Saturday, June 17, 2017

June 17 – “Storm prep mode”

Well, I actually gave up a fishing trip yesterday.  Not that it was some big event planned for weeks or anything.  I was just hoping to go out to the beach and do a little wade fishing.  It’s been a long time.  But, the beachfront was pretty choppy when I checked the beachcams on the computer, and I remembered that it was Friday.  What’s so big about Friday?  Well, in Galveston at my house Friday in the summer generally means it’s time to mow the grass.  And it was.  Sigh.  Guess my sense of responsibility usurped my deepest inner desires.  This time.

As generally happens, I took care of the mowing and edging while Chris tackled flower beds.  She really has the back yard looking great.  It didn’t really take all that long to do the mowing and edging, so I made the mistake of pondering the trees.  See, Chris had told me at breakfast that there was already a tropical disturbance working its way into the Gulf.  We’ll probably see evidence of it sometime about the middle of next week, if it stays on track.  And that always adds one more step to our homeowner summer preparations for storm season.  It was time to trim some trees. 

Not the huge pruning jobs that happen in the Fall when the trees start losing leaves.  This one has nothing to do with the shaping and beautifying of the plant.  It has everything to do with getting it out of the way.  The obvious place that needs help is anywhere a branch has access to the roof.  At the very least the wind from the storm can cause the branches to sway and scrape and totally ruin shingles.  At the worst a branch can break off and land on the roof, doing even worse damage.  We have seen the effects of both.  Another potential disaster is when tree branches hit against or fall onto power lines, or in our case, power lines, computer access lines (telephone) and cable lines.  They all run right through a Brazilian Pepper tree that has taken up residence right on the property line (other side) between us and 40 Steps (the lot next door, which, by the way, has allegedly been “officially” sold.  Still has a For Sale sign on it, though, so our hopes, however slight, remain). 

After a brief foray onto the roof to take care of some minor trimming there, I attacked the pepper tree with a vengeance.  I got the lines free from the alien incursion, but it took the last few hours of energy I had left.  It was hot again.  Something like 80 degrees with a heat index of 98.  We drank plenty of water, and even found reason to walk through the house every so often, so it wasn’t too bad.  It did warrant a nap in the afternoon, though.  I don’t think it was optional.  I was out like a light.  Yard looks good, though.  We’re still praying the storm season is a light one for Galveston.

James 1:5-6 says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”


Father, watch over out Island, our home, for the next few months in particular.  Amen.

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