GRRRRRRRRRREAT NEWS!

This is another photo of our gorgeous tree and a beauiful vase of roses taken in late summer. The lines on the window are snails trails (you know by now I don't kill them). Apparently they like the view too, so the window has to be cleaned every week of so!

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Now for the Grrrrrrrrreat News! The insurance adjuster arrived yesterday to evaluate the wreckage that is our backyard and house. We liked him instantly. He worked at the Twin Towers sight for six months, then covered Hurricane Katrina another six months and has recently completed work in San Diego after the disaster there. He's smart, interesting and certainly good at what he does. It was a pleasure having him around for a few hours. Here are the results:

1.) The tree is obviously a gonner. We'll get $500 for it's removal and approximately $500 for the loss of the tree because it hit "structures" (a.k.a. our lawn chairs). Our policy doesn't cover damage to the lawn, but the lawn chairs apparently matter!!! Who knew?

2.) Both 100 plus feet of wooden fence on either side of the house will be replaced (pretty good so far!).

3.) The gutters that were torn from the house will be replaced.

4.) And finally, drum roll please...a whole new roof down to the rafters!

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Yup, I've been so distracted by the tree, I forgot to tell you how nasty the roof looked! Obviously, we're feeling very, very fortunate. We'll get the final results of the adjusters report and dollor amount either tomorrow, or no later than Monday. Huge exhale.

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Thanks for all the wonderful advice about our tree, however, it lost too much of it's root system when it fell, and experts have told us a 2-3 ft. root ball on a tree this size (even if severely pruned) would never support it, and the cost to upright it would be prohibitive because a crane would be require. I will do as Elusive suggested and take cuttings. Additionally, I'm thinking about having someone build an arbor (in the Rustic or Adirondack Style) for climbing roses and vines with a number of the limbs and branches before she's removed. That way, a part of her will always remain the the garden. Oh, almost forgot...her official measurement is just over 55 feet. She was a looker.

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I apologize for not responding to your comments the past few days. I will try to do so as soon as I can find a bit of time. I've missed chatting with you. As always, thanks for your support and kindness.

XO Suzanne