Elm Tree Is Down

The Elm tree came down while we were away. I spent the weekend cleaning up the backyard, gutters, mowing and just communing with the new reality. The families of Robins, Blue Jays, Cardinals and a bunch of smaller birds that I have watched grow up from fletchings to return every year. This massive presence is gone. From hundreds of perches in the elm to nothing fences and power lines has really impacted their lives. I am not covering my blueberry bushes this year, the harvest was diminished by the elm branches covering all six bushes over the past five weeks. I placed a garbage can lid upside down in my crushed raised planter bed and filled it with water hoping to help these bird colony’s.

The yard will be a clean slate once the stumps are ground. We removed an Ash three years ago due to emerald ash borer. But the 90 foot crown of the elm will never be matched for our property in my lifetime. Here is a shot showing how large the trunk was.

It could rain for ten minutes before the rain could penetrate the canopy of this tree. I will forever be grateful I was able to enjoy 23 years of this tree.

Where I’m at in Kentucky it hasn’t rained in the past few weeks so I put out the sprinkler today and in minutes the Robins were calling out and eating blueberries and worms. I’m hoping to see all these birds back next year. I hope they notice I’m trying.

I have no idea where to go next. If anyone have any insight or next step guidance I would love to hear from you. -Jim

2023 May 08, Family Commons

The inpatient treatment rooms where we stayed for a month were relocated about four years ago and that area of the second floor was walled off. At some time during the pandemic the remainder of the second floor patient area was also given a revamp. From in patient treatment to a no treatment area to create or rest for families to use as needed.

First showing the outside and some cranes where two buildings are being raised in the distance.

Then inside on the second floor which was used for in-patient treatment space. Most the exterior windows have been painted from red to white and the structural columns are preserved. Otherwise the space is well divided into many areas and do not contain any of the original floor plan.

The original entrance when you leave the two elevators and turn left to gain entrance into solid tumors in-patient is preserved and the space above the main entrance with the curved window, where you could look down on the lobby. There was a juke box and puppet show stage in this space with tables wrapping around the curved window as the entrance to the library took the remainder of the curve.

The wall murals are gone. There are some murals sawed and framed from the original wall murals at the end of the this picture gallery. And the last image is Willa in the new art space about to create something.

Love

2023 May 10, Elm tree

I wake at 4:50:AM in Memphis and find the gym at the hotel to do some body work and then shower before my girls get up. We are driving home today, I have a lot on my mind and I am taking a little me time. I get a text from my next door neighbor “sorry about the tree”. He included a picture. I do not like what I see.

Six hours home and other neighbors are chiming in “If you need a hand with the tree stuff, let me know happy to help you out” and another neighbor “Oh no! When did that tree fall?! Hope everyone is ok”. It fell at 12:30AM no storm no wind. A safe time to let go when no one or critter would be harmed. I am hoping this tree will survive.

The below gallery looks bad but. No damage to my fence, roof or structure. It is a bunch of brances to deal with and a little bit bigger than my chainsaw and a lot to haul off. Some rigging is required to make sure no damage happens. And having cared for this tree I see a Crain booming all these limbs straight into a chipper.

2023 May 9, Nothing definitive

As many of you know Willa scanned in January of 2023 and they saw something but there was no resolution on what. Willa was schedule for another scan in three months, that was today. We covered the current scan, prior scans and talked about the radiation Willa has received which was Pronton in 2011 and cyber knife in 2016.

Necroses. Seven years from her last treatment. We have supplied the MRI scans to our local Dr and sometime next week we will meet and talk.

At the end of the dissuasion at St Jude Willa asked “ Do I have cancer”. The answer “We are gathering data to make a proper assessment.” So proud of our 12 year old.