Sadly, the very tall white oak, high above the back of the house, with
its trunk starting to impinge on the foundation of the deck, and high
branches dangling over the roof, needed to come down.
You know how much I love trees, both my own and all the others on this
beautiful planet. However, among all the handsome, sturdy, tall, and healthy
trees there comes a time when safety dominates and old, huge, too tall trees,
need to come down with help of professionals rather than be felled by
disease, rot, strong winds, even tornadoes and hurricanes which do
sometimes visit this part of the country!
Today was such a day and we welcomed back our great tree guy Jesus
and his crew. Fortunately the weather has been perfect, cool and sunny,
no wind at all. Yes, the January sky was really that blue today.
Jesus is the climber and made this dangerous job look like an aerial dance
among the bare winter branches.
I'll leave you here. The tree is down and the stump was ground.
A full day's work, a lot of dollars spent, but peace of mind.
Meanwhile we continue trying to get appointments for our initial
vaccines - what a frustrating thing dealing with long phone waits,
crashing websites and such. We are on two different wait lists - it took
a 1.5 hr. phone wait before my call was answered for one, the other
we did online - and we hope at least one will come through with an
appointment for us soon.
We live in a heavily populated county and our group has been changed
from age 75 and over to 65 and over which encompasses thousands
more people in the same boat as us - guess that says it all!
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Wow, that is a VERY blue sky! It was indeed the perfect day for the job, especially as there was no wind.
ReplyDeleteMy parents have not yet started to get appointments for their vaccines. They do not meet anyone apart from my sister, myself and the friend who lives downstairs in the same house. My Mum occasionally goes to the bakery for something, of course wearing her mask when she goes out, and my Dad has not left the house in a long time. But they will have their vaccines, all in good time.
Your parents are sensible to stay close to home - I wish them well and safe Meike.
DeleteMary -
You were wise to have the tree removed. If it had crashed then your rooftop looks as if it would have been very vulnerable. I am envious of your blue sky, we are expecting Storm Christoph to arrive in the next few days. Luckily we are well out of the amber zone, but flooding is expected in the north of the country.
ReplyDeleteSorry to learn that the procedure for getting your jabs is so frustrating, I will keep my fingers crossed that you both receive it very soon.
Yes, feel much safer although we still have several more huge ones close to the house which may require removal - it's just so expensive, and we do love the trees and the shade they give, and the homes to wildlife etc.
DeleteStay safe in the stormy weather - our winter has been mild but more rain than usual. Right now it's lovely and we're off for a walk this afternoon.
Mary -
It is amazing to see how trees come down by professionals! I am scheduled to get my first vaccine this Friday. We are still trying to get an appointment for Kent. Wishing you success!
ReplyDeleteRemember all those trees you took down Penny?
DeleteHope your jab goes well and that they include Kent - we just got our appts. scheduled at the weekend.
Stay well.
Mary -
Dearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteWow, it always is a scary sight to see those daring men climb the trees. We too need to have some more trees cut down but it still is too muddy for doing so.
You absolutely had the perfect weather for it, no wind is the most important.
Strange that you have to wait so long in your region for the vaccines. We must say that here on the Southern Pines Regional Park, they got it very well organized. It got done for all above 65 and in 2 days. Starting at 9:00 till 15:00 and we were through within half an hour, incl. the 15 min. wait before we were allowed to leave. Ambulances on the ready and all so well organized.
We hope on February 18 when we receive our 2nd part, will be equally efficient.
Hugs,
Mariette
'Daring men' definitely - a dangerous job wobbling about 60 feet in the sky with a chainsaw!!!!
DeleteGlad you got your jabs - we've got appts. now for Sunday and are hoping it goes smoothly.
Mary -
I can appreciate your reluctance to see that beautiful big tree go. Since it had to be, Jesus looks like the man for the job.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you and Bob will have success in getting your vaccines soon.
Thanks Kim - looks like we'll get our jabs on Sunday morning!!!
DeleteHello! Our townhome (11 units) had seven very tall ponderosa pines removed last fall (plenty left) .. it was fascinating watching them come down. I am also in queue for the vaccine as 79 is a good number in this case. Stay well and safe ....
ReplyDeleteOh the pines are scary - so tall! We had several snap off in a hurricane years ago so had them removed - never have missed them.
DeleteHope you soon get your jab dear - and with no bad reactions!
Stay well.
Mary -
What a stunning blue sky. It's sad to see the tree go, but since it was necessary, I'm glad you had such a competent crew taking it down. Will you save the wood for firewood?
ReplyDeleteVaccine rollout has been slowed here because of Pzifer's re-tooling in Belgium. Who knows when we will get ours?
Lorrie, it was a white oak which Jesus told us does not make good firewood, it's so dense it makes splitting it very difficult so not a money maker for tree companies who sell firewood, as does he. We buy his red oak split logs after they've been aged a year or so, they burn so well. This winter, though mild, still sees a fire burning most evenings - and the holiday candles are still lit!
DeleteHope they get vaccine to your area soon - we've now managed to get appts. for this coming Sunday. It was a job and a half getting them!
Stay well - Mary
That sky is an amazing shade of blue - absolutely beautiful. It is part of loving trees around our homes, that sadly some trees must eventually go. I love your photos of the guys up there doing their safe removal. It is time for us to get the 'tree monkey' people back to our place too. I do hope you get the necessary appointment and your vaccines soon. Best wishes to the US in tackling the pandemic in the new regime. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to take big trees down but safety is such a concern especially when hurricane season rears its ugly head! We had so much damage to our house from toppling pines and oaks, and my car was squashed like a pancake by a big oak in the driveway, the night Hurricane Fran (Sept.5, 1996) came inland and caused catastrophic damage to Raleigh, so I'm terrified when high winds swirl around the treetops!
DeleteGetting vaccine Sunday!
Mary -
I have found taking trees down is always a costly thing, but better than it ruining your house as you said. Good luck with the vaccines. I know your area is very populated and it may take some time. My age group hasn't come up yet, so I bet I have to wait quite a while.
ReplyDeleteIt is always sad to take a tree down, but sometimes it just has to be. One day we are thinking we may need to do that with our big tree in the back, but we just aren't quite ready. Plus it is a huge expense too. We are already talking about what tree we would plant in it's place when that time comes.
ReplyDelete