I had planned to do some major landscaping this year because the weeds have killed most of the grass. Mostly though, I'm growing moles and poison ivy. The landscaper will have to wait.

I went home a week ago Friday. Opened the door to my sewing studio and a huge mess:



Here's the ceiling:



Freaked out and called the emergency number for my insurance agent and a young kid answered and told me I had the wrong number. I checked again and called the same number. This time he said, "I already told you, it's the wrong number!"

I'm so glad I sprung for and iPhone 4s last Christmas because I Googled the agency and about an hour later got the owner's name and number. They sent a clean up company over to finish taking down the rotten part of the ceiling and put a tarp on the roof.

I remember that a limb fell on the roof last winter. I pulled it off and never gave it another thought. I guess it poked a hole and that was the beginning of the problem.

My favorite construction guy came on Monday and gave me such a good estimate I didn't even make an insurance claim. I know he gave me a good deal because he did about $5,000 worth of work the last two times I had problems. I do have good insurance, but a third claim in five years could make them very unhappy with me.

Now, I'm getting estimates on cutting the dead limbs off my 100 year old oaks that overhang the house. Yikes! First one was $700, next was $600. One more is coming Monday but I doubt he'll be any less expensive.

So, it's moles and poison ivy for a while longer.

Oh, and that was the day before my birthday.