Hanging Out In The Trees

Prayers to everyone in Michigan.  I didn't even know there WERE tornados in Michigan.  I know as a kid on the ranch in California, we had much worse weather (of all kinds) than we have had for the last 20 years.  It seems Mother Nature is trying to catch back up.  

In 2013 I crossed the U.S. following the Westerfields.  Thank goodness Barbara was the best navigator ever.  She took us around all the big storms, but a couple of times we got pretty close.  It was SO scary, my heart goes out to anyone who has to go through that.  No surprise, I haven't driven back East since.  As much as I would love to visit, once was enough.

Here in sunny California, it was "sunny" with a good bit of wind.  I had two things on my plate ... the landscaper was coming at noon, as was the tree trimmers I called the day before (talk about service).  I was trying to keep busy doing cleanup work, which involved this bookshelf that I don't think has seen the light of day for maybe nine years.  Hey ... all the books cover up the dust!  

You're going to love this ... these are COOKBOOKS.  I was trying to increase my skills, to no avail.  I admit, I already got rid of HALF before I placed these here.  Those on the top shelf (right) all belonged to my grandmother.  I also admit, none of these helped me one bit!

That's when I got the call.  The landscaper can't come until 4:30.  My head won't let me sit still that long, so out to the garage I went trying to empty some of the moving boxes.  Oh yes, there are still at least a dozen to go.  That wasn't really all that fun, but my stack of empty boxes is getting bigger.

At noon, the tree trimmer showed up.  They are the same ones that removed three big sycamore trees for me.  I probably should have had them trimmed up years ago.  I don't know how I came upon this crew, but they are the best EVER.  Not only do they do a quick job, they pick up every single leaf and branch before they leave.  Here's the biggest tree "before" picture.

See that tiny little white spot?  That's the guy leaning out over those skinny branches pruning each one.  No worries I guess because he is actually tied in to the tree.  The wind was blowing quite nicely and he was swaying back and forth like crazy.  

I found out later that about 4 months ago, he was in a small tree, so didn't tie himself in.  He fell, breaking his wrist, but here he is, back up in the tree wielding that chain saw like it was a feather.  Tough guys in this crew.

Everything goes into the shredder.  This is just the coolest gadget ever.  Not only does it do leaves and branches, it will chew up 15" wide tree trunks like they were toothpicks.  

This one was the real problem.  It had two big limbs hanging over the house ... and this is the gutter plugger.  I may have to cover this one, though looking outside through Niagara Falls is rather pleasant.

I would have just chopped the top off.  By the time they were done, we were all sneezing like crazy.  Sycamore trees are known for causing distress ... me included (sneeze sneeze).  At some point I will probably have them take these out completely.

As for the landscaper ... he showed up early.  We talked about the rock, putting plastic under it and not planting anything at all.  The pretty walkway probably won't happen since it's WAY too expensive to buy the brick and pavers.  I asked him to make some swirls with maybe two different colors of rock.  Really, I've leaving it up to him since he is the Pro Landscaper.  All my ideas never really turn out all that great.

He will call me with a price and we'll go from there.  The weed company will pay for their half, including digging out all the dirt.  I have a big pile in the back corral I would like to get rid of, so they can use that to backfill.  We shall see how it goes.

The last problem of the day was to contact the landscape LIGHT guy.  The problem gardeners have cut the wire to my lights in three places.  He will be here to repair them in about two weeks.  Things are looking up ... and looking better.  Next week ... mowing down those rose bushes!!!!