The Tale of Two Trees

This is the big old sweet gum tree at our old house that provided tons of shade for the patio.

This is a photo of the blended dogwood tree at our old house.
We like trees. Understood? It's no wonder I had trouble saying goodbye to that yard and those trees. Please read on and notice the photos....

This morning marked the beginning of the end of the two single most, ugliest trees you have ever seen. It is really quite a shame since they are the only things that even slightly resemble trees in our yard. It all began quite funny yesterday when Steve had called two guys that had worked for us a few years ago to get them to come over to give an estimate to remove the trees.

I was headed home (not knowing he had given them MY cell phone to call) when I got this voicemail from Lynn saying that he had gotten the "word that we had a tree needin' cuttin'." You have to imagine the language of someone with the worst hillbilly accent you have ever known. It cracked me up on my way home. Steve called them back and arranged for them to come by at 8 this morning.
Well, I was headed to the shower at 6:55am today when the doorbell rang. Guess who it was??? There was little Lynn standing on my porch. He was just eager to get to work, I guess. He said he'd go around back and give me an estimate of the cost and come back later to do the work when it warmed up (and when the neighbors are awake, I thought!) His partner used to be named James, but now the truck reads Lynn and Bubba Tree Service.
I thought I was being punked. He was so excited to be cutting those trees down today!
I ran off to work and ran back home at noon to let Koko out, since she couldn't have the day in the backyard. It really amazed me to see their old, beat up pickup backed into my driveway...and they had even spread an old towel out under the motor. I guess that was to keep any oil spills from getting on my driveway. I never would have expected that.
We are tree people, Steve and I. I swore I'd never move to a house without them. Never say never. Mary Beth and Jon gave Steve a big maple tree to plant, so we have a start on a new forest out back.
Spring will be here soon and I cannot wait to get out in the yard. My yard in Fort Smith had been on idle for the most part over the last few years, with the azaleas and trees just growing while I threw in some annuals each summer. Now we have a major project ahead of us and I simply cannot wait!!!
Goodbye old dead trees. It was good knowing you. Well, almost.