As most of you know, we got absolutely BURIED with snow over here in the Boston area. This year I decided to stay ahead of the game (ie- save my back) and went out to clear the snow every few hours during the heaviest times it was falling. I ended up shoveling a total of 9 times between Friday evening and this morning, so mission accomplished. (And PS, keeping up with the snow meant I could keep my car in the driveway and not run the risk of getting attacked by unstable neighbors.
Yesterday afternoon I noticed the snow and ice were weighing down my little Japanese Maples, so I shoveled a path through my backyard to clear them off.
Well. After I dug the snow out from the base of each tree and removed the snow from the branches, I trudged back to the house. I'd decided I'd had enough of being in my wet clothes, so I went in through the back door, just in time to hear a loud crackling sound.
I turned around to watch this enormous pine tree branch land right where I'd been walking:

My jaw dropped open and I immediately said "thank you!" outloud. Not only did the 15 foot branch not land on me, it also steered clear of my house and fence. I just couldn't believe how it landed right on my little path.
So I guess this holiday season I can add "not getting clobbered by a tree branch" to my list of things I'm thankful for.