We have a lot of dead trees after last summer’s drought and have been marking them for a sale. Since I was keeping the tally while someone else did all the work, I could spend time looking around. I have seen a LOT of trees.
Some of these poor things are real troopers and remind me of myself and some of my friends. They have been wounded down near their bases by ice storms, insects, buck deer, and other invaders of their quiet domain. I wonder if I am imagining things here, or if others can see themselves in these trees, too.
This first type is the sheltering type:
This tree will never make fine furniture grade. It is a humble, struggling entity, but has a spot to share with any other humble, struggling entity. Can’t you imagine a wee mouse family finding comfort here?
Here is another. Don’t you love the way this tree, though obviously dealt a heavy blow in early life, has risen to the occasion by developing an upward-reaching lifestyle in non-standard ways? It ‘s almost like a life motto: Always reach up!
And because of their flaws, they will never be part of a paladian palace. They may not even possess health enough to live as long as other trees.
But they do make a grand shelter from a snowy wind.
This one is similar, but look: Perhaps it was a bit older when it’s down days came, or the damage was heavier, but this one is able not only to help a bit larger creature, but also to provide guaranteed dryness during storms. Who couldn’t use a friend like that!
But here is my favorite:
I knew I remembered this one and looked a long time to find it for you. I named it “Drama Queen” because of that look of surprise all over it. I imagine a friend I normally would not hang with a lot, because she is loud and pushy. Yet, I know I am safe with her and if I needed anything, big or small, she would be so glad to help me, to draw me in with what might seem like five or six arms, and would have a large base of resources to draw from.
Wounded? Yes, they all are.
Fine, straight, high dollar? Nope.
Just invaluable to someone and absolutely necessary in this ol’ life.
Home's Cool! 
I love the ‘drama queen’ epithet; brightened up my day.
Hello, again, David!
Thanks! Glad you liked my funny tree. The poor thing is my idea of keeping on keeping on. Just couldn’t resist it, although a tree purist might sniff . . .
Had an algebra teacher like it, once. She called everyone “darling” and it was not offensive–more like a blessing. And, oh, she could turn a small thing into something embarrassingly large. But she would die for us, we knew it, so we endured. And we learned algebra, some of us against our wills. 😉
Interesting trees. I am curious now to see who their inhabitants are 🙂
Hello, Colline, and welcome to Home’s Cool! Thanks for the compliments! I, too, wonder about the shy ones that may be holed up in these hidy-holes, but I saw nothing of evidence, except some webs in one. I guess spiders need protection, too. I did think about it last night when we had ferocious wind and rain– but it was pitch black out and lots of lightning. 😉
habitats — love your idea.
Thanks, SF, and welcome to Home’s Cool! Thanks so much for this comment! 🙂
Habitats–I really did not think that sophisticatedly! I just thought of how bad life was for the tree, but what a gift it would be for some other creature, which also had needs . . .
Tag you are IT!
See
http://steponacrack.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/tag-youre-it/
for details… This is fun!
Peace, Jen
Yikes.
Kathy! This is REALLY FUN and interesting to see responses. Only do this IF it IS fun, OK?
XO Jen
KATHY!
These trees are gorgeous! I love the way you SEE things…
XO Jen
It’s a bit scary to think of people so wounded, yet helping those around them . . .