Lift the Eyes, See Farther

Here is the garage at our current house:

Boring, right?  It is what I see every day, sometimes many times a day, when I drive in and out of our driveway.  But if I were to look up, I would see this:

Funny how rarely I do that.  I forget all about the amazing trees we've had in our yard all these years because, you know, they just fade into the background.  There is one in particular that you can't see very well in that picture because it is blocked by the one in front of the garage, so here is another picture:

It's one of the biggest trees I've ever seen.  And it's not even as tall as it used to be-- at some point, probably 25-30 years ago, the top was blown off by lightning.  You can't own a tree, so I won't say it's "our" tree, but we've had the privilege of having it behind our house for the past 12 years.  It has a bee hive.  On hot summer days you can stand below it and listen to the hum of the bees. 

I'll miss this tree.  Even though I didn't notice it most times I drove in the driveway, I've been back to visit it many times.  We actually had one of those tree doctor guys stop one time and knock on the door.  He said, "Don't let anyone tell you to cut that tree down.  It looks like it's dying, but it will be years before it's dead."  Ponderosa pines have very long tap roots, he told us, and even after they're dead, they will continue to stand for years, providing habitat for birds (and bees).

This is zoomed way in at the tippy top. I think an owl lives here, but I've never actually seen it fly in or out.