Finger Update

    Went for a check-up of my finger and had the splint adjusted to keep it straighter. Unfortunately I have to continue to wear it for another 4 weeks and then will graduate to a velcro splint. I am hoping I will be able to get back to tennis then as I am sorely missing it. Also, it is difficult to keep it clean and dry (my yellow rubber glove is my new best friend) so it is becoming a bit of a nuisance. My pool will be ready in the next week or two but I doubt I will be swimming much until July!

   I wear it while chopping vegetables, handling meat and even when eating a "hands-on" meal like burritos or barbecued chicken wings!

A Possible Replacement

    My last remaining Wiegela bush (there were three) is in full bloom this week and I am considering it as a replacement for the Spruce. It's fairly tidy and will grow about 6 feet tall so would fill the space nicely, given a few years. 

   The two I lost had a deeper red blossom so maybe I will go with that this time.

The Stump

    Well, it's gone and all that's left is the stump and a ton of cones and sawdust. The logs were put out at the curb and were gone by this afternoon. The rest of the debris which wasn't carted away by the tree guys will be picked up (I hope) by the garden refuse collectors There are 6 bags! They are supposed to come today but haven't been yet due, I think, to all the trees that came down in last Saturday's storm. I passed one today that was spread over two front lawns. It was huge!

   Here is all that remains of the Norway Spruce. You can see how it had outgrown the small space it was planted in. Now I need to decide what to put there to hide the composter.

Today the Tree Came Down

    After waiting weeks for the permit, the time has come for the Norway Spruce in my back yard to be brought down. I forgot to take a "before" photo but here is the progress so far.

   This is the long-awaited permit which has to be displayed prominently.

You can see Jay standing on one of the lower branches which he left as he worked up the tree.

Now he is approaching the summit. I had to leave at this point as it was beginning to look dangerous!

When I returned a couple of hours later the worst was over. They are still working on it (7:00 p.m.) and I think they will have to come back tomorrow to finish up. The mess is incredible, pine cones everywhere! I am so glad I waited until it was done to take the cover off the pool. Hopefully in the next day or two I will be able to post a photo of my reclaimed back yard.