And then... the Apple Tree

October 1st, Monday:

There was a time Art just loved planting trees.  Well... actually he still loves planting trees.  Unfortunately, they have a habit of growing too big.

The day before, it was the cherry tree. 

Today however, Tif was worried that the 30 foot apple tree was leaning toward the house and reaching toward the neighbor's power lines.

"NO way!" I told Art.  "That tree is too huge!  Look at the trunk diameter.  We cannot take down that tree."

(Art measured the diameter later at 9 inches.)

Did I mention that this was supposed to be a miniature too?

Did I also mention that Art likes a challenge and it's never a good idea to tell him he can't do something?

The backyard was soon getting full of branch bundles.

I had to guide the branch toward our yard so it wouldn't pull down the neighbor's power lines.

We eventually got most of the lower branches cut and bundled.

We couldn't find the large ax we used to have so we had to use this hatchet, but Art was determined.

Our neighbor was watching our progress and brought over his chain saw for us to use.

Unfortunately, the chain saw wouldn't work properly.

It was afternoon by the time we got the roots cut so we could pull the tree down. Our neighbor and Tif's handyman who was working on renovating their bathroom came to help pull.

I could not believe we actually did it!

We kept a bunch of the apple logs for our friends who said they were great for the fireplace and grilling.

Needless to say we had a lot of landscape bundles for fall pick-up a few days later.

We slept well that night!