Where once lived critters...

Posting early... and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The squirrel family will have to find a new home... and the dogs will have to stalk elsewhere.


What's that in dog years?


Cut, toss, look out below!


Pully and ropes... tools of the trade.


Clean cut. I should have asked for this piece. Lacquered slices of this would have made beautiful coasters.

TIM-BERRRRRR...

After a week of dreary weather, the sun shined and the day warmed up.


Branch by branch the tree thinned.


First, a chip was removed to give the branch a direction to fall. And then, a cut along the back sent it on its way.


Thicker chunks were guided with help from below.


And soon, one of the twins took it's final bow.

Twin American Maples...

We had two tree-mendous (sorry) trees in my yard that were hollowed out from squirrel inhabitants. It was a set of trees connected at the base where squirrel babies and puppies played and lived.

I worried with each heavy wind storm or snowfall that they would fall on my neighbor's or my own house.

Today will begin a five day series of the trees being removed. Each day has five photos. I hope you enjoy the shots.

The "twins" tower above the second floor of our house.


Precision cuts, and well placed ropes quickly strip the trunks...


...and send the branches below...


...to two waiting hardhats that move the carved wood...


...to the chipper!