Thank God!!

[slick]

Still no news. I guess she's out in the back 40 with a chain saw. God, I'm really praying that there is no roof damage. After all she has been through, that will just about do her in.

Check in when you can my friend.

[gini]

Well, here I am - it is almost 2 pm California time.

My own tree man that I have used for years came right on time. He looked the tree over and HE feels that it can be saved. However, his crew is so busy and once he saw the limb, knew that he needed a larger crew - it wasn't going to be a simple job - and he is booked solid. He agreed that the limb had to come down as soon as possible.

He also told me the fire department wouldn't do anything for me because it was on my private property (rear yard) and not causing a public hazard.

He gave me the name of another company that he has worked with. I called and talked to the owner who gave me a price. I about gagged.........but this was an emergency call and emergency costs more!! Six guys showed up in under an hour. They handed me a Proposal that I was to sign immediately. Great thing - reading!!! The proposal was nothing like what we talked about over the phone - and I was looking at $5,175.00.

I DON'T THINK SO!!

I jumped on the phone and called the owner and gave him a piece (read brick) of my mind.

In the end, all six guys were here for one hour. They reported NO roof damage, and I can't see any either. BUT, sadly, the foreman tells me he really feels as though the whole tree should come down. I wanted to just cry - I love this tree so much.

The tree is not down - yet.

It is diseased and over 60 years old.

I want to go back to my own man who I trust and talk to him some more.

My equity line took a nice hit today - but there is just too much to be grateful for to whine about that. (keep working Gini).

I feel about this tree exactly as I feel about my kitties. If I have to lose one of them - I want to know and feel that I did everything possible to save them before I make that final decision.

My man told me that this heat has contributed to the loss. Trees in severe heat reach down as far as possible for water and then shoot it out to all the limbs and branches. This made that limb very heavy. He also said that trees are crashing down all over the city and that is why he is so busy.

Thanks - to everyone - for your good thoughts and kindness. Yeah - I must have broken a mirror a while back or something

Enough already!!

[gini]

I meant to also add that the guy with the chain saw was a real MACHO MAN!!
At one point he was sawing through the major limb and just kept sawing and looked away at me................."look, lady" -at what I can do!

[slick]

I meant to also add that the guy with the chain saw was a real MACHO MAN!! At one point he was sawing through the major limb and just kept sawing and looked away at me................."look, lady" -at what I can do!

....and where are the pictures????? Joking, of course...although I would love to see a hot sweaty macho man with a big tool.....
Sorry, don't mean to make light of the subject. I'm sure glad the roof is in good shape...that was worrying me. I'm heading home now and will check in later.

$5,000.....ha!!!!!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Gosh, I never knew that about trees. About them crashing from the heat, I mean.

I know you love the tree but if someone you trust told you it should come down ... well, it might do well to listen. It may do damage to someone or something if it falls on its own. Maybe someone could make you a keep sake from a piece of the wood or something and the rest could be used for fire wood or something else useful?

I'm so glad your guardian angels kept it up while you had the BBQ and eased it down so not to hurt anyone. Maybe next year everyone can help you plant a new tree?

(((HUGS))) for you whatever you decide!

[shais_mom]

holy RIP!
$5000 + wowza!!!

[lbaker]

Takedowns on a sick tree are sometimes cheaper and safer than trimming on a sick tree, for what it's worth. BUT, get the opinion of the guy you know because takedowns are also easier ~ perhaps that's where the opinion was coming from (which one is faster/easier for us says the tree guy to himself). Trees on the West Coast are obviously different from East Coast trees so I can't and won't second guess I wish, for many reasons, Baker were here to advise DANG. ).

[gini]

MOFF, the treeman that I trust is the one that came out first. He felt that once the limb was removed that the tree could be saved.

It was the crew of six - and that foreman that I don't know that told me the tree should come down.

I don't know him at all - and he isn't a licensed arborist - he is just a worker bee like the rest of them. So I don't trust his opinion. And I was smarting a bit over the price switch that didn't leave me too confident.

I will take a picture later today and post it of the huge "hole" that is left where the limb fell.

I cannot imagine my backyard without this tree. But, if I have to deal with it, I will - and as soon as possible get another tree to replace this one.

I just keep saying to myself, over and over - THANK GOD that this didn't happen during the BBQ and that no one was hurt.