The tree for the day is the big oak in the center of the photo. It is about 100 feet tall. There are also two small cherry trees visible just over the roof of the house. They were removed also.

The crane arrives. It reaches 120 feet. The tree is behind the house and the crane is in front of the house. We are beginning the faith part of the day!!

Adolpho puts on the harness and chain saw
and is ready for the ascent.

This is a team effort and these men are an essential part of the ground team. For a moment they watch.

We were told the crane operator is critical to the success of the mission. We soon learned just how important.

The first cut

This huge branch now crosses over the top of our house and then in between the electric, phone, and our neighbor's cable TV wires.

Branch by branch the tree comes down.

This man goes up before each branch with ropes. He attaches the sling from the crane to the branch. They he belays back to the ground while Adolpho works the chain saw.

When all else fails, read the instructions. It looks like we have a problem. The crane is not long enough to reach the back branches.......

Time for the boss, Gary Beltowski, to go topside and assess the situation first-hand.

The decision is made to lower the back branches into the open back yard using the conventional gravity method.

Soon the crown of the tree is just about gone.

The ground crew is hard at work taking the brush to the chipper on the street.

Just a few more branches

---- wide branches.

Now just slip them between the wires.

We are certain the decision to take the tree down was prudent even though all the leaves were green last season.

Now make a big notch. This tree is 14 feet in circumference at the base.

This bed of mulch is the
target for the tree.

All is ready. The man with the saw is behind the tree cutting. The ground crew is using the rope to guide the tree toward the target.

TIMBER!!!!

As the day ends the timber is placed out near the front of the house

That yard stick looks small next to the trunk. It measured 14 feet around and over 4 feet in diameter.

The next morning a lumber truck arrives to take away the big stuff.

That big log measures 21 feet. Too big to handle even with a large piece of equipment.

This piece weighed in at 7000 lbs.

All of the tree was loaded on the truck by this skillful man and a few levers.

Ready to go on the road

I feel sad to see our longtime friend gone. Maybe I will be happier when leaf time comes in the autumn - or - when I take out my telescope at night and find open sky to the east.

Compare with early the day before

It is down and gone. Nobody got hurt. No structural or wiring damage.

We saved a small portion of the wood for the fireplace. Most of it was hauled away.

Thank you Mr. Ernie Shifflett and Mr. Gary Beltowski -- and many thanks to the whole team for a job well done.