The Blend

Move in day! Yesterday marked a great start in reinvention. Thanks to my trusty yet reliable moving team Molly, Trish and Charlie together with The Pro-Am box truck we embarked on the aggressive concrete stairs; Apollo and I are sleeping well in Cheshire Ally.... well he is, as he hogs the bed just like ol' times.

Treehuggers rule the world

A nice gent from the STL Arborists Association gave me this tree advice when discussing my predicament about a healthy tree and new building footprint. His advice follows;

Demonstrating the value of the 200+ year old tree in the back yard is key to negotiations with the contractor:

1. We generally recommend that the Consulting Arborist performs an inventory of the treees on the property and an appraisal according to the Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant Appraisal 9th Edition. 

2. Use the Trunk Formula, Cost of Repair or Cost of Cure Method for calcuating your tree value. 

3. Your Arborist can also help you write specifications into your contract with any home builder that basically holds them accountable if they damage the tree further. 

4.  Requiring the home builder or yourself install a Tree Protection Zone (with signage of the value of the tree posted). You can also require a Performance Bond be held for up to 10 years after completion of construction to "guarantee" they do not damage the tree, including the root system, which is as large as the branches. In your case these branches span into adjacent precincts, county lines, city lines, and neighboring property shades.

I think he must be jealous of the average $37 air conditioning cost we used to have on High Street. Anyone know a good arborist I could marry?

Fortune Cookie

Yesterday I was working while recovering from one of the best fundraiser parties I've ever seen.
The Wood in Maplewood donated great gifts, great service, and good food for the cause. I woke up at the hotel the following morning and followed a trail of Jack In the Box taco wraps in a trail all the way to the parking lot.

Taco wrap trail, a raging headache, permagrin,  fantastic donations and over 125 of your best friends coming to party; all signs of a good night.

Last night my fortune cookie at Yen Ching read, " Believe in yourself, and so will others. "
Signs of a stellar night.

Bricks

I just discovered that the City of  Maplewood, in my sector, has a new building ordinance on new home construction. Turns out the new construction has to be majority brick for the city to approve the drawing plans. Good thing brick can be painted... I wonder if they would approve a grafitti- painted brick design... our Dia de los Muertos sculptures CAN live on in the new life on High Street.....