men love power tools

This is a sad story.

We have a huge tree in the front yard, and I LOVE it!

It is one of the reasons I really loved this house when we were looking for houses.

But the HOA apparently doesn't love it.

Because it hangs over the road.

Give me a break!

So we got some tree trimming quotes.

$500.

Seriously!?  To trim a tree?!!?

So Ryan set out to do it himself.  He shimmied up the tree, tied him and the chainsaw to a branch, and tried to cut off some branches.  

But it was hot, and he was really high, and next thing I know, he almost passes out.

willow before

 So instead of passing out and falling out of a tree, Ryan got a bucket truck.

Exhibit A: Ryan in bucket truck

 This handy bucket truck Ryan could control from the bucket and raise himself to wherever he needed to be to cut the poor tree limbs.  

Exhibit B: Ryan about to cut tree limb

 Ryan was out there for 5 hours cutting this thing!

Because once he got the limbs down, he needed to cut and pile those so the city pick-up would come and get the branches.

 Oh, and I was in the house, doing my Saturday chores, and Ryan kept having me come outside to see what I thought about what branch to cut, bring him water, etc.  The funny thing is, is I was wearing this:

for your viewing pleasure

 You see, I have some pretty funny girlfriends who gave me a birthing baby gift.  It included  things like stool softeners, hemorrhoid cream, nipple cream, etc.; and this lovely little number.  They may have thought this gorgeous pink cherry nightgown was a joke, but once I tried it on, it was no joke!  I was wearing it all day on the tree trimming day.  So each time I went outside to observe/help Ryan, at least one neighbor would catch  me in this.  

Fortunately my neighbors are awesome, and they'd say it was cute (lie), or say "you're 9 months pregnant, wear whatever you want!" (truth).  

I love this nightgown.

And that's the story about how Ryan appeased the HOA, and saved us $500, and I gave my neighbors something to laugh about.  

Willow after.

Ryan rules.