Grand old oak

I only know of one other oak in the area that is the size of this tree and sadly it was hit by lightening last night. Sheets of bark were slung all over the pasture. I have enjoyed the shade of this oak and the beauty of it thinking it would make a great homeplace for one of the kids, the limbs would easily have held a swing. Also lost a young tulip poplar, probably my favorite tree and a maple. All wild trees, not planted by me, just nature, over the years, long before me. Spent most of the morning clearing fence lines, picking up debris, especially cherry limbs for they are poisonous, then I found about half an acre of thistle in the back pasture, took Alex and me the rest of the morning to pull them up. Now off to wash out the mohair and wool I dyed yesterday.