Outdoor Fun

Wind, rain, hail, and sleet oh my! This week was the week from hell. The storms we experience was something to go down in the history books. By far one of the worst storms I have ever experience that is for sure.

It started the howling and hurling winds. It was crazy and scary. Especially during this time of year when we are so use to having to worry about snow, not summer like storms. Some parts of the Midwest even experienced tornadoes along with hail, rain, and sleet. I guess you can say my area was lucky, no tornadoes, YAY!

However, with winds exceeding fifty miles per hour winds, some people felt as though a tornado actually touched down. In fact, my neighbor and I were talking and he swears that he saw a funnel. I don’t think he did, but who am I to argue? I am no meteorologist.

Then there was the all the things falling from the sky. Golf ball size hail, freezing rains, and slushy sleet. Just disgusting weather. All I could think about is my car windshield shattering into a million pieces due to the hail or something flying across the yard, like a branch or something. For two days, we experience the rain, hail, and sleet. Off and on for two whole days.

My cousin that lives in the next town over did have some damage done to her house. The wind snapped one of the frozen branches from the tree in her front yard and blew it into her front picture window. She woke up to shattering of glass and howling winds. She was terrified to say the least.

To make matters worse the almost the entire county was without power. The high winds knocked out power lines and transformer boxes all over the county. It is so crucial that the business that normally services our area had to bring in utility workers from all over the country. In a desperate effort to quickly and efficiently restore everyone power.

To top it all off during all of this I lost my lucky nickel and my lucky sweater. Yes, this was not the best week in my life.

After the winds died out and all the crazy weather pass on through, I made my way over to my cousin’s house to look in on her. She and a few of her helpful neighbors were able to remove the branches from her living room. Now she was waiting on the tree service Huntsville team to come and take the tree’s trunk out of the living room. As well, as remove the rest of the tree that was still stuck into the ground.

While she is waiting, her home insurance is relocating her to a nice hotel where she will stay until the tree is removed and her house is repaired. She ask me to stay with her (-she has issues with being alone in strange places). Never one to turn down access to a Jacuzzi tub and indoor swimming pool I agree to stay with her.

That was my week, even as I am typing this I am sitting in the hotel’s restaurant. Having lunch and sipping on a delicious iced mint tea. What can I say all well that ends well? I suppose it could always be worst, right. Now I am patiently waiting on my cousin to be able to return to her house and the tree service business to take care of a few limbs that fell around my home.

What a storm I do not think I will ever forget this. It was one to go down in the history books. I know my cousin will remember this for the rest of her life.

A fourteen-year-old girl, Sarah Pinking, was riding her bike home from school. As she was cruising along on the sidewalk on the southwest side of the city, she was injured. She broke her wrist on her right arm and her elbow on her left. She barely missed receiving a very dangerous and possibly fatal head injury, that morning she listen to her mother for once and wore her helmet that day. What happen to young Sarah as she rode her bicycle on the sidewalk that horrible day, she was flipped off her bike due to a broken sidewalk. It was uplifted from the ground due to shallow tree roots breaking through the cement.

Now the city is face with a decisions, what to do about the tree? It is a real doozy too. If they cut the tree down, they will have to deal with those folks that love the environment. The community is very much into environmentally safe and renewable resources and lifestyle. That is one viewpoint they have to consider.   Another option is to treat the roots. By trimming, them back or add some type of solution that will retard its growth. By going this route, they run the risk of decrease the trees stability. Anytime anyone touches or alters a tree’s roots, it is like cutting its leg out from under it. Most likely, the tree will fall over, creating an even bigger problem. Last option, the option am sure poor young Sarah will be greatly against considering her injuries she sustain from the roots, is to leave it alone.   However, it has already been proven how dangerous that option is to the public. How many more people will hurt themselves at the hands of this debacle tree’s roots? Anyone choice they make will be hard one, all guaranteed to have great opposition. All of which have very valid points in feeling how they feel about the situation.

When considering their options the community’s civil council decide to consult the expertise of Springfield Tree Service. Springfield Tree Service sent out a consultant to inspect the tree. Its health, vitality, and age. Gathering information to help the city determine the best option for both the city’s financial and negligent liability and something that will please the people. Alternatively, pacified them with reason if they do not agree with it. By taking advantage of the expertise and license arborist, the city council was able to come to make a decision and commit to it.

After the consolation with Springfield Tree Service, it was decided to have the tree removed. It was the most apt decision based on its potential growth, its projected pathway disturbances it will cause as it continues to grow, and what was financially sound. When presenting this decision to the community at first was met with a lot of negativity. However after the considered the data and information the tree service was able to provide, reason overcame emotions. Now Sarah can enjoy riding her bike without the risk of flipping over the handlebars due to some tree is being illogically planted too close to the sidewalk.

Autumn is a fan favorite.  Especially living in an area of the country where fall can been seen, felt, and heard.  The crisp feeling in the air, the majestic colors hurting from the changing of the leaves, the that smell of freshest is s and promise, and the crinkly of leaves and branches crunching under each step.  Fall is full of cute boots, snugly sweaters and cardigans, and tasty apple cider.  Fall, fall, fall arguably the best season.  Like all good things it must come with a price. The price for enjoying autumn and all of its glory is the leaves.  To be more specific the raking of those leaves.  Ugh!  To most, if not all, this is the worst part of the entire season.

Is there any way to make this part enjoyable?  Raking leaves can be a fun time right?  Obviousouly it sounds like an oxymoron-raking leaves and fun.  For those not under the age of ten it is nothing but a chore.  The only comfort that can be taken is at least its not snow.

After some digging and creative thinking a list was compiled of five ways to make raking leaves this fall fun.  That’s right FUN!  Full of laughter and joy.  Who knows it may be the most anticipated time after trying out a few of these suggestion.  One can never know.  Here it is few creative ways to make raking leaves an extravaganza!

LET’S PARTY!

Birthday parties, holiday parties, Super Bowl parties, graduation parties… leaf raking party?   Yes!  Why not?  In this society everything is celebrated no matter how big, small, or non exisitence the achievement is, it is and will be celebrated with gusto!  Now its time to include raking of the leaves.  A few rakes, some food, warm beverages, and a crowd.  With everyone around and sharing the work, the time should fly.  Rather it takes all night or one hour who cares?   Its a party, have fun!  Make it last night and end the evening with a warm and welcoming bonfire with s’mores and fire roasted hot dogs.

MAKE IT INTO A GAME

Regardless of a person is six or sixty years old everyone loves a great game.  Create a  maze or obstacle from the leaves raked.  Another opiotn make it into a race.  Yup, that’s right a race,  who can rake the highest pile of leaves within a set time.  Or a classic who can rake the quickest.  Any of these suggestions would make a great way to spend a Saturday, turning a chore into an event.

USE SHEETS OR TARPS

This may very well be more for efficiency than anything else.  Instead of raking leaves from one side of the yard to the curb or whatever, use a large sheet or tarp and have the leaves raked onto the tarp or sheet.  Then it can be easily carried to wherever.  This is great with kids.  They can rake a large pile of leaves onto the sheet or tarp.  Then they can jump and play in ti for however long.  When their done simply have them drag the sheet to the curb.  Any stray leaves can be quickly raked back into the pile.

As the leaves begin to fall and pile up it is not acceptable to look at them and smile.  Imaging the good times and special moments those leaves will be the background to at the next LEAF RAKING FESTIVITIES!