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News Crash: A Blogger Tree-for-All Hits Lexington, Kentucky


A number of WordPress bloggers have visited our house in recent weeks, beginning with Miranda (“Scatteringmoments”) in late June and continuing with Tori (“The Ramblings”) and Lisa (“Woman  Wielding Words”) in the past few days.  This has been fun, informative, motivating, and, in fact, vital to my writing life.

Both blogger visits–a literal crash course in the community many discover in this form of social media– have also, ironically, coincided with two of the most monumental accidents either my partner Sara or I has experienced since, say, the Eisenhower administration.

During Miranda’s visit to Kentucky, some of you might recall, my falling, head first, down our back stairway, and landing in a Lexington emergency room with slurred speech and serious head injury—a fall that launched my “Rumble with the Tumble” staircase restoration project.

Well, this week’s visit with Tori and Lisa has somehow managed to happen along side yet another news-worthy event.  It coincided, in fact, with what Sara on her photo blog has called a “news crash”—quite literally in this instance—landing me this time on the evening news and leaving Sara, Lisa, and me in the dark—again, literally so.

The story is this—

Just hours after Tori and her two-year-old Thomas had left Lexington on their way back to Nashville, a freak summer storm crashed a massive maple tree on our 100-year-old Victorian—taking out our electricity, cable, and internet, and damaging our roof, chimney, siding, and gutters—launching my 15 seconds of fame on the evening news—not just on one network’s evening broadcast, but on all three—NBC, ABC, and CBS.

So, below, I’ll let the photos and video tell the story; I’ll share the best images from our visit with Tori, Thomas, and Lisa, as well as the video that aired on our local NBC affiliate.

I swear, it doesn’t get any weirder, any more wacky and news-crash worthy than this—a literal tree-for-all, at least as far as this blogger’s concerned.

It all started off mildly enough, with Tori sipping wine through a drinking straw and the next morning meeting Lisa for the first time on our, then calm and quiet, back deck.

Thomas wanted Mommy Tori to drink her wine through a straw–

Bloggers Tori and Lisa meet for the first time (our back porch on 4th Street)–

We chatted about blogging and Sara shared some of her most memorable adventures in international disaster response.

Thomas continues playing with straws the following morning–

Tori and Thomas play with paper punch–

More play on our library floor–

A single moment of silence–

A delighted Lisa–

Lisa explains the significance of a turtle shell–

Sara and Ralph–

We ate lunch at Third Street Stuff in downtown Lexington, and Sara cooked an amazing dinner of pad Thai—the best combination of hot, sweet, and spicy this side of Chiang Mai .

Kathy, Tori, Thomas, and Lisa–in our home on 4th Street–

Soon after Sara had cooked breakfast for us the following morning, soon after Tori had left for Nashville and Lisa for her day at a national theater conference being held in Lexington, said summer storm blew through.

And, in fact, the photos of its aftermath tell the tale.

Our entire house shook when the tree hit–

We (Lisa included) spent one day and one night with no electricity. Felt like I was back in Haiti. Thank God Port-au-Prince conditioned me to manage under such circumstances.

Sara evaluates the damage–

Where the branch broke–as seen from my upstairs studio window–

You’ll notice in the video below that I’m carrying my terrified Maltese Lucy in a black, backpack carrier and leading an equally frightened Ralph on a leash—a video that aired on NBC that night, one Sara’s father said ran three times during a single evening broadcast.  Must have been a really slow news day.

http://www.lex18.com/videos/possible-lightning-strike-causes-tree-to-hit-house/

Networking with other bloggers may not cause trees to fall on your ol’ Kentucky home, but if you feel uninspired, doing so can crash your comfortable, if sometimes boring, blogging style.  And if you can’t meet other bloggers in person, begin by commenting on other posts that speak to you, that cause you to cry or laugh or try new things.  You’ll make new friends, if not the evening news.

So why not have fellow bloggers visit your home and launch a tree-for-all on your, once calm and quiet, writing life?  In lieu of literal visits, how have you welcomed other bloggers onto your WordPress home page?  How have other bloggers inspired you?

Sorry these blogger visits and tree accident have kept me away from your amazing posts for nearly a week.  I should be back to regular reading tomorrow.  I’ve missed you!

114 thoughts on “News Crash: A Blogger Tree-for-All Hits Lexington, Kentucky”

  1. Whew! Talk about a memorable visit! So happy no one was hurt. Such a freak thing to happen and to have the damage must be something you never saw coming. It was kinda cool to see you on the news though because I’ve never heard your voice before. Loved all the photos of the mini-blogger visit! You guys looked like you were having a blast. I laughed at the straw in the wine!

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    • Oh, it really was a blast. I suspected it would be fun, but never imagined just how much so. The tree accident was truly freaky. Somehow you never think disaster of any kind is going to hit so close to home–especially since Sara works in disaster response.

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  3. I have a total horror of this happening to us, since my “neighbor” has a tree that hangs 90% over our house and it’s 1/2 dead. The other huge oak is hovering over her house and is 95% dead so just hope that one goes first.
    I love those steps of yours SO much … job well done!!!

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    • I found out through this, the importance of sending that neighbor a formal letter asking them to fix the dangerous situation. Otherwise, their homeowner’s insurance will not cover damage to your home. Yours will, but who wants to deal with filing a claim and paying a deductable? Great to hear from you today, Betty!

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  5. Love the pictures of our visit! We had such fun and, barely, missed the stormy skies and falling trees and such! Hope things are getting back to calm around your neck of the woods!

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    • Yes, we are getting back a degree of normal, but we still have all of the insurance and contractor shit to deal with! Lisa just left within the last hour or so. We miss you——so happy you liked the photos!

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  6. Oh my gosh, Kathy! You certainly do live an eventful life. So glad everyone is well. Thanks for sharing your visitors with us and the stairs are beautiful. Great job! 🙂

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  8. I am rethinking wanting to visit you !!! It seems as if blogger visits involve some level of drama and I don’t know if my heart or your house is up to the test!! Seriously—I am so glad you guys are okay—even if the doggies are a little freaked out by it all. Hope you get it all taken care of quickly and that life for you and Sara resumes to normal (whatever that is, right?) soon!!! So glad you had the chance to spend time with your friends BEFORE the crash of the tree! Blessings and hugs coming your way!

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  9. Okay, wait. Now I am hesitant to visit. If we add my luck with bizarre adventure, and your luck with bizarre adventure, we are truly tempting fates. I am hesitant to summon the adventure if we gather and say to the fates “HEY, WE’RE HERE TOGETHER…..WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?”

    🙂

    I’m sorry about your tree and your house. Glad you’re all okay.

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    • Sara laughed out loud when I read her your comment. Have to say, I wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to visit. However, each of these accidents has had postitive outcomes, and no harm has ever come to any of our visitors–ever. And we entertain a lot. Truly, I wouldn’t blame you. Maybe the timing could be a little off? Just don’t get on a bike around here. One of us would be bound to crash, don’t you think?

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      • I have already refused to wreck my bike any more. So, we should be safe there. 😉 I am glad everyone is okay. We went almost 8 days without electric so you have my sympathies! I hope the insurance companies don’t give you a rough time….but they are insurance companies.

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      • Thank God no bike accidents are allowed. 8 days is a long time to go without electric. My longest stint here in the US was 6 days during an ice storm in, I think, 2003. However, in Haiti, we never had power for more than 8 hours a day and once went without for 2 weeks there. Port-au-Prince really helped me redefine what I considered necessities. I recommend most Americans take a trip there. And that’s one place one wouldn’t want to bike–too mountainous.

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      • I agree with the redefinition. We realized how lucky we were to have water, those who use wells and pumps and lost electric didn’t even have that. We were very lucky considering what happened to a lot of folks. And yes, the bike accidents have been forbidden from our lives. If I have that power any way! I think the mountains for biking would be okay if I was doing it for “fun” and not because I had to. 😉

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      • The mountains in Haiti would make for a great challenge, and I’m generally up for conquering those. We ran into a similar situation with pumps and water only once while we were in Port-au-Prince. ANd I agree, being without water is worse than being without electric–way worse. We had a pump that took water from a cistern up to a tank on the roof that used gravity to pump. Once the pump broke and our tank ran dry. That was the most miserable. I sure learned my lesson!

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  10. The thing that amazes me is that no matter who shows, ya`ll are always entertaining. Thomas looked happy as can be! I know you, Tori and Lisa would have been fine chit chatting around your plastic pool! Glad no one was hurt….by the tree! Hahah

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    • We do entertain a decent amount, but other than that we hide in our house with books and laptops and do pretty much nothing. Hell, if we’re not in bed by 9 pm, something’s up. We are SOOOOOOO boring. If it had been warm, we would have been around the pool, but the highs this week were mostly in the upper 70s–unlike when Miranda was here and it was 108.

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  11. Good gravy! And I’m a firmly superstitious soul. If you have a third visitor, you’d all better duck and run, because Amelia Earhart is NOT through with you and yours, yet. At any rate, thank GOD you had time to recover from the fall down the stairs. Can you imagine having to explain, “No, the black bruises are from when I fell down the stairs. That was something ELSE that hit close to home. Namely, me!”

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  12. Yikes, thank goodness that your power and internet were the biggest victims! So glad you had a great visit – those smiles look pretty big and genuine. It was great to hear your voice, too, despite the context.

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  13. Never a dull moment, is there? Looks like you and Sara had a blast with Tori and Lisa. I can imagine the chat sessions lasting late into the night.

    It must have been so scary when that tree came crashing down. I’m glad that everyone is okay.

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    • Fortunately, Sara and I were the only ones home when it happened, but it terrified, especially Ralph, our larger dog. Actually, we didn’t stay up too late, as Sara, Tori, and I, at least, all go to bed notoriously early. But we wake early, as well. Such an exciting group!

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  14. Loved the pics, Kathryn, of you and your visiting blogger friends. I especially liked the one of Thomas laying on the library floor playing quietly with his truck. Precious stuff. I’m so sorry about your bad luck with the tree and house collision, but I’m so very thankful that you are all uninjured. So, girlie, you’ve had your 15 minutes, ‘eh? ha ha! You look adorable and I loved the video! I was waiting to hear what clever thing you’d say and I kept thinking, “They don’t know WHO they’re talking to! She’s an amazing writer!” The news story should’ve been, “Creatives get clubbed” or “The Legends of the Fall” or something…….they missed the really interesting part of the whole thing and they don’t even know it! Love and hugs to you and Sara. Please…..don’t have any more company for a few weeks, ‘eh? I need a breather! ha ha! xoxo Julia

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    • Okay, Julia, your comment made me laugh out loud. Sara wanted to know what was so funny. I said, “Julia, of course.” And we agreed you regularly have great things to say. You totally crack me up.

      I have to admit that I did have much more interesting things to say, that were left out. For example, the reporter asked if I thought it could have been worse. I said, certainly, that we had lived in Haiti for a year following the earthquake–and, obviously, compared to that, this was NOTHING!

      Love you, Julia! You have brightened my evening!

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  15. I am glad everyone is okay. I am starting a Category on my blog about bloggers I’ve met (Only 1 so far but it was such fun!!). Hope things are back to normal soon.

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      • OMG, I never thought of it that way. At least you are in the most well prepared disaster relief hands then! I just thought with his fear during storms, that tree crashing into your house must have really shaken poor Ralph. Did this disaster scare poor Lucy barkless again?

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      • Ha! Lucy remained barkless as long as I kept her in the backpack carrier. Otherwise, no such luck. And poor Ralph really was terrified. But he does better as long as he’s with one of us, so I tried to comply. Yeah, we were in fairly good hands. However, some of our flashlights and other battery operated lanterns were not working. Sara said, “So much for emergency preparedness.” LOL

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  17. Tara and I were talking, Kathy, and have come to the conclusion that WE’RE AFRAID TO VISIT YOU AND SARA NOW. Surely, some devastating and newsworthy event will happen (knock on wood). Say, how about you guys taking a trip out to the Pacific Northwest instead? It’s nice and quite and nothing big ever happens out here.

    Man, I’ve probably just jinxed us…

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    • I’d say yes to the Pacific Northwest if we hadn’t just vacationed there about a week before I began blogging. However, I have never been to Portlandia! That would be fun. You’re not the only one to have rethunk visiting us. Remember though that Sara’s work is in disaster response, so you would be in good hands were calamity to strike! LOL

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  18. You do give good sound bite Kathy, “This event strikes close to home.” How could it strike any closer — if it knocked all of you out of your beds and catapulted you into the next galaxy? Wow! That’s quite a tale plus you have video backup! Please resist the urge to move that tree yourself. Seriously, very glad to know that no one was injured. It sounds rather harrowing.

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  19. Wow, Kathy, that tree gave you at least 15 minutes of fame! I hope you used the opportunity to plug your blog. Anyway, sounds like you had a great time with Tori and Lisa. Oh, and I just love the colors on your back porch, especially the purple. As for how I’ve opened my blog to other bloggers? Bella, of One Sister’s Rant, and I have collaborated and quite enjoyed the experience. I try to give a shout out to other bloggers whenever I can and that makes me feel good. We’re here to support each other and I really enjoy the process of blogging and building blogging friendships. Have a great week!

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    • Collaboration has cerainly been fun for Sara and me–which I hadn’t expected. I need to do more of it. You’re right that promoting other bloggrs is much of what this community is all about. That may be what I love most about it–the sense of community, support, and friendship. Hope you have a great week, as well, Monica! Hugs to you!

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  20. Quite the adventures you have. I know people who couldn’t have coped at all with being that long with no electricity. Bet you’ve had some interesting “clean out the freezer” meals this week! Your optimism is inspiring and I’m grateful this hasn’t put you off the idea of entertaining blogger friends entirely!

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    • Oh, no, we’re not put off, at all. As much as we joke about it, the bloggers obviously has nothing to do with either accident. Fortunately, we didn’t open the freezer at all during those hours, so nothing thawed. The frig we did have to clean out quickly. Great to hear from you today, Lisa. Happy MOnday!

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  21. OH MY GOSH! In the news video you talk about “striking close to home.” It doesn’t get much closer than that!

    And trust me, this is not your 15-minutes of fame. You’re going to have sustained fame once your book is published!

    In answer to one of your questions… We’re looking forward to a real live visit from Sam Juliano (“Wonders in the Dark” WordPress blog) a week from Tuesday with his wife and children.

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    • Oh, I love your belief and confidence in me. But you’re right, it doesn’t get any closer than that. However, it turned out not to be lightening that brought down the tree. Had to have been wind. Hope you have a lovely visit with Sam and his family next week!

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  22. What a fun time! I’ve met one person though WP blogging. They came for a little visit to Sardinia and we had lunch at my house. It was a great time chatting about blogging do’s and dont’s.

    I wasn’t aware that you fell down the stairs and ended up in hospital! I’m sorry to hear this and I hope you are up and running like new again, soon.

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    • Oh, I suspect you are referring to meeting Deb? I think I remember her writing about that. She had a number of lovely Sardinia posts.

      And I’m fine these days–pretty bruised for a week or so, but since then I’m back to normal. Great to hear from you today!

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  23. Just wandered over here from She’samaniac’s blog and Boy!! This is quite a happening place, I find. Glad that no one got hurt. Meeting virtual friends in real is a great experience. The bonding is almost immediate , as if we’ve known each other for a long time.

    Your steps look nice. Hope to come this way again. Meanwhile, stay safe:-)

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    • Oh, you are so right about the bonding being nearly immediate. I’m not sure why, but it seems to happen over and over again. So happy you found your way over and hope you’ll come back soon. I will check you out, as well! Happy Monday!

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  25. This is really a lovely post, Kathy, with the exception of that tree falling. (OK, the storm added some exciting elements to your blog. And to the visit of your blogging pals.) Actually, this entire piece is so rich in details and delight. It felt like we were right there meeting Lisa and Tori and Thomas with you and Sara. I sometimes think the Universe complies to give us writing material…but, heck, it didn’t need to wreck your roof! Congrats on your TV fame. 🙂

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    • So happy to hear you liked my post. It was a crazy week, for sure–and a delightful visit with some brilliant writers, as well. How great that you stopped by. I appreciate your comment and hope you’ll stop back by again soon!
      Hugs,
      Kathy

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  27. Wow. I might have to visit you for some excitement in my sometimes non eventful existence.

    I wanted to watch your video but the link didn’t work.

    I’m kind of a one-or-two-friends person, so I struggle with building a community here online pretty much the same as I have my whole life off line. You, my friend, are a champ.

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    • Actually, I tend to be the same way in real life–only a few friends. I don’t need a lot. Online it seems easier. I’m more shy in person than in the blogosphere, I suppose. Great to hear from you, my friend!

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  28. OMG! This is insane! (no pun intended, hahah 😉 )
    Seriously though, hope the damage is easily fixable Kathy 😐 What a way to end a wonderful visit. Your life is really quite exciting!

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    • Ha, ha! Insane, indeed–crazy, nuts, and all that jazz! I think it’s fixable, but you’re right–we lead a semi-exicting life, even when sitting at home on our own recliners. Suppose you could say we cultivate crazy! LOL

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  29. Oh my! What an adventure you have had as of late! Do you think life/spirit is trying to tell you something?

    I love the idea that you have met and have created “community” from your blogging which you have incorporated within your blogs/ stories.

    I hope things are getting back to “normal” whatever that is to you!

    Jeff

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  30. Wowza! So glad you are all OK but I did enjoy watching your interview and hearing your voice :).

    Looks like a wonderful time with your bloggy friends; I have never met anyone from the WP community … yet.

    Bests to you!
    MJ

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    • Yes, it was a great time. For some reason the folks I’ve met thorugh blogging have felt real and natural. It’s been a huge blessing, to be honest–to experience this kind of community. Thanks for reading!

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  32. So glad you all escaped unscathed. It looks like you could’ve been seriously hurt if you had been in that part of the house at the time.

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  33. Holy moly!! You sure do lead an exciting life, Kathy. I loved seeing you in the interview, but not with a tree crashed on your house. Good grief. I’m so glad you and Sara are okay.

    Maybe you ought to meet blogging friends away from home… 😉

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  34. That’s awful about the storm!! Sending hopes that everything is taken care of quickly for you and Sara – glad no one was hurt!! That’s wonderful that you were able to meet some blogging friends, and I agree with Robin, maybe a trip to a spot up North of you wouldn’t be such a bad idea!! 😉

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  35. Wow, Kathy. I’m sorry I got behind on my reading and missed this. Have to say I enjoyed seeing you on the news video. You’re so cute! How’s the house? We had a similar incident a few years ago when we still lived in the mountains. We had a snow storm and the weight took down a huge old maple in our yard. It sounded like a crack of thunder and we felt it when it hit the ground. Fortunately it didn’t hit a house but it fell across the neighbor’s driveway blocking them in and took down their electric lines (not a good time to be without heat). So we had to scramble to get a tree service and the electric company out there. (Not easy in a snow storm.) In the meantime, the schools let out early and the oldest boy missed his bus. We had already picked up the little guys (who were in elementary school then) but one of us (me or B who I had just picked up from work because I had the 4-wheel drive) had to get to the high school to pick up number one son and roads were closing all over town because the salt and sand trucks couldn’t keep up. Fun day! I’m looking forward to hearing what happens the next time you have blogger friends visit.

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    • Interesting to hear you’ve had a similar experience, Tori. That’s exactly what our fallen tree sounded like as well. However, it also shook the entire house. Ends up that it was NOT lightening that took down the tree. We assume it was wind–though nothing else seems to have wind damage. Weird, for sure. Thanks so much for stopping by! Great to hear from you!

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  37. Oh my gosh! So much excitement of both the good and bad variety in such a short amount of time! I’m so glad no one was hurt, but sorry about the damage to your home.

    How fun though, to have two blog friends visit at the same time! Love all the photos! I’ve had a few come visit me in my state. I’d really like to be the one to do the visiting one of these years. I’ll let you know if I’m ever in your area because I wouldn’t miss a chance to meet with you in person!

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    • Oh, I hope we get to meet sometime, too! I would love it, Terri. However, the fallen tree ended up being a blessing in disguise, as the insurance money will allow us to make repairs that were needed already. Plus, the visit with Tori and Lisa was so much fun! Great to hear from you.

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    • I know. It was crazy, but it has turned into a HUGE blessing in diguise, as the side of our house the tree hit already needed repairs, so now we can have them fixed merely for the cost of our deductible. I am DELIGHTED right about now. Great to hear from you, Nicole!

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