A Ton of Bricks

Sherry and I have been worrying about the tree that dropped a limb two weeks ago. Looking more carefully, we found that there are several other broken limbs that have not yet broked completely free, including one brushing against the roof of the neighboring house. We finally decided that the tree has got to go, and called several tree service businesses to give us prices.

The branch on the neighbor's roof has become an urgent issue because a hurricane is heading toward us. We are right in the middle of the projected path for Topical Storm Fay, which is predicted to be a hurricane by the time it reaches us on Tuesday. That broken limb, still hanging from the tree, could cause some serious damage in hurricane force winds.

One tree guy came by yesterday afternoon, and was really eagar to remove that limb before the storm. (Removing the whole tree before the storm is not feasible.) So, today we made the decision and gave him a call. He is supposed to be here tomorrow, Monday, morning to take care of that limb and do some initial cutting. The rest of the tree will have to wait until after the storm.

Doomed Tree. Note branch on roof of next-door house.
(Click picture for detailed image.)

With the tree guy coming tomorrow morning, we suddenly had another urgent problem. There were several stacks of bricks in various places under the tree, which would interfere with the tree work. The bricks had been there all summer, left over from a patio paving project and some of them ripped up for the added room that was built last winter. We had been meaning to do something with them all summer, but they never quite reached the top of the home project priority list. So today they did.

Sherry and I worked together, loading 34 bricks at a time into the wheelbarrow, pushing the wheelbarrow to the opposite side of the house, and restacking the bricks in an inconspicious area at the edge of the lot. I estimate that we moved 732 bricks, or about 21 wheelbarrow loads. Each brick weighs 5.2 pounds. So we moved about 3800 pounds of brick altogether. Tomorrow is not going to be a good day.