"Dr. Seuss" Trees

I have a perch which I use often--the view out my kitchen nook window!! Since we built the house in 1975, I've stood at the window surveying our kingdom while conversing on the phone. In our front lawn are 22 of these ancient oak trees. Grand old gentlemen who've seen a lot as they've stood here on top of Strawberry Mountain protecting our little Camelot.

Some years ago, our neighbor across the street asked if we would allow him to have our trees trimmed as they were obstructing his view of Mt. Hood. Sure, if he wanted to spend that kind of money. We listened carefully as the tree trimmer explained what he'd do to the trees--sounded reasonable--maybe even good for the old boys. The tree trimmer never came back. A year later, we came home from work to a scene right out of a Dr. Seuss book. Our goreous trees had been nearly hacked to pieces!! Tragically, the tree trimmer had died, and our neighbor had hired an unemployed wood cutter to do the job. We were devastated, and there was nothing we could do because we'd given our consent a year earlier!! The Kennedy oak trees became the topic of much discussion around the faculty room, break room, and church parlor among our friends. We should sue!! The trees would never come back to their pristine glory!! The horticulture teacher brought droves of students by to see the horrible slaughter. Get over it!! Move on!! was the rally cry of other neighbors. Leave them alone. Mother Nature will take care of them. Which, of course, she did! Now, the trees create an overhang along the driveway and front yard, which gives us privacy and quiet.

Notice the absence of our bird and squirrel friends. After paying nearly $200 to replace chewed up wiring and hoses in our two vehicles, we had to reluctantly empty our bird and squirrel feeders.

I can't get a good picture of this view of our backyard. The trees here have grown so large that, from certain places at our window and on our sundeck, they obstruct our view of Mt. Hood. We may need to call in a tree trimmer, but we'll check his credentials before we allow him at the trees!!

The county assessor came by a month or so ago, puzzled by an assessment report he'd found from years ago. "It says here that you have a view of the river," he says, scratching his head. "I just don't see how you can." I explain that we did have a view of the Columbia River--before the Dr. Seuss tree incident.....

I love my mountain home and invite anyone who wants to see the old gents who kicked Dr. Seuss in the you-know-what to come on in!! We're mostly home...on the deck...watching the trees.
Love from Mom

All of us could take a lesson from the weather; it pays no attention to criticism." (Anon)