Solid
towering
limbs raised to the sky
Anchored
grounded
in a permanent guise.
Giants
are vulnerable too.
A bolt can take them down
Cut
struck
by nature or Man
Nothing
is forever
but everything has a purpose.
We’ve explored some gorgeous forests on our travels. Not long ago I blogged about a couple of spectacular Californian Redwood forests close to home. But right here, on my doorstep, I have my own backyard beauties. Though sadly they all have their time.
Earlier this year the tree next door was cut back. It was old, infested and eventually succumbed to its fate. And so it was eventually pruned to make it safe, though the trunk remains.
I wrote about it. And still it stands today, perhaps an eye sore and no longer the beauty it once was, but it remains a haven for wildlife.
Every night cockatoos and galahs flock there and occasionally a family of kookaburras will land, sit and laugh from its bare limbs. It reminds me that everything has a purpose.
And so today I went out and hugged another tree, my favorite lemon scented gum. My son thought it was hilarious … and that I’d gone crazy.
But it felt good. In fact, it was just the outdoor tonic I needed.
If you’re feeling down and in the doldrums shake yourself off and go hug a tree. Or better still, go hug someone you love.
I send hugs to all my wonderful blogging friends. Be like a tree trunk and stay strong and beautiful and have a great weekend.
In response to Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge: Trunk
That looks like a wonderful tree for hugging 💖
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It really is Xenia, smooth and huggable. 😊 Have a great weekend.
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Thank you Miriam, you too!💖
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A great BIG HUG back to you Miriam! 😊 I remember your post about that tree that was pruned. Good to know it still serves a purpose… hugging a tree would be new to me (or perhaps I’d done it as a kid!) But it definitely looks fun and invigorating! Worth a try 😊
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Haha, sure is worth a try Nina, it’s definitely fun if nothing else … Thank you for your BIG hug, felt it all the way over here. Enjoy your weekend. 😊
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Big warm hugs to you as well, Miriam.💜 I love the photos, especially the one of you hugging the tree.😊 I suddenly want a tree of my own to hug.💜
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Aw, thanks Brenda. Any tree will do (within reason, keep clear of ant-ridden ones!) Hugs back xo
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They’re all covered in snow here, so no ants to worry about.😊 ((Hugs))💜
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Ooh, brrr. that would be a cold and frosty hug. 😊 xo
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Right now it’s -18 and feels like -28. I’m wrapped in a blanket. My usual winter attire. I live in a small community where our favorite thing to complain about is the long, cold winters.😊
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But I bet you love it! Still, that is bitterly cold, too cold for this Aussie 😊Where do you live again Brenda?
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I live in Labrador City, Canada. The winters are too long and freezing. We live under a blanket of snow for at least six months every year. It is a beautiful place though. A photographer’s dream. 🙂
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I must admit, Brenda, that Canada has long been on my bucket list of places to visit. It looks spectacularly beautiful but,oh, so cold. Such a different lifestyle.
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Yes it would be. On my end, I would love to visit Australia. An equally beautiful place, and much warmer. 🙂 I sometimes talk to my husband about your posts and the differences between our two countries as highlighted by your blog. 🙂
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That’s so great. I just love the way that blogging opens up the world to all of us. How else could we experience so much and in so much detail. Love it. Stay warm Brenda 😊 xo
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It’s one of the things that I love about blogging as well. There’s a whole world waiting for us to discover. 🙂 It’s freezing here this morning, so I’ll be heeding your advice. 🙂 Take care!
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You too! I’m just about to head off to bed as it’s nearly midnight here. Have a great Saturday.
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Sweet dreams. 🙂
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Thanks 💤
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That one tree looks like I could sneak right inside the trunk. I want to hide in there. Get some peace for a while…!
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It’s a bit mythical looking, isn’t it. Did you ever read Enid Blyton and The Faraway Tree? Wouldn’t it be good if all our worries could just magically disappear? Hugs to you
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I’ve never read it… I’ll take a look. And yes… worries taken away. That would be magic. Hugs ♥
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It’s a kid’s book. I read it a lifetime ago and it always transported me. Hugs back.
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Even beautiful old trees come to the end of their life. It’s sad to see them go. Hopefully they will be replaced with new trees which will flourish to become beautiful too.
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Yes, that’s so true Carol. I hope so too.
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Thanks for the virtual “hug” Miriam. Wonderful post with stunning images, particularly the first. Best wishes 🙂
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Thanks so much Andrew. Happy weekend and best wishes to you too.
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What a lovely thing to do. I often do this when out hiking…I share my innermost thoughts with these amazing living things.
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Love it! Glad I’m not the only one who does it.
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At least two of us out there.
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There’s probably a lot more too.
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I hate losing trees, especially old beauties. We lost two this past spring. It’s sad.
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It is sad I agree. We’ve lost a few in the twenty plus years we’ve lived here, mostly through drought.
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Ours have gone due to wind. Hell of a mess to clean up afterwards. The landscape feels so different after one goes too, for months after the fact. It’s a bummer.
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Yeah, I can imagine. Our back outlook looks so different now than when we moved here. But that’s life I guess, everything changes.
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Yeah, change is inevitable. Just have to plant one to replace em for the next generation. 😃
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Absolutely 🌿
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Now I’m smiling.. and off to find the nearest tree! We did a ‘tree hug’ on a beautiful tree in the summer with my daughter in law and 2 granddaughters on a tree that is literally hundreds of years old and so it took 3 sets of arms to hug it! Keeping spreading those hugs and I will too! x
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Oh how awesome Wendy. Love it! Yes, let’s keep spreading those hugs, to humans, pets and trees! xo
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Most definitely.. that’s going to be my mission for 2017 now.. hug as many people, pets and trees as I can.. what a great year that’s going to be! x
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You and me both Wendy. Let’s spread the love, from one side of the ocean to the other. ❤️ xo
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I can’t think of anything better as a Goal for 2017.. and it’s one I can definitely stick to.. See you half way! xx
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Absolutely, with or without a speedboat! xo
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Most definitely! x
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Great words great post. Omg the trees so big and awe inspiring…
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Thanks Bella.
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The more hugging the better, Miriam. Sending another your way 🙂
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Absolutely, Jo. Thanks so much xo
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How magical Miriam to have such amazing trees! Have you ever read the children’s book The Giving Tree? One of my all time favorites.
It has gotten very very cold here. Winter is tough but I dress in my many layers and get out there and embrace it despite the fact my nose is freezing together!
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Yes, I have read that book Nicole, it’s a classic. Glad you’re still able to get outside into nature, despite the cold. Rug up and enjoy.
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That is such a wonderful remedy Miriam:) Hugs to you
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Thanks so much Divya.
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Nothing wrong with hugging a tree! They are calming and grounding, and grabbing onto one every once in a while helps calm and ground us as well. But I especially loved your quote about “nothing is forever, but everything has a purpose.” Just like the pruned tree that is no longer beautiful, but home to wildlife…..
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Thanks Ann, I look out onto that tree every day and never fail to be amazed by the amount of birds that flock there. Everything does have a purpose. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. xo
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Wonderful story, Miriam. And very powerful.
Have a great weekend, too, my friend!
xoxo ❤
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Thank you my dear friend. You too, enjoy your weekend. xo
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I am, dear Miriam ❤
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Good advice. *Hugs*
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Hugs back Maverick.
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LOVELY post. 🙂
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Thanks so much Nandini
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Trees are so beautiful and also absolutely amazing plants! Love em!!
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They are indeed. Thanks for your nice comment Mark.
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Too much energy in you Miriam!
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I wish!
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2018 is going to be the Year of the Tree apparently. Earlier this year I attended an art gallery exhibition of the gum tree.
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Oh, really. I didn’t know that.
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The Year of the Gum Tree to be more precise
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Dear Miriam, I love to hug trees too! Such wonderful energy we receive from them. I know, my kids think that I’m crazy when I stop and hug a tree. We have lovely trees close to you there. Here we have many gorgeous ones too. But now it’s too cold to hug them. Have a lovely week my dear and hug more trees for me.
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Oh I will Elizabeth but perhaps not today as its scorchingly hot outside. Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a wonderful week yourself. xo
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I love hugging trees! I’m not sure I’ve done that in a while though. Fantastic shots and love those words — as always. 🙂
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Thank you my friend. Appreciate that! xo
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The past week has been cold, even for up here, so we had to hug frozen trees – the kids still smiled even so!
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I think I remember reading that on your post and I had to smile.
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Hugs back at you Miriam – I love trees!
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Thanks Deb. An especially big birthday hug back at you. xo
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What a lovely post! It is important that we appreciate the trees around us, and your ode is a true testament to that appreciation.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it Frank. Thank you.
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LOL Silly girl, hugging your tree! 😀
You are like the tree, too, dearheart, being strong when you don’t even realize it.
Here’s to more lovely trees in your future! *hugs*
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Your comment just put a HUGE smile on my face. 😊 thank you. Wishing you happiness, smiles, love and laughter my sweet friend. xo
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A hug is a hug. Whether it’s a tree or a person. Lovely post and pictures.
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What a gorgeous way of looking at it. And yes, I couldn’t agree more my dear friend. xo
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Love you! ❤️❤️
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Love you too! ❤️❤️
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