Bye-bye big tree

This morning/afternoon's entertainment was provided by Wild Bill's tree service.

Brent's family has had this tree in their yard since they moved in about 32 years ago. It was just a twig when they first moved and it has grown to be quite tall. The roots are starting to raise the driveway and lawn and with every windstorm Susan is afraid it might end up on her house. So last week she decide to see how much it would be to get it cut down. Bill, of Wild Bill's Tree Service, gave her the estimate and told her they could be here Monday morning. Sweet. We had our activity for Monday planned!

Before:

During:

click to make it big (so you can see the pictures)

After:

It was so fun to watch them. Kind of strange to say that. I mean, really, they were cutting a tree down. Who hasn't seen that before? These guys were using ropes to lower branches, shimmying up the tree like little monkeys, carrying chainsaws on their belts like hammers, it was great. They were so fast, too. It only took them 4 hours from the time they pulled up until they pulled away. Everything was cleaned up and barely looking like they were there.

So bye-bye big tree. We'll miss your shade and pretty-ness in the summer, but not the birds that leave their mark and the leaves to rake in the fall!