Monday, April 7, 2008

2 TREES + MY 2 GUYS = VICTORY

Remember this massive ice storm that we had December 11th last year. The whole story here.
We had very little damage compared to most of the people in our area, but we did have 2 trees in the back yard that had the tops taken out of them. At first Mickey thought we would get them trimmed up and try and save them but then he decided he just wanted to take them down.

Saturday, March 29th, Mickey went over to our younger son, Marc, and the 2 of them cut down the part of a tree that was leaning up against Marc's roof. Sorry, no pictures, because the photographer (me) was busy having an MRI on her knee.

This past Saturday Mickey and our son-in-love, Dave, tackled the HUGE job of taking down these HUGE trees from our back yard. I was very nervous about it and wanted to just leave so I didn't have to watch. But who would have taken pictures if I'd have done that so here are the pictures and the results of a job well done.

(click on pictures to enlarge)The rope has been tied to the River Birch tree coming down and another, in the direction they wanted the tree to fall. Mickey is just beginning to cut with the power saw. Dave is in place and watching.

Dave watching and ready for action.

Mickey has removed the wedge he has cut out and is now sawing from the other side of the trunk. Dave is ready on the rope to pull the tree down as it falls.

It's down!!! Dave is heading over.

Here are the two looking at the successful job.

Then came the tedious work of trimming off the big branches and hauling them away.

Showing more progress made and Dave heading out our back gate where the branches are being taken. This was Mickey's huge garden area last year but he is not putting in that garden this year.

More progress on clearing the truck and Mickey hauling a branch to the back.

The 2 proud and tired guys surveying the cleared trunk that now needs to be sawed into fire wood lengths.

Dave doing some of the log cutting.

Tree one complete. Tree down, branches trimmed, branches hauled to the back, and logs cut and stacked. WHEE!!!!

Now comes the 2nd tree and the 2nd challenge. This is a Pin Oak and is a very prickly branched tree. The first challenge was finding a branch and being able to climb up through the thick branches to tie the rope. Mickey is having a look and they are discussing what and how to do it.

Dave is starting to climb the ladder to get as high as he can. You can see one of the 3 broken branches hanging in this shot. There were a total of 3 broken branches hanging off this trunk in 3 different directions.

You can barely see Dave at the top of the ladder. He is tying the rope around a branch and Mickey has the other end of the rope.

Dave climbing back down and folding the ladder down to remove it out of the way. Mickey working to untangle the rope.

Both of them pulling the rope taunt on the opposite tree in the direction they want the Pin Oak to fall. You can see the wood log stack, of the first tree, behind Dave.

Mickey is beginning the sawing of the wedge.

Dave holding the rope and ready as Mickey continues sawing the wedge.

Mickey has the wedge out and is now sawing from the back side of the trunk. Please note the wheel barrow on it's side. Mickey did this to protect a small peach tree that is growing from a peach seed he planted. Yes, not one leaf of the peach tree was hurt!

She's down!!! Success #2. At this point Mickey tells Dave to go on home that he will finish the clean up of this trunk. Dave had arrived at 9:30 and they were at this point by noon.

After we had a bite to eat and Mickey took a short break he then continued cutting the branches off this very prickly tree and carrying them to the back. At 5 pm I told him "Rome wasn't built in a day. Please quit." This was the point he had gotten to and this is what still remains to be cut into logs and stacked. Another day, another time!!!
I cannot tell you how proud we three are of this job that they accomplished. It saved us over $1,000!!!! Let me remind you, Mickey is 75 years old. What a guy!!!!! See yet another reason why I am so proud of him and love him so!!!!!!!!

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28 comments:

Susan Skitt said...

What a job indeed! It is hard work :) We've had a few trees go down in years past. I'll have to post a picture soon of one. It was entirely too big to get through with a chain saw, but my hubby and teen chopped up the remaining wood. Yes, it is hard work. Your hubby and son in love did a great job!

Unknown said...

That is a HUGE job. Here in Florida we take them down to prevent damage to homes during hurricanes. I have watched neighbors doing that very thing and been VERY nervous.

I am glad all is done and safely!

Well, not all is done I guess. Still have that tedious clean up. But well done!

Humble wife said...

Great job to the Lumber men!!

Shirley said...

Hey! Send 'em on over - we still have a LOT of trees to clear...tell them that it wouldn't be nearly as tricky (no houses to worry about :).
Thanks for the details - I love pictures.
Shirley

Tracy said...

What a big job! You know though, men seem to love these sorts of things!

... said...

that did look like quite a job. i'm glad they were able to do it and that no one got hurt. do the yards look bare now?

Susan said...

Diana, No the yard does not look bare because we have 4 other huge trees in the back yard, plus all the trees behind us on the green belt. In fact it actually makes the yard look nicer and Mickey is hoping it will enhance the entry way for his Marten birds to the Marten house.
Susan

Barbara said...

Although it is good to get tree jobs like that done I know it is also sad to see trees go. We had to lose some large trees after our one and only hurricane in 1987 and then later our beautiful weeping willow because of subsidence.
Your daughter looks like she got a good bargain with her bedroom suite.
Glad to see you got yur kitchen finished.
Have seen that video clip of Oprah before. End time prophecy coming to pass before our eyes with these false prophets. The most dangerous part is that the counterfeit can look so true to the unbeliever.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

That was a lot of work. That kind of stuff makes me really nervous. We have to take down our big tree out back one of these days. Leaving that to a professional as it is close to the house, two sheds, a power line and phone lines!

michelle said...

A big job well done! Kudos to your men!

Cjdusse said...

Mickey 75! He is blessed. My mom is 76 and can hardly walk and she has rheumatoid arthritis. Well done!

Nadine said...

That was a really big job...I can see why you are so proud. Nice job guys!!

The Olson's: said...

Great job, Mickey & Dave!

I'm always so proud of my husband when he does some handywork around the house or on the vehicle, especially when it saves us money. It's just like my Dad. I love it!
~ Leanne

cherished*vintage said...

Hi Susan! It's so nice to have family members that can do the work, and save the money. I'm glad the peach tree didn't get touched. :o) I wanted to let you know that my daughter drew your name in my giveaway today! If you will send me your address, I'll get the package in the mail to you. Here is my email: cherished.vintage@yahoo.com
-Karoline

Peculiar Blogs said...

Wow! What a lot of hard work!! Great job guys!

Momma Roar said...

Isn't it so nice to be able to enlarge the pictures? I think so!

What a great job - we've taken some trees down before (well that would be T and his brother - not ME!!) and it makes me nervous too! I'm so glad you stuck around to take the photos!

Carole Burant said...

It certainly is impressive that Mickey can still do things like that at his age...he's in great shape:-) What a great job they did with both trees...glad no peach tree leaves were hurt during this project! hehe It certainly has saved you a lot of money...I have a cousin whose husband removes trees for people and my jaw dropped when I heard how much he charges!!! Tell Mickey he did good:-) xox

Dawn said...

My husband always amazes me with what he does with our trees - it is so huge, and so expensive otherwise. It makes me very nervous too. What a great job!

Simply Heart And Home said...

Wow! That is quite a job! Congratulations to your 2 guys! I bet they were hungry after that! :)

Gina

Anonymous said...

Girl I understand.We had alot of that with Katrina. The insurance sure didn't pay for the trees to come down or be removed. I was so worried when hubby and the boys tackled the job. Years later we still have trees dieing and falling that need to be cut. Glad all turned out well.

~~Deby said...

!!! WOW !!!
What a big job...I would be grinning ear to ear ...and proud as could be...sounds like you are...
Deby

Tina said...

Wow! My boys would have loved to watch that!!

Kimmie said...

What great team work...and I love the "son-in-love" part (especially after my dream!

my love
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted

Linds said...

Excellent work by your men! And Mickey is amazing, Susan! Now just pop him on a plane, please.... I have a couple of trees in my garden that need dispatching too!

j said...

I asked the other day if anyone got jazzed over seeing their hubby doing things, just watching them be manly. You Mrs. Susan, are jazzed over your manly 75 year old!! Ain't love grand?

Jennifer

weavermom said...

Congrats!! That was a huge project! Glad it went well, and that it is DONE! :)

Mary@notbefore7 said...

Never a dull moment!

What a great job. You are a brave lady for sticking around to watch.

Unknown said...

I just LOVE to watch men work! Now is that a quirky statement or what? But I do, God created them to conquer. It seems your men conquered a huge job! Hooray for them!