Tree Trimming

This week the tree trimmers came out and topped or removed several problem trees on our property.

We have several locust trees, and this one in particular was causing us some concern--it is very near the house as you can see, and if it fell it would have caused major damage.  Locusts aren't very strong trees, and this one has several holes in the trunk from woodpeckers. Otherwise it is in good health, and in full bloom.  I am sorry that we had to remove about a third of its height, the result is not very attractive now; but next year it will have recovered and will look much better.

 

 Before

 During

After

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The closing on the first duplex was on Wednesday, and we received the check that day.  We signed the contract with the builder on Thursday and gave him the first payment of 20% of the estimated cost.  He assures us he will get the septic work started and the foundation underway ASAP. He's a very nice guy, a grad of John Brown University, and sends out monthly newsletters highlighting the activities of his family and providing tips on living with construction, etc.

The closing on the other duplex hit a small snag in the buyer's financing, but is expected to go through next Friday.  We are keeping our fingers crossed.

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 My peonies are about to open up...

More alliums are blooming (these are shorter.)

The heucheras (Coral Bells) are loving it under the Japanese maple.  Hostas are doing better, too.

The irises are out all over the area.  These are some that were here when we moved in.  We have also planted them in other beds in the yard and they are blooming there as well.

And yes, I know-- we need to weed the flowerbeds.  We've been too busy with other things, but our two hired hands will be put to work in the next couple of weeks taking out the worst of the weeds.

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Hubby has been very sick the past two weeks from the chemo.  Earlier this week he went in to see the oncologist and they gave him IV fluids to correct dehydration, but he was still really miserable with uncontrollable diarrhea and mouth sores. We went in for his regular appointment on Thursday, and he was ready to tell them what they could do with their chemo.  The oncologist listened to his complaints and immediately knew what was wrong.  It seems that 5% of the population lack the enzymes necessary to metabolize 5-FU, and hubby is one of those few.  The 5-FU is a toxin, and in those 5% it builds up until it basically poisons them.  That is what was causing his misery.  He felt like he was dying, and basically he was.  They are giving him an extra week off to rid his system of the toxins, then they will go back to the Oxaliplatin and Leucovorin  plus a much smaller dose of 5-FU, but he will no longer have the pump of 5-FU over the following two days. I am really hoping he can tolerate that regimen much better. Needless to say, he has not felt like doing anything, and was becoming really discouraged, but we will see how it goes from here.

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Please feel free to comment or ask questions.  It lets us know someone is reading this and gives a rat's patootie about it.  Thanks!