Our house caught a tree.

[rootofnewt]

So, I'm apparently sleeping deeply these days, or at least last night.

We've had loads of wind and rain lately. Last night, Tom said something about "That was a loud one" while I was half asleep. I thought he was talking about poodle farts.

But no . . . when I woke up this morning at the respectable hour of 9:20am, I stumbled into the bathroom to see that boy had not yet opened the blinds or turned off the nightlight.

And this is what I see.

Aw, shit. That is not our normal view.

Walked over to the next room . . . it's not looking any better.

I check on boy, but he's on the phone. I wonder if he even knows, since the blinds are closed. I hurriedly dress, grab the camera, and run outside.

That oak tree appears to be in the wrong place. I walk slowly around the side, making sure the power lines aren't compromised. I hurry toward the downslope portion of the yard, slipping on the mud and leaves. I look back.

Dammit.

Turns out boy did know. He heard and felt it fall at 1:30am. I don't know how I didn't, since a tree falling on the house is one of my larger fears. He said that he got up, looked around, saw that the house wasn't falling down and there were no sparks, and decided it was best to just let me sleep. It was a smart thing to do, because now I'm well rested and can handle a full on freak out without tears and preggo hysteria.

He's talked to insurance. We can't get a claims adjuster out until tomorrow.

We can't get up into the attic because the safety ladder is under the tree. While it appears to have settled, I really don't want boy sliding under the trunk to get to the ladder. He tried sticking the camera up while standing on the stepstool, but it didn't get enough height to look over the insulation and the roof pitch is so gentle (ranch) that he needs to be up about three more feet to get shots of the area where the tree is.

I didn't need this today, but at least there doesn't appear to be major damage. I really hope the joists are okay. The fence will need repair (roots pulled it up), but that's easy enough to deal with--just means Jericho must be completely supervised.

Comments

[gremlin44.livejournal.com]

My. My. My. What excellent timing.

Hell, I'd be having a freak out, preggo or not.

Hope insurance is able to process things promptly. The last thing anyone needs is roof work at the same time that they are trying to adapt to having a newborn at home.

I'm sure Jericho has expressed his confusion at the situation most eloquently.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the roof thing didn't happen maybe 2-4 weeks from now. :/

[krasota.livejournal.com]

In 2-4 weeks, I could go to Indiana and live at the house there while the work is being done here, as the baby would probably have been born for a week or two and I could drive again. And my parents would be there for dad's semi-annual cardio workups. Or, I could just go to NJ for a week and stay with the in-laws. I really wouldn't want to leave boy for that time, but it would probably make the most sense.

[elmegil.livejournal.com]

Course, when our trees go, they probably will fall away from the house, letting the roots tear up our foundation :)

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

So it fell over roots and all? Eeeep!!

Smart boy letting you sleep. I'm glad you're dealing ok. I'm surprised Jericho didn't react in a way that woke you up - barking or growling or something. Maybe he knew not to wake you up, either.

Is it supposed to rain or anything today?

[krasota.livejournal.com]

There's a large branch propping up the bulk of the tree (gouged into the ground). Forecast for today is breezy and sunny with a high of 60. Slim chance of rain tomorrow night. I imagine we'll go get a tarp tomorrow, when it's less windy.

I vaguely recall a few things . . . boy saying it was loud (me thinking it was the dog). . . . he got up and was gone for awhile and I heard doors opening. I thought he was taking the dog out, but then the dog started barking next to me. Turns out he went out with a flashlight and decided it wasn't worth dealing with.

I was on antihistamines, so I really was knocked out and completely confused.

This does explain why he was awake the two-three times I got up to pee.

[explodingcat.livejournal.com]

Jericho behaved sort of like it was thunder. He just quietly looms over us, pawing at us during storms. He jumped up and came around to my side of the bed to quietly stare at me when the tree fell. But since there was no further noise, he forgot about it pretty quickly.

[lightning-rose.livejournal.com]

eep!

At least you'll have a shitload of good firewood.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

We don't need firewood. We already have about three-four campfires' worth stacked for a few camping trips from our neighbor's tree that got cut down last month. If the tree company charges to haul it away, I'll freecycle the wood to anyone who will cut/haul it away. I don't have any woodworking friends locally (nice, straight oak).

[lightning-rose.livejournal.com]

You may not need the firewood, but you'll still have a shitload. :)

If I lived nearby, I'd try to grab a few branches suitable for making didgeridoos.

[laurelian.livejournal.com]

Ouch!

The tree hasn't actually broken through the roof over the house though, right? I mean, from the pictures it looks like only the porch portion of the roof is damaged. If that's the case, then that's a blessing. It's certainly not going to be fun times getting all that taken down and getting what was damaged repaired, but it's better than having a gaping whole into living space, that's for sure!

I'm so thankful that Pop was so obsessed with the dying tree in my front yard because I'm almost positive that, had it not already been taken down and the stump ground up, that the maple in my front yard would have been in the middle of my bedroom at some point yesterday.

Thank goodness for small favors. :) Also thank goodness for thoughtful husbands who let their pregnant wives sleep while they handle evil trees that try to fall through their houses. :)

[krasota.livejournal.com]

No. The house is a ranch. The tree fell on the eave, but we can see through into the attic, so there is at least minor structural damage, perhaps more. There may be damage to trusses and joists--we don't know yet.

This was a healthy tree, not dying. :/

[laurelian.livejournal.com]

Oh no. :( I'm sorry to hear that. I figured that there was probably more damage than it really appeared there was.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that there's not too much damage and that you two can get it repaired with as little trouble as possible.

[short-line2.livejournal.com]

It looks like most of the mass missed the house. To bad it looks like it was a healthy tree before the fall.

Glad you are not freaking out over this.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

That was close! It could have been so much worse. I'm glad you guys are okay. We are surrounded by trees too, so we live with the threat of tree fall as well. I hope the insurance company can take care of this before the babe arrives.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad you're okay and it wasn't any worse. Meep.

I worry about that at my Mom's house. She's out of the country and I'm hoping that the few trees left around her house are still upright. O_O

[bandhiaduit.livejournal.com]

Just last Thursday, a 70 foot eucalyptus next to our building (at work, and it's a big strong building built in the 40s) fell over (I think it was *pushed*--there was much wind involved) with a very scary loud creak and crunch. It didn't do any building damage, but it knocked the nice vintage lamps off, and crushed a kiosk, and took some branches off an olive tree.

Glad you are still getting your sleep. ;-)

[sajego.livejournal.com]

My friend came back from Christmas vacation last year to find his rental house in MD with a gaping hole in the roof over the kitchen. The house was a tear-down anyway, so his landlord let him break his lease and move early.

[twilight-spirit.livejournal.com]

Oh man. I'm glad you're both okay. Hope its bark ends up being worse than its bite, if you'll excuse the expression. :/

[dahliablue.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. I'm glad you guys are ok.