I was so excited about the June release of Forever Amish, the third book in The Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy, that I didn’t think anything could spoil my mood. A few days ago, I headed for the back door to dash off to my weekly writing group. Then I noticed the pruner’s truck and crew had shown up early. Suddenly, anxiety washed through me. Was I making a mistake by leaving?
I jogged down to the corner to speak to the foreman. “Promise you won’t cut down my tree,” I said, then scanned the eyes of the four other men.
“We never would.” The foreman gave his head a shake as if I had a screw loose, so I recounted a true story.
“Several years ago, up at our beach cabin, we asked Snohomish County PUD to remove branches of a gigantic maple tree that hovered close to power lines. The maple supported a three-story tree-house our sons had built and a rope swing. The guy from the county, whom we’d met before and trusted, took copious notes. However, on our next return to the island, we found the entire maple tree had been cut to a stump!” Our family was crushed.
Now I had my pruner and his crew’s attention. I added, “You can always come back and remove more, but …” No need to finish the sentence; they understood.
This photo of our sons’ tree-house was taken after an unfortunate incident (vandalism) but before it was butchered. The height of the three-story structure, fashioned of beach-found wood, made me a little nervous, but I knew boys (and their dads) enjoyed adventure. No one ever tumbled from the tree-house, however two boys did break arms falling off the rope swing. For all you mothers of boys, you’ve probably experienced a few calamities and hustled your sons to the ER for stitches or X-rays.
Back to the oak tree in our yard: All during my writing group, I envisioned the man I’d seen pruning as I drove away and imagined the worst. But I’m happy to report the men did a lovely job and no mishaps occurred. I know people who have returned to their homes to find the exterior painted the wrong color. One was stained black! And I certainly have returned from the grocery store missing an item I paid for—or thought I did. How about you? Any humorous miscommunications? How would you feel if someone cut down a favorite tree?
Leave a comment and enter to win this lovely Amish-made spice-mat potholder from Lancaster County. USA and Canada. Winner has one week to respond.
Congratulations to Lissa H., last week’s winner of the charming Amish tea towel! Thank you, everyone, for your great comments!
Happy your trees were still there!!!!! We too had a problem before with trees being cut down that weren’t supposed to. Thank you for the opportunity to win this beautiful pot holder. Love your books Kate!!
I asked my hubby to trom our pine tree that my kids planted years ago went shopping to vome home to a 30 foot tree that wAs scalped by at lest 10 geet know if I want something done I hover and ducj a neaitiful potholder I am pensylvania dutch
and it just remomds me of my heritage
Gail, thanks for your story! It made me recall the time my husband trimmed a pine tree … also a disaster, but smaller in stature. How fun that you’re Pennsylvania Dutch! Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
This is a beautiful pot holder, I would hang in kitchen so all could see…
Sorry they cut your tree down, I love big old trees, we have several in our back wooded area. in the front we had 3 large pecan trees and when they paved dirt road in front of our house on a day we were gone, they cut one down and took part of our yard to curve the road into our property and we knew nothing about it till all done. It seems they should not be allowed to do things like this without permission.
Paula O
Paula, you have my sympathy! Did they choose a day they knew you wouldn’t be there? Terrible! Thanks for writing and entering the contest. Good luck!
I love trees and get upset if anyone cut one down—Thanks for the contest
Thanks for entering, Betty! Good luck!
So sorry you lost such a special tree which I am sure held many happy memories with the tree house. I know how upset my family would be. Love your books!
Thank you, Patti! Our sons spent many happy hours gathering the wood and building their fort. And so did my husband. Thanks for entering the contest!
Love Amish crafts, sorry about your tree, I love trees
Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway, Debbie! Good luck!
Trees are so beautiful, you hate to lose them. And when you lose a special one it hurts more
Thank you, Barb, our kids were really shocked … and so were their parents. Thanks for entering to contest. Good Luck!
this is absolutely beautiful!
Thanks for entering the contest, Barbara! Good luck!
Glad your tree was ok. The tree trimmers were here earlier in the spring and trimmed away from power lines. they cut down 1 of ours but it was rotten and we were glad they cut it. We had to have one trimmed by our kitchen and it cost 300.00 so having trees trimmed isn’t cheap. I sure hope that I win Sharma Darby
Glad all your trimming and pruning went well, Sharma! You’re right about pruning not being cheap, so it’s great you could have the rotten tree taken down before it toppled over. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!.
I miss beautiful tall trees, especially in the fall. Living in South Florida for the past thirty years I often forget just how tall they can grow. We mostly have palm trees which can withstand Hurricanes.
Each area of this country has its own natural beauty, doesn’t it, Candace? Palm trees must be incredibly resilient! Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Sorry about your tree..I wouldnt like it if someone cut my trees down, they are memories you’ve had them there for a reason, because you wanted them!
Thanks for your condolences, Kathy. I’ve tried to invent a story where having the giant maple tree gone was a blessing, but so far no luck. Thank you for writing and good luck!
This is a nice tree, hope to win the beautiful potholder!!!
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Sharon! Good luck!
we had a big tree in our yard growing up Dad put a swing on it and my brothers made there own tree house but they call it there fork. there was 4 girls and 3 boys while the boys play in there fork us girls would go and get a blanket spread it under the tree and we would have our tea party which was peanut butter and jelly sandwich’s and we had pop to drink and some of mama’s cookies. these were the best times growing up and i still think of those days and sitting under that beautiful tree with my sisters we all grown now and have family’s of our own we have all moved now and the house is no longer there ( because of a fire ) but the tree is still standing.
You have painted such a lovely picture, Sherry. What a lovely time and place to be a child. Amazing that the tree is still standing. Thanks for writing and good luck in the contest!
just had loggerstakedown all the threatening trees on my property will miss them but at least I’m not afraid anymore had a tree come down 2 years ago on my log cabin scary
Yes, some trees must be removed for safety, Yvonne! We’ve spotted one at our cabin that’s tipping toward the pump house … Years ago, our neighbor up on the island topped his fir trees and huge branches continue to fall on our deck, but fortunately so far not the house. Good luck in the contest!
Enjoyed your post.I love the tree in front of my living room picture window.I love watching the squirrels play on it.God has sure blessed us with so much beauty to enjoy.Thanks for sharing.
God’s beauty abounds, Jackie! I never tire of watching the birds, squirrels, and changing foliage. Thanks for writing and good luck in the contest!
Would love this beautiful pot holder!
Thanks for entering the contest, Rachel! Good luck!
My parents had trees trimmed at their home by the PUD one year and they did such a terrible job that after that my dad supervised the job after that. Never again. He made them do it right–and they did. But he had to be there while they worked.
Your dad had the right idea, Judy. Supervision is apparently mandatory with PUD, even if the cutting is free. Boo hoo, we still miss our maple! Thanks for writing!
Hi Kate! That would have been a shock to arrive and see your beloved tree gone. We had ours in the back yard trimmed two summers ago and he actually did not cut back as much as my husband wanted him too.
Would love to win the beautiful Amish pot holder.
Blessings, Tina
Thanks for writing, Tina. I told the pruners they could always come back and take away more later … Good luck in the contest! That pot holder is a cutie!
I would have had a fit to find any tree cut down that wasn’t supposed to be! We only have a couple small trees in our yard as it is.
My grandmother had a yard full of trees, or should I say a farm full of trees! A small wooded area just beyond the pasture, a very large garden that was lined on 2 sides by several cherry trees. My favorite tree in her yard, however, was a mammoth oak tree near the road in her front yard. It was probably one of the largest trees I’ve ever seen, even to this day! Her farm was sold in the 80’s, and now, it’s all gone. It’s very depressing to drive past there now.
Oh, dear, I would feel sad too, Lisa. I know trees are cut in the name of progress (housing developments) but it’s a terrible loss. I can tell you understood my angst when I left the pruners. Thanks for writing and good luck in the contest!
Been wanting pot holders like that.Very pretty. Have a great week..
Thanks for entering the contest and good luck to you, Becky! Hope your week goes well too!
You always have such interesting things to write about on your blog. I can ‘t wait to read your new book! Sonja dot Nishimoto at gmail dot com
I can’t wait for you to read my next book, Sonja! Good luck in the giveaway!
would love the pot holder… and yes I have a son who was in the ER for those boyish things also…………
Thank you for writing, Rebecca. One of our boys had so many stitches and fractures that I was afraid the ER staff would wonder about me. But our son always healed up fine. Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
Here is a humorous miscommunication:
I don’t know a lot about cutting hair, but the girl that cuts my hair told me this story once. A young man told her that he wanted his hair cut with a #2. Apparently, that is the length of the trimmer edge he wanted her to use. She mistakenly shaved an actual #2 into the back of his head. It was sports season and a lot of players were asking to for their numbers. Oops. This kid wasn’t.
Thank you for the chuckle, Karen! Too funny. I love the story. Thanks for writing and good luck in the contest.
Hi Lorraine! Thanks for writing and for your kind words. Good luck in the contest!
im afraid i dont have a tree story, but enjoyed yours. please enter me in your contest
i dont have a tree story but enjoyed yours. please enter me in your contest
You’re entered in the contest, Diane! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Love the pot holder.
Thanks for entering, Jane! Good Luck!
At my mom’s house she has two, large beautiful Dogwood trees in her side yard. When we moved there, we planted three, two pink and one white. Within the first year, one of them died – leaving one white and one pink. As I visit mom’s house now, I think back to when I was just a kid when they were planted, to when my nieces were little and we took pictures of the three of them hanging from the branches. One of the trees now has several dead limbs that need to be cut off. My mom now has dementia. I don’t know how much longer I will be going to visit those beautiful trees. Will new owners, one day, cut them down? In the 30 plus years my mom has lived in that house, God has planted several white Dogwoods in her front and back yard. Maybe those will stay…and maybe, when I have grandchildren, I will be able to show them some new Dogwood trees that God has continued to plant on that property that is so dear to my heart.
Thanks for sharing the lovely history of the dogwood trees, Susan. And your mother’s sad story that I pray God will someday make equally beautiful. I miss mine every day.