Under the spreading Live Oak tree

I suspect there may be an entire generation that memorized that poem about the smithy. It wasn’t a Live Oak tree—but a chestnut tree–a variety that is now a rarety.

In this part of the world, we have huge live oak trees that live for many years. This one is easily over a hundred years old. Nearby are two trees brought back from Texas Independence Day battles by Mr. McFadden as a memento of his involvement.

Other parts of the world also have large trees—I remember one very large tree in Honduras that served as a school room and somewhere I do have a photo of it–but without school in session. Then there are the huge banyan trees in Africa–which provided a handy shady spot to check out the car when we visited with my brother=in=law and his family in Africa many years ago.