This officially goes on record as my longest blog ever -- mainly because of the dozens of photos I felt compelled to post to create an overall picture of the tragedy and miracle.
Any time you want to view a larger version of the photo, you can click on it and it should open up in a new window. Sorry these are in somewhat random order (outdoors and indoors) but you will be able to see the progression of a big pine mess to a somewhat empty lot by mid-afternoon. I will try to include captions for most -- but in the interest of time -- they'll be brief.
First view from up the road. You'll see there are 3 trees left standing. The ones to the left of the house and right of it are "ours" but the one in the middle, the tall one, is in the field next to our lot. We never really noticed that tree before because all the pine trees were almost that tall!
Tree branches in southeast corner of our lot. Not sure what trees they came from.
Piece of shed just to the east of our yard -- could be our shed that got mangled or the one that flew in pieces from the lake to the northwest of our place.
New power pole installed. The Lone Spruce used to be a heckuva lot taller than that pole!
More "scrap metal" from a shed.
Trees downed across the road are completely blocking the lake access. Do you see a road there? I didn't think so. Good news is that the township was working to clear that all morning so they also generously removed some of our debris, too.
Mailbox intact and the roots of the Lone Spruce exposed. The pine tree snapped off and the top flew east into the yard. It was the only pine tree that didn't collapse under pressure.
If I haven't mentioned the reason we called this huge tree the Lone Spruce... It used to stand so tall on its own before the other pine trees to the west "grew up." When I was little and my dad was still driving truck, his CB handle was "Lone Spruce." So it has become quite symbolic for our family -- which is why it was hard to say goodbye to a tree of all things.
View from the south, looking north. They all fell like dominoes at a southeast angle.
The chainsawing began around 8 a.m. and didn't let up until early afternoon.
Everyone with healthy backs moved branches all morning. Here you see my sister Renell (red hat) and Jim (orange shirt).
Inside the house, everything was blown off the walls in the main hallway, including these candle holders made by my brother Ron in the 1970s. They have hung in place since our addition was completed 32 years ago.
View from the west porch. Nothing but pine trees. Can't see the driveway, let alone the road that goes by the south side of our lot.
Trim was blown off the west door on the outside AND the inside.
Yesterday's news hangs in the plum bushes.
Amazingly, this birdfeeder hung on.
From this angle, you can see how close all of these were to the house. Close but not quite there, thankfully!!
Due to rain and rain and rain all summer, I think the wind had not problem uprooting these trees.
Roof damage. No big hole, just lots of shingles lost.
What driveway?
Lilac bushes were all "pushed over" to the right (southeast).
This shed wrapped itself around my mom's clothes line. Pieces of it were found quite a ways to the southeast.
All kinds of "stuff" blew around our yard. Lots of the items were stored in that shed that no longer stands in the back yard.
This tree was ripped off the left side of its trunk and flown south.
This sharp piece of wood from an old rocking chair in the shed found its way on top of the slide.
Another view of the shed.
Mom's poor clothes line is shot.
Everything gets twisted in a twister.
Lots of shingles found on the opposite end of the yard.
This is the top half of that pine that snapped off on the west side of the driveway and flew over to the east side onto the front lawn. Scary.
Carter shows how big the roots of the Lone Spruce are.
My parents don't have cable. And they probably won't get any stations for awhile.
South looking north at the blocked driveway.
Broken living room window that amazingly only broke on the outside. No damage or glass inside.
That ripped off tree again.
Part of the shed was carried with it.
You can see less than 6 feet separated those trees from the corner of the house anyway.
Broken window outside my parents' bedroom to the north. This one dumped a lot of glass into their room and on their carpet.
Tree bending in and under the covered porch.
Twisted windchime. We found a missing cup from this out by the road.
Raylene and I say goodbye.
So does Renell.
My dad watches over progress and sees our pile of discarded branches growing.
Carter helps measure the trees before cutting so they potentially can be sold for use as poles.
Part of the neighbor's shed from the northwest found its way around our porch.
Raylene hauls branches.
Nephew Jesse helped a lot with his chainsaw.
Rachel hauls branches.
We had the Marines come in and help! Well, my nephew Matt was first on the scene and worked hard all day with his chainsaw.
Look at the progress!! We can see the driveway and the house... and the emptiness.
My brother Ron clears some branches.
Dad oversees the workers.
The Lone Spruce says so long to his namesake. Yes, I cried taking this photo. I know, it's only a tree...
Why did this stupid, flimsy little fishing sign remain standing and the skyscraper tree topple? That's crazy.
A camper topper in the backyard was blown away but this antique sled underneath didn't move an inch.
Parts of the camper.
Fence post got whacked by some flying object.
More twisted metal. Scary.
Pile of pine branches still growing. They were going to be hauled off (or have been) later.
Not much left of our western tree line.
Close to the end of initial cleanup efforts.
Can see the driveway now.
Can see out to the road, too.
Pine pile was taller than me by early afternoon (of course, that's not saying much).
Lone Spruce gets stripped down before getting cut up.
My cousin Aaron releases the Lone Spruce from its roots.
It briefly stood upright again.
Parts of the Lone Spruce get hauled away, section by section.
Stubborn spruce wanted to stay!
How many rings, I wonder. We're thinking 80 or so.
Spruce loses battle.
Time to go.
Mom watches the last of the Lone Spruce get hauled away.
Mom sadly notes the big empty hole that has created a lot of family memories.
For my family members and me, this is the saddest view ever.
Dad surveys the damage, too. Weird to see the lake in the distance without the tree there. I think he'd prefer it if the view was partially blocked like the "old days."
Nothing spared from damage.
Window glass Carter and I picked up all over the yard. It had to carry over the house or around it to get where it landed. Freaky.
Nieces Angie and Caryn arrive as reinforcements!
Time to rest.
This doesn't look anything the view from the morning, sad to say.
We are fortunate, though, compared to neighbors further down the path of the tornado who lost their huge barn!
Yes, I think I've said it numerous times. We were blessed.
Thought I'd share the view out our 8th-floor window at 5:45 p.m. Fort Lauderdale time!
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