One step forward, three steps backward

NOW YOU SEE IT!!

NOW YOU DON'T!!!

Ok, so life throws you curve balls. What do you do? You accept the challenge, be thankful for your family/friends and health. Then move on. Our newest 'big issue' is a whopper. Last night we heard the downstairs toilet making a funny noise. Long story short, the sewer line is damaged. At least that is what we think. We called a plumber out who estimates that the tree (above) may have grown roots around our sewer pipe and damaged it. We won't know for sure until they begin work tomorrow. Hopefully, the damage doesn't extend under the road. As this would be a huge (financial) problem. We believe the point of damage is right at the base of where the tree used to be. (Dave cut the tree down at 5:00 a.m. this morning.) We have learned that this is a fairly common problem. And after talking with many people today, almost everyone we know has dealt with this or knows someone who has. Our estimate for repair stands at roughly $5,000.00. If the problem is more than what we think it is, the cost will be higher. Last night's cost was $600.00. The plumber came out 'after hours' and stayed almost three hours. They drilled the line looking for a clog and didn't find one. Then sent a video down the line looking for the problem. The "No Cuts" company came out today and marked the yard for the power, gas, phone, and cable lines. Those are the colored lines in the grass.

This problem comes just a few weeks after we replaced a fan motor in our air conditioner. We've been in this house ten years (we built the home), and this is our first real big problem. We'd never even called out a plumber before. So really we are very fortunate. But I have a feeling that there is only more issues to come.

Trouble must come in "threes", because this morning when Dave mowed the grass after cutting down the tree, the lawn mower went on the "fritz". What do you do?