Tree Situation

 Mower came today. Before he went into the back yard, I told him about the tree and asked him to tell me exactly what is going on. He said the tree is bent and bending the clothesline pole. NOT good. He can only trim a few feet, that a tree trimmer will have to get the rest. It is not several limbs, just one limb that is at least 24" diameter. Good Grief! He has to dodge to get under part of it to mow. The rest he uses the weed eater underneath to get the grass.

Now, the mower can barely mitigate the situation. So, we have to deal with the backyard neighbor. We can be civil about the situation. However, any problem I had with the myriad neighbors in the tacky rental house were always very hostile.  A paid tree trimmer is only option here.

I have choices. 1) speak to them civilly. Leave if they get cranky. 2) have it done, pay for it, and take bill to them. 3) let/expect them to get the tree person and hope it all turns out okay, 4) Expect the people to pay when we have it done.

The tree is a monster with the huge branch bending from about 40' above the ground. So, this is not something for a person with a chainsaw. I want someone licensed and bonded to do the work. This is not my first rodeo with a tree. This will ruin Tommy's fence if the huge limb falls on it. 

We drove by the house behind here and the yard is immaculate front and back. Not a blade of grass out of place. They have two grills out back on a patio along with furniture. There is no way they have not seen this problem. So, I suspect they will not want to pay for this removal. I have never seen anyone outside, so who knows whether they are old or young or what. I have to lean forward to see out of the dirty kitchen window and through a screen and through a dirty storm window. 

This makes me anxious. I will get a quote first. 

Mower raised the blades another inch for four-inch cut. The St Augustine will keep weeds from sprouting. Plus, it looks lush, like it should. It will also survive better any bit of drought or heat this summer. I have tried to get Tommy to let it grow higher instead of scalping the lawn, exposing dirt where weeds thrive. Maybe he will let me get a tree or three planted next--crape myrtles. 

Tommy has heard my plan for his lack of noticing his condition before he passes out. I will be at his appointment with Endocrinologist. I will have his monitor info on my phone even if he has a monitor in his pocket. Before this, he has said he does not need me to help monitor. If I don't, his diabetes will land him in hospital with head injury or broken bones, OR in the morgue. 

I made a list from the Publix ad and Tommy went in. Tomorrow. 

We have been watching Elkhorn. Anyone else? I love it.

Things like this tree bending my T-pole to hold my clothesline are what disturb my sleep at night. 

What would you do about the tree branch leaning? This is a branch that is tree sized and very wide.

My Poor Car

My car lives under oak trees. Oak trees, in case you don't know, drop limbs like crazy. I took a nap on Tuesday afternoon. I was in house or back yard if I went outside later in the afternoon. So, the huge limb was not apparent until I went out late and after dark.

About 10 pm, I decided to go to the store. As I got to the front of the car, I saw on the passenger side a huge mound of green leaves. This confused me since the air was still today. When I backed out, I saw the rest--a dead limb about 15 feet long and 10 inches in diameter right next to passenger door.

It was too dark to check the car, even in the parking lot with lights to see if there was damage done. Actually, since the car has had so many limbs fall on it, there are numerous dents, making it difficult to see a new dent in the dark.

The scary part is that the limb had so many little branches with leaves on it, but in the light of the headlights, even from inside the car, I could tell the limb was rotten. Thankfully, it did not hit me or someone mowing the yard. The limb was so rotten that it broke in three places. I did not notice that last detail until I came home this afternoon.

My car is white. Last fall, I paid a school car wash to wash it. In the latter part of winter and early spring people asked me if it was new or if I had just washed it. It stayed eerily clean for a car that had been sitting under a tree for six months or more. Until May, that is. Then, it looked like I drove through a mud puddle. Over and over! There was so much dirt and splashes on it. Now, it is disgracefully dirty with all the still-stuck oak pollen. When it is dirty, no one can see the dents from fallen limbs.

The rear tires feel low, so that has to be checked out soon. It feels mushy when I drive slowly, but the tires look properly inflated. No, I can no longer check the tires myself even though I have the tool.  One more thing that hurts to even try to do. Actually, it is excruciating to even try.