The Ice Storm

Fall came late in our yard this year. But at least it came. (We get little color in Texas.) Having lived in Oregon, Virginia, and Maryland, I miss fall most of all. 

We do have one red oak tree in our front yard that turned beautiful reds and oranges last week. We had several 80-degree days when we awoke see to brilliant orange glowing out our bedroom window.

Within 36 hours, we heard loud cracking sounds in the night, and we woke to find the frozen leaves had weighed the red oaks so heavily (one of which had not even turned color yet), that the ice-leaves broke off the treetops and about 1/3 of the limbs. 

Cascades of rain turned to ice flow for the youpan holly tree in our back yard. 

Even the destructive force reflects beauty. But our trees look like they're weeping.