Sunday: Tara chomps on a hairy, somewhat toxic caterpillar - but after having some nasty and scary side effects, she ends up okay. However, I end up with several days of "severe skin irritation" from just handling the paper towel that the critter was on for id for the vet.

Monday: Still watching Tara as she recovers.

Tuesday Late Afternoon: Tara eats a chunk of Christmas cactus after tearing off the leaves of some Poinsettia. Another emergency call to the vet. Tara okay.

Tuesday evening: A thunderstorm passes through and a tree falls on our back deck just 4 minutes after I had come in from the deck. No one is hurt, but the tree blocks all the back doors. Full storm damage unknown.

Wednesday morning: In daylight, we discover another tree had also fallen on the house roof; plus, there was massive tree damage all over the yard. Also, extreme damage to deck.

Thursday: Tree service comes out to remove the two (and other) downed trees. They discover a hole in the roof from tree that fell on the roof. It starts to rain again, and they leave without finishing their job.

Friday: Tree service returns & removes as much as they can under wet conditions, but full "normal" cleanup is only partial. Roofer then comes out and finds at least 9 holes in the roof from the tree's penetration. And hail damage. Plus, damage to our multiple skylights over the solar room. He also notes that the deck has been moved off its foundation.

Friday Night: Weather forecast abruptly changes. First freeze of the season. A large part of the evening spent trying to cover or bring in the potted plants on the deck that weren't totally crushed by the tree.

Saturday: Insurance adjuster comes out - because all the above exceeds a very huge $20,000 deductible - but he is iffy about how much insurance will cover. We'll see. The next round of repairs can't be done until that is known.

Saturday Afternoon: Husband decides to mow the lawn, gets to the very most distant corner of our 3-acre lot, and then, the wheel of his pro grade riding mower unexpectedly falls off. Mower unmovable. And thus, the above photo of his getting the mower back to the driveway to be worked on - if possible.

Meanwhile, Saturday Afternoon: I also discover that the habituated (by our next-door neighbor) deer have suddenly added our holly lining our driveway to their browsing menu.

What next? Tomorrow starts a new week. Or will Monday start the new week? It's supposed to be 80 again next week. Above normal. Warm enough for potted plants outdoors. What a crazy life.

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Footnote: I wonder what the two white strips are at the right top corner of the above photo. Maybe half the next-door neighbors' house (on the other side of the wooded stream) detached from their house??? That white area wasn't there before Tuesday night...Our other neighbors' playland sized trampoline took flight on Tuesday night. The sound of chain saws can also still be heard vibrating throughout the neighborhood. What a week. Now, let's see how tall our grass grows next week in prolonged 80 degree October weather without a lawn mower to tame it. We're about the only ones in our development not to use a weekly lawn service. What a week. Yes, what a week.