Summer Plans

Last week, I had to remove my favorite tree from my backyard. The builder put the tree--an oak--in an impossibly cramped spot right next to the fence. As a sapling it was just perfect. It provided shade on hot days and some privacy from the prying eyes of a neighbor who built his house within one foot of our property line. After a short period of time, its limbs extended within inches of my house and my neighbors. That's when I call the tree trimmer, who delivered the bad news--the tree needed to come out sooner rather than later to avoid all sorts of property damage. In disbelief, I arranged for a second and third opinion, but everyone agreed.

The tree trimmers removed the whole tree in just 13 minutes.

I'm surprisingly sentimental about the whole thing and am researching smaller trees for the space. (Any suggestions?) In the meanwhile, my partial shade vegetable garden now has to contend with full sun. We'll see if the butternut squash and pumpkin I've planned for fall can withstand the Texas summer.

First cucumber from my vegetable garden.

Summer is a time when work in practice area tends to slow while clients and bankers take time to vacation. While I don't have a big trip planned, I have some projects at home keeping me busy. Besides the ongoing effort to repaint the interior of the house, I'm looking forward to properly furnishing and decorating the great room (basically, the big-to-me room that includes the kitchen, family and dining rooms). The thirteen year old furniture that I picked out for my first apartment has been serving me well, but I've been saving up to make this area of the house more comfortable for guests with a little help from the folks over at Havenly, who sent me a discount code I couldn't refuse earlier this month. This is a project I've been dreaming of for years and it's such a treat to have the resources to do it (in large part because of the firm's decision to match Cravath).

Also this summer, I'm looking forward to spending time at the gym's outdoor pool, my first visit to the Deep Eddy Pool, 4th of July with friends, a few more minor league baseball games in Round Rock, and C's 13th birthday. This is the most "simple" my life has been in a long time and it's really, truly great.