HAMMER-EATING TREE!

I’m sure you are familiar with Charlie Brown’s kite-eating tree.  Well, we have a hammer-eating tree!  It kind of started when Kelly’s boys (Peyton, Logan, Chase) were tossing football with Kelly’s friend Jamie’s daughters (Josie and Julia).  The group came to spend the day and to sort through my boxes of Snoopy (etc) items.  Julia is a TOTAL Snoopy fan and knows all there is to know about all of the characters.  I invited them to ‘shop’ through my collection, as having it all sitting stored in the shed in tubs isn’t doing anyone any good.    While Kelly, Jamie and I took a little break to take a flower walk through the gardens, the kids were tossing the football. 

Peyton somehow got the football caught about 15 feet up in the crab apple tree!  And it wouldn’t budge. So his idea to get the football out of the tree was to toss my HAMMER into the tree.  Believe it or not, the HAMMER got STUCK! 

While they were considering what else they could toss into the branches of this hungry tree, we walked back into the yard.  After a brief consultation we decided on the extension ladder.  But the branches were so thin and brittle we couldn’t get the ladder close enough to help.  Alas.  Jamie then thought about poking it with a broom handle, but none were long enough.  Next came the spear throwing attempts, which did not dislodge anything. In fact, they got the spear caught in the tree…. 

Finally Jamie took 3 handles and taped them together with duct-tape, and climbed on a step stool with several spotters.  We finally got the hammer loose, which crashed to the ground with a thud amidst much cheering and clapping.  Five more minutes and we had the football down, as well.  By the time all this transpired, we’d spent half an hour trying to get our hammer-eating tree to shake down it’s prey. 

But we had iced tea, lemonade, chips, fresh (home made) chocolate chip cookies, and Abie and Bimbo’s pizza for lunch so it was all good.  We had a great day despite (or maybe even BECAUSE OF!) the tree, and it was a delight to have them here for the day.  Great memories, precious people!  FUN!