And the tree came tumbling down...

I've used this Chinese Coins tree as a frame for pictures, and as a subject in and of itself.  The birds used it as a lookout, and as a refuge or resting place.  It was glowing yellow in bloom, and sparkling when frosted. 

The winds took it down last week. 

It hadn't been healthy since a storm last year almost ripped a limb completely off;

and, we knew it was only a matter of time, even with our efforts to shore it up.

Still, it was sad to see it go.

Here, my husband has already been cutting the branches off,  though you can still see the break.

We heard it go down, although we didn't know it at the time. 

After hearing a crash one night during the howling of the storm, we went outside to see if there was damage.  It was dark and still raining. What we could see didn't show damage to the house, the vehicles, so, we went back in.  The next day, in daylight, we noticed. 

Our view is lessened by its demise.

Now we are asking ourselves, "What should we put up in its place?"