Paw Paws Place

Wow, what a warm summer morning. This morning was yard day for me; I started mowing at about 8:30 AM. I noticed that my new neighbors next door still had their blinds closed; hopefully I did not wake them up. If I did, oh well, welcome to my world and the neighborhood. Pat has noticed that since the oak tree was taken down that the back room is warmer. Also that the AC runs a little longer than normal. Oh well it is kind of like getting sick and taking medicine. Sometimes the cure is worse than the sickness. Pat and I went out to supper last night and were going to go to a movie. We went to a visitation at Shannon’s funeral home first. We finished eating too early for the movie as it would have been an hour wait. So we opted to go home and watch a movie on a CD that we had not seen Ocean 13. That worked out well for the both of us and it made for a nice night. We had Luke for a little while this morning as Darenda went for her exercise work out. He ask if he could have a friend of his...

Well I have attempted to fix the leak at the back door one more time. It this try is not successful I have no other option but to hire a professional to come in and install a new door and frame. What has really happen is twofold. One the oak tree has lifted the slab up to a point where the door would not open. I then tried to chisel out a portion of the slab and put in some new concrete. I have not been successful at doing that right yet. The second part is that the door has sprung somewhat and does not fit properly to the frame. I need to have a door that is somewhat shorter and new frame. I need the shorter door so that we can raise the threshold enough where the water will not come in. So there….knowing what to do and doing what I know is different. Changing the pace a little I want say how lucky and Blessed I am. Looking at my family which you can see in the pictures I have a beautiful family. Pat and I were Blessed with the birth of Sandy and Darenda. They have both married...

As you can see the tree is gone and I am waiting for them to pick up the trunk pieces and grind down the stump. In the one picture you might see my slab and back door. The tree had raised the slab to a point where we could not open the door. Also you can see that I had done some work on it trying to resolve the problem I have not been successful as yet but I hope to get it done this week end, I hope to do it right without having any leaks this time. Looking at Luke on the logs you can see how big that tree was. The tree man could not believe that it grew that big in the time frame that I planted it (1985). I told him that it fooled me also, as a friend told me that I was planting the tree too close to the house. But in my infinite wisdom I told him that I would not live long enough for it to grow that big. “Oh well” so much for wisdom! Darenda told me yesterday that Tyler had ask for more time with his grandparents in Va. I told her, “of course why not”, my thinking is grandparents are...

Well its not totally down yet but almost. I bet the tree huggers would kill me if they saw this. It is a little disturbing to see it taken down but I know it has to go. Pat and Luke have already stated how bright it is going to be. Luke's comment was like a weather man, "it's going to bright and sunny today"! I will finish the Blog a little later today with the final pictures of the tree. They have not finished with the tree yet and the day is ending for them. I will take pictures on Thursday and show the results. I have watched these young men work in the heat all day and I ask myself how? In thinking back when I was young I remember doing this same work on my day's off from the FD. So, I quickly remember how and why. But I am glad that I don't have to do it any more. Some of my friends have ask how to make comments on my Blog. I can not explain it but if you go to this Web Site it will tell you how. http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en...

Wow, as he ever grown up. and too fast. Seems like yesterday that Tyler was willing and able to sit in our laps. Makes you want to cry.... The picture of the tree will be posted after lunch...sorry. Here is the last look that you get of this Stately Oak Tree. It has been in my back yard since 1985. It has been the support of our grand kids little bodies as they swung in their real early years. Luke still swings on it occasionally but that will end. I am a little sorry about it but reality has set in. This is the tree that hangs over our home and keeps me very busy on the roof during falling leaf season. Also it keeps me trimming limbs that concern me about falling on my roof. And Hurricanes, we won’t go there but it has concerned me when I see the news and pictures of Oak trees that have fallen on homes. It also has been a big help in keeping our home from getting too hot during the summer heat days. But given the fact that I am getting older and also should something happen to me Pat...

On the right Tyler is at Muscle Beach, he was excited that they gave you free energy drinks. With all the sugar in energy drinks I bet he wound up like a ball of rubber bands. Then more sugar , wow what a mouth full! I was not home most of the day on Sunday so I was not able to write my Blog. To my faithful two readers I am sorry. But I will try and catch up somewhat today. I went to a Memorial Service for two Fire Chiefs that were good friends of mine, Chief Gene Reynolds from Orlando FD and Chief Howard Wright from Live Oak FD. It seems that a lot of my friends are dying, but considering my stage of life it’s not surprising. We have seen pictures from California with Tyler in it. It looks like he is having a ball with his grandparents, and I am sure they are loving it also. He will be coming home next week end as his dad is flying out to do a few things with him and then coming home. I hope to take him fishing some before he goes back to school. In two days that old Oak...