It Grieveth Me That I Should Lose This Tree

The River (Clump) Birch tree that has been in the center of our front yard for more than 25 years came down today. It was in poor health and had many dead and dying branches, so it was time.

The decision to remove the tree today was made about a week ago but it just so happened that a few of Kyle's friends decided to T-P our yard last night. The condemned tree was well-adorned with toilet paper, much of it way too high to reach for clean-up. Usually when that happens we hit the t.p. with water from a hose until it falls down. Since the tree was coming down anyway we left most of it there. Kyle texted his friends and said something like "you're not going to believe this...the toilet paper was too high in the tree for us to get it down, so my Dad just cut down the tree! Thanks a lot! That tree was over 20 years old!"

Many neighbors stopped to watch the tree-felling and all commented on the t.p. Everyone agreed that telling Kyle's friends the story of the toilet paper being the cause for removing the tree was pretty funny.

The first thing that had to be done we remove the two smaller trunks of the three. Bruce did that with his gas-powered chain saw. Kyle pulled a rope that was looped around each trunk to make sure they fell where they were supposed to (they were supposed to fall NOT on the house). Each trunk successfully fell NOT on the house.

Next, Bruce used the gas chain saw and Kyle used the electric chain saw to reduce the trunks to firewood, branches and sawdust.

This afternoon, Carl van Katwijk brought his heavy duty chain saw over to take down the main part of the tree. He did this in exchange for the wood of the main trunk. Oh, and also because he is a good guy!

The view out the front door after the two smaller trunks were cut.

Kyle using the electric chain saw.

Tying a rock to the rope to facilitate getting the rope around the top of the tree.

Preparing to throw the rock-laden rope over a sturdy branch.

Dueling Chain Saws: Cutting the branches off the trunks and making firewood

Bruce's first attempt at getting the rope over a branch (I have three more videos exactly like this one...I won't bore you)

...finally got the rope over a branch...not the branch we wanted.

Spent, Bruce gives up the fight

Kyle's turn to try. Repeat same shot two or three times.