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Saturday, July 3, 2021

When It Rains, It Sometimes Pours ...

 Hello my dear friends, 

in my last post I mentioned that things have been crazy here so I thought I would tell you a little more about it.

So, where do I start? ... 

... A few months ago we suddenly had water come into our basement through an old and not well repaired crack in our foundation wall. We ended up having 1/4 inch of water under the laminate flooring in three room. The flooring started to swell with the moisture and the furniture had to be taken out of those rooms very quickly and is now sitting over the house. The entire flooring had to be ripped out including the floor leveling concrete which is still an on going job for me. Drywall that had gotten wet had to be cut out. We thought that we had found the problem, but we were wrong! We then discovered then that we also had a sewage pipe that had a crack and had been slowly leaking in the basement powder room. Repairs were needed and thankfully have now been done. The powder room was a quicker fix. Because of the crack in the wall and the way it would need to be repaired (digging up 14 feet of the wall all the way down to the foundation floor) we had to remove our air conditioner which was the original one and very old. Because of that a new one was required and because of that we then also needed a new furnace (it was older too) so they could work together properly. Thinking that was it, we were yet again wrong! Out of the blue our water heater decided to join in and stop working properly. The hot water would come out of the taps steaming hot and after an inspection we were told it needed to be replace too. After weeks of waiting and days of work, all the all of the new equipment is installed and pipe and wall are fixed but our basement and parts of our backyard are a total mess. I feel somewhat overwhelmed on where to start with the tidying up of things. The basement reno will wait until next Summer to make sure all the repairs are doing their job and I am going to work on the garden bit by bit this year. In the end, I know I will get there and everything will be OK and I can't wait for that day right now.

 And we still weren't not done yet with because to me the thing that happened is a real heartbreaker.

Most of you know of our beautiful willow tree Salisbury.

This Spring our arborist had informed us that we would have to have our beautiful tree cut down! She had become unstable and dangerous due to her size and the rot at the bottom of her trunk which was caused by being hit by lightning 9 years ago. It took over 3 months to get everything organized and I was already under so much stress after the other things that were happening here. Then the day came. The street had to be closed off and we had to hire a 250 ton crane to lift her huge 2.5 ton pieces over our house because she was too big to take out of the yard through either of the side gates.

 It was a sad day for me but it had to be done.







She is now gone and there is a huge emptiness where she used to be. 

I miss seeing her every time I look into our backyard and it is going to take some time for me to get used to it. I am sad because my critters are without a safe place to hide and live in our garden. I made sure that we saved several larger branches because we are going to try and regrow a new willow tree again. Fingers crossed it will work.

And now you know what has been happening here these past few months. Here is to better times  heading this way I hope.

It was so nice that you stopped by today and visited me here at Todolwen.

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day.

18 comments:

  1. I like big trees. The willow was beautiful. But safety is important. Sad day.
    Ivana

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  2. Life has a habit of getting in the way of things doesn't it. And doesn't it always seem to be the way that upsetting things seem to come in bunches? Hopefully you're at the end of that particular cycle!

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    1. Unfortunately you are right and thank you, I hope so too.

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  3. Karen: I am so sorry about the water, this is terrible to hear.
    I know how you feel about your tree, we had to have four 85 foot trees taken down, they were like part of the family, they gave shade to the neighbors and beauty to our yard.
    I hope you are soon back to making beautiful items to post and sell.

    Catherine

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    1. Thank you and I am sorry to hear that you lost your trees too. They are like family aren't they. I am working on some new things that I will hopefully soon share.

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  4. Oh Karen you have really had some tough things happening. I am so sorry about your beautiful willow. Hopefully you can grow another out of the branches. How nice would that be to be able to grow one out of the one you had to say goodbye too. Water and pipes I think are the worst disasters that can happen. They make such a big mess of everything. Sounds like you have a good attitude with all of this stress going on for you right now. You are so right when it rains it pours but the good news is the rain stops and the sun comes out. Let's hope now you will just have sunshine days ahead with all the mishaps. Happy 4th. xoxo Kris

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    1. Hi Kris,
      thank you. Oh, I am not that good. Tears have been flowing and the air has been turned blue more than once. We have 8 branches in water and so far two have rooted and need to be planted soon. Fingers crossed just one will take.
      Have a lovely Sunday. xo

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  5. Goodness! The stress you've been under and then to lose that beautiful old tree. I am so sorry and hope things start improving now that you have all the repairs made and the new appliances and you can soon get a new tree started.

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  6. OMGosh ... with each word, I kept seeing lots and lots of dollar signs and stress and upheaval. This, too, shall pass - or so they say. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts as you weather this storm. Hugs!

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    1. Oh Sue, it has been lots and lots and lots and lots of dollars signs and stress here. Hoping this storm will settle soon.
      Hugs.

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  7. So sorry to hear what a tough time you've had Karen - especially on top of everything else the past 18 months has thrown our way. I really hope your willow branches take and produce new trees which will flourish. You must be due some good luck now so I will keep my fingers crossed that it comes your way - along with lots of good wishes from me. xxx

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    1. Thank you. Hoping it is done soon and a little good luck would be nice. Fingers crossed, two branches have rooted.
      xx

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  8. Keeping you in my thoughts....hope life starts to smooth out for you.

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  9. Did you happen to save any of the wood? If so, this would be such a nice remembrance: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159203142933006&set=pcb.1810257889158930

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  10. This time we didn't but the last time she had to be cut back somewhat we keep huge slices of the large crown. Thank you for the idea though.

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