the house last night around 11pm. The sound of the wind and rain hitting the house woke me. I could hear a roar, like a wave, the wind gust coming through the trees before it rolled over the house. There is a pecan tree right next to our house, maybe four feet from the wall and my bedroom. The thought of that tree looming over my head made me move to the guest bed in the center of the house. I lay there listening to the storm and praying for people in Mississippi and Louisiana, those experiencing the storm up close and personal.
Our winds have been around 30 mph since last night, not at all fierce by our measure (Oklahoma regularly had winds of 60 on a clear day), but here in the land of thick trees and soft ground, such winds often push trees over, roots. Pecan trees, though, have a deep tap root. They do not go over so easily. Those in our yard are nearly 100 years old, tall, and cope with wind by letting branches break off.
Three years ago when we moved in to our little homestead, the pecan tree at the left, smack in the front yard, was still so broken from hurricane Katrina that we kept saying, “We’ve got to cut that ugly thing down and plant new.” We did not get to it, though, and today I saw it afresh through the misty rain. Today it is a lovely shape and new branches gracefully moved with the wind. It was actually made stronger and more beautiful by hurricane Katrina. All it took was some time.
Curtiss Ann Matlock 
18 responses to “Wordy Wordless Wednesday”
CurtissAnn, I am doing so much better with the wheat removed from my diet. It is taking a lot of concentration, but I am giving over to it. I don’t have Celiacs but I am just so much better without it in my food plan. I miss wheat though more than sugar. But I don’t miss it now.
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My husband does not have celiac, either, but gluten-intolerance. This is a real and serious malady that has long been overlooked and now being taken serious by doctors. Gluten intolerance affects every organ of the body. It is involved with diabetes, asthma, heart conditions. Once one gets off gluten and begins to feel so much better, staying away proves much easier. You just don’t want to be sick. My husband finds he can have gluten foods on occasion, say a couple of times a month, with no consequences. A friend who is gluten-intolerant has not been able to do this. It varies from person to person. I am glad to hear you are taking good care of yourself! You are such a blessing to me and many.
Hugs, CurtissAnn
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So glad you are safe; I’ve never been THAT close to a hurricane.
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Just now watching “Nightline” and still showing people being evacuated in areas where they never had before. I had been wondering about you and yours and saying prayers, but had not been able to check my e-mail. So glad things have not been too unbearable and certainly hope they continue that way. We finally got rain last week, but about time to water again. Eastern Oklahoma may get some rain from the storm, but I don’t expect we here in central parts will see much. If we could only spread all that rain out over the whole midwest, we could all be happy.
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My prayer in Oklahoma, and, surprisingly here in the drought last year, was: “It will rain. It always does rain, eventually. Waiting, God.” Praying for rain for you. Indeed, being able to spread it around would be lovely.
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Love hearing about your pecan tree and seeing it through the mist. That may seem silly, but I already knew you were okay since we talked. I was thinking about the storms of life and how, like trees, people can appear broken beyond repair. With a little time though and some judicious pruning, we are whole again. We may retain our scars, but we are again whole. Grace, my friend. Grace. xoxo.
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Thank you, dear friend, for your beautiful truth. I can return to read it. Yes, Amazing Grace. XO
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When my mother-in-law died, a grand-nephew described her as a willow, weeping and easily swayed in the winds of adversity and his grandmother, her sister, as an oak, standing tall and nurturing. I hope I am a pecan, enduring whatever winds may blow, recovering from being broken and one day just falling over when what is holding me upright lets go.
I’m glad you endured the storm without mishap. I always worry about tornadoes from the outer bands. We’ve enjoyed the rains.
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You give me a good picture with your words. I am reminded of the old classic movie ‘Night of the Hunter’. Lillian Gish is an old woman who cares for children. In a scene she says, more or less: “I am a strong tree with many branches…” meaning she sheltered many. A pecan tree in deed, giving fruit in season and weathering storms.
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So glad to hear that all is well with everyone, including the chickens! We are expecting the rain to hit hear sometime this weekend, but ot sure just when yet. We need some rain, but I think we are going to get more than we need, of course. You describe your little homestead so beautifully. One can just imagine living there.
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Enjoy the precious rain, dear friend.
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Have been thinking about you and your family and the chickens. Very glad to hear you were spared the worst. Pray some rain our way. We have a hot dry wind tonight, 85 degrees at almost 9 pm. That’s a very warm temp for night time at this time of year.
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Oh, Denise, how I remember those nights in OK…seemed like someone left a furnace door open. This, too, shall pass, it always does. God bless you and CO with rain, sweet and moist, to refresh both land and people. Get an umbrella at hand! Hugs~ CurtissAnn
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Glad you, your family, and the chickens are ok, Curtiss Ann! I have read and loved all of your books. I’ve followed your blog for several years but never commented before. I live in Slidell, Louisiana and drive through Mobile often to visit my family in FL. Just wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts in such a special way! I feel as though know you as a dear friend. 🙂
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Lisa, I am so glad you spoke on the blog today, of all days, as I heard on the news that Slidell was being hit with the storm. I pray you are okay as I write this on Thurs. morning. We have had sporadic wind and rain all night. Never had so many days with wind! God bless.
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Time is the key. Never be hasty. Stay safe.
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Glad you’re ok, chickens and all! You’ve been in my thoughts!
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Thank you, dear Sharon. We seem to have traded tornados and ice storms for tornados and hurricanes. 🙂
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