. . .and when the tree falls!

This past week the Tennessee Valley saw some heavy rain and high winds. While neighbors lost shingles I got an unwelcome addition to my swimming pool. I have learned that Bradford Pears may be a beautiful tree when it blossoms but they don’t hold up well under adverse conditions. Once they mature they seem to be so brittle. It doesn’t take much to topple them over or break off a branch or two.



This past year before the installation of the pool we had lightening strike that same tree and drop a very large limb across the backyard fence with the top landing right up against the sunroom. I had several fencing panels destroyed including posts but fortunately no damage to the home. I had to have the original fencing contractor come back and replace the panels, posts, square the back gate and stiffen up my entrance doors.

I don't believe there is any damage to the pool thank goodness and as best I can tell the cover is still intact with no punctures. I find it humorous because it was the exact same tree and in the exact same area this large multi-limb section decided to fall. I rented an aerial lift from Home Depot last summer and the wife and I trimmed all the trees . . . way back . . to what I thought would prevent such a mishap. Ooops I guess I made a booboo there! :(

But I am blessed to have the tools to handle such a misfortune. Gas or electric chainsaws, great pruning shears and the equipment to haul it off. That utility trailer as seen more action than most slot machines. The best investment I've ever made. Then this past November I broke down and decided to purchase a 4-wheeler for hunting as the dragging part was getting old. Plus, I could use it to plant food plots on our hunting club. A 2008 Polaris 500X2 . . . .Hmmmm no hunting so far this year, no food plot work but I sure have used it around the house as my little work horse. No more hand towing the trailer in and out of the backyard saving on my back which isn't getting any younger.

What was really enjoyable was being able to load up that trailer in one full load and in a flash have it out at the curb for pickup. The last misfortune saw me and my wife along with our neighbors Bob and Kelly out there making multiple trips with my little JohnDeere garden tractor and trailer. Wow, if I had this 4-Wheeler then we could have saved a lot of time. Oh, did I mention when I had to go to the street side how easy it was to just zip out there with this utility trailer in tow to finish cleaning up the damage. Trimmed the rest of the tree, loaded it all on the trailer and was back in the cuddle-sac before you knew it. The power and speed difference between it and my garden tractor not only make things easier but safer, especially when I need to work out near the street. You can't help but love modern technology. ;)