It looks as though you, or whoever drew the plan, mostly followed/paralleled the track of the Comcast, and maybe phone lines, (are the electric wires in front, or is it also in the back? If in front, does it run along the driveway into the garage?) as you decided where your SW bed was going to go - very clever. It would seem as though the planned spot for the oak (which I assume is replacing the HL next to the patio, since you didn't say) will be far enough from the lines not to have a problem. One thing you might definitely do, ASAP, is call both the power, phone and Comcast people and have someone come and mark where the lines run, unless the marks are still visible. That way, your memory maybe being off by a foot or three, there will be no nasty surprises. They'll do it for free - it's usually a "call-before-you-dig program", or some such name - since it saves mightily on their repair time! Digging the holes ahead of delivery is not a bad idea, although the crew coming to plant may have to do more work on them. YOu don't have to do it, esp. if you are paying for the job and not for the hour. If all they are doing is delivering, then having the holes, and having them deliver the trees next to the holes would be good. It wouldn't hurt, if the man (or woman) power is available, to place the plants in their planned spots, and take a few minutes to look at them from several angles, including inside and upstairs. You may see some minor tweaking that you can do, even at that stage. It's a LOT easier to re-dig a hole than to try to move a tree, or to kick yourself for the next umpty-ump years about how that tree would have been better over there, just a bit. A future tree near the play area/structure is an excellent idea. I am not sure a Sycamore is the best bet, as they can get very large, can be messy, and, if a friend's experience is common, can cause allergies in some people. If you do decide you want to put a tree there, start another thread, as this one is covering enough topics, and confusing readers enough, already!

I agree with Carol. When you are grieving support from everyone is appreciated, you cannot get too much. Do you have any photos of your friend that maybe her family haven't seen? I'm sure if you copied them and sent them they would appreciate it. I did that for a friend of mine who lost her husband when her children were little but I didn't think about it until they were grown and they loved them especially the ones I had of them as babies with their father. Do everything you can for the family, I'm sure it will be welcome.

Came over here to see what's going on and saw my old post. It has been seven months since my DSIL passed away. I'm still talking to my brother at least a couple of times a day. His grandson just left last night from spending the weekend with him and he said it was rough seeing him go. The last week or so has been really rough on him and neither of us really has a clue as to why. I'm hoping when spring gets here and he can get out more things will look a little brighter for him On a totally diferent note, the strangest thing happened a couple of months ago. A car pulled up in his driveway and he went to the door. There stood a couple that my brother knows, but not well. They ran a local florist and my SIL knew them a lot better than my brother did. Anyway, they were on their way home directly from the man having been in the hospital. When he opened the door the man was crying. He told him, "I know you're gonna think this is crazy but I absolutely could not go home without stopping to see you. I promised that I would. While I was in the hospital I coded and they had to bring me back. During that time I saw (my brother's wife) and she told me, "You're gonna be okay and you're going to get to go home. Please, when you see (my brother's name) give him a big hug from me and please tell him how much I love him and always will!" My brother said that he and his wife were both just sobbing. Now, whether or not he actually saw my SIL, or not, is not important. As my brother and I said, the fact that this man felt so strongly about what he needed to do was a message from her. My brother was, of course, both saddened and comforted by what the man did. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you going through the loss of loved ones - may you find comfort in your memories.

thanks everyone. I apologize for not leaving other details beforehand. my friends family has full access of the home. and has been maintaining the proper in the meantime as they have worked thru probate for other assets. the home was in trust, and thus will be sold that way and then distributed based on their uncles wishes in his LT. unfortunately, his health has been bad for over a decade and though everyone tried, the inside of his home is filled unfathomable amount of things, boxes, etc. The family is in the process of hiring a company that will take possession of any belongings they want to purchase otherwise the rest will go to a non-profit for veterans getting back on their feet. my friends father is a pastor and he and his wife are the simplest and most humble people I know. But like some of us, clearly if and when someone passes, its 2 full time jobs trying to figure things out and put all the pieces together. the home has power and full use. so all these suggestions are easily possible. as for me trying to do too much, I'm just circling the world of ideas from a great consulting community like all of you from HOUZZ, because there are some things that will be done to the inside and I just want to make sure that if needed, no ideas arent thrown on the table for the outside. I clearly will not do anything that isnt driven by the family or in the best interest of the home, family, etc. and I also understand that you can look at it in tiers of cost like was mentioned above with 3 different categories. my friend is going to sit with her folks tomorrow or Friday so I was just measily trying to other some thought when I know that they don't have the time to think thru all this. so I appreciate everyone's comments. I really do and all will shared.