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Last weekend spent prepping for the storm. Our century old pecan trees and 75 mph winds on the roof main concerns. Pecan trees are already quaking from top/bottom in the winds, only about 45mph at present. Each, an old soul.
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Placed huge dog crate into chicken coop yesterday, let the girls get used to it. Water bowl wired to the side, their food/water already awaiting under the house, safe from 'critters' in a metal box. Beloved/me just in from getting the chicks into crate, under the house snug/dry/safe.
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Their coop is sited strategically at a canopy opening amongst pecan trees. No it wasn't easy getting their fast maneuvers into the crate. One gust arrived and I saw the headline, Elderly Couple Dead in Chicken Coop, Chickens Survived.
Pic, above, here.
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If this were my greenhouse, above, my chicks would not be allowed inside, no matter how good the photography. My girls would have every pot knocked over/off within minutes.
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Getting ready for Irma Saturday/Sunday it was amazing to watch chickens and cats, all knew. Hyper vigilant. Hyper movements. What was it they were responding to? Air pressure? Winds weren't bad. Scents?
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Air in the garden is scented with the fragrance of pecan wood. Prepping our 5 acres and ca. 1900 home I felt the house here to take care of us, and our work for the house, a gift of stewardship. Kindred spirits with each former owner.
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Harvey came very close to my mom & sister in Houston, both remained dry, kept electricity. Flooding on mom's block, flooding 4 blocks from sister. Sister is in Katy, and flood waters near her not expected to go down until December. Police & military a large presence in her area, and she's glad of it. Gas difficult for each to find.
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And Florida. Beloved & I have a favorite destination. Cheap tickets on Southwest, rent a convertible, and a week in the Keys. How else to calm the eyes/brain from designing gardens? Beauty of the Keys, and their pace, beyond sublime. Praying for the best in Florida, Texas, Georgia.
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Watching the pecans sway in the larger gusts from branch tips, inner branches, upper trunk, lower trunk, at the ground, sensing the roots moving just-so in a swaying waltz from ground to highest branch tips, to survive, I hear C.S.Lewis, writing of trees, and how they walk....
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"Awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be Divine waters."
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"Look for the valleys, the green places, and fly through them. There Will always be a way through."
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"This world is bursting with life for these few days because the song with which I called it into life still hangs in the air and rumbles in the ground. It will not be so for long. But I cannot tell that to this old sinner, and I cannot comfort him either; he has made himself unable to hear my voice. If I spoke to him, he would hear only growlings and roarings. Oh, Adam's son, how cleverly you defend yourself against all that might do you good!”
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C.S. Lewis, The Magician's Nephew
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Garden & Be Well, XO T
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Again, many notes/calls/texts, thank you for each. As I am wished the best, and sent prayers, in return, you have my best wishes, prayers, love.