A few weeks ago the propane delivery guy pointed out a dead tree I hadn't noticed. Two days later a PG&E guy stopped by to tell me their helicopter found a dead tree that they wanted to cut down before it falls on their line. YEES! Today the crew arrived and did an amazing job of cutting it down. About 120 feet tall, 110 years old.
Their bucket truck, set up and trimming branches


Getting ready to cut the top part off


Close up of the guy doing the cutting


Almost all cut down.


I gave the guys a DVD of my pictures and movies--I got a great one of the top coming down.
And then to top it off; I've been doing "battle" with "Covered California" (also known as "Obama Care") who issued an incorrect tax form for us back in 2015, and the IRS came after me for "unpaid taxes" last October. (My income tax software didn't catch it) Back in November, CC admitted their mistake, but kept re-issuing the same wrong form. I had to call my state rep, who's "constituent problem solver" apparently really helped me as today--FINALLY!!--they have issued a corrected form!! All I have to do now is to get the IRS to accept it, and my debt SHOULD go away! Whew!!
All in all, a great day for us!! Hmm model T content? The bucket truck can only do about 35 MPH up hills!

David - Just to make you feel even a little bit better, I can tell you about a dead Douglas Fir that I just had removed last fall from the place we inherited from my folks up on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. It was too near the house that I just put a new roof on so "bit the bullet" and had the dead tree "professionally" removed. Cost me over $600 bucks! And a neighbor told me that he thought I got a good deal as he had a similar tree removal job done that cost him even more!

Harold,
Yeah, when that PG&E guy showed up, I suspect my response was not the usual he gets--I could have hugged the guy! when he left, I told Linda--YEEES!!! PG&E will cut down the dead tree!!!
Now good things don't usually happen to us, and two in a row is unheard of, so I am worried about when the next shoe will drop.

If you will buck and split all that wood, I'll bring the TT down
and pick it up.

Wouldn't that be a sight for the average cul-de-sac dweller
to get their head around !

OK, leave it as rounds. I'll split it !

First I'm going to see if anyone wants to make lumber out of it--all that beautiful Ponderosa pine!
Besides, how many months would it take to get here Burger?

David, the good news is that if Burger started today you could have it all split by the time he arrived in August. Burger would arrive home in time to warm the house with load, assuming that it has been dead for awhile! T-guys helping each other out-got to love it!

This IS all about teamwork !

OOOhhh! Teamwork!! Where are the cheerleaders???
Uh oh, Linda's here, never mind. . . .

My uncle had a tree he wanted cut down close to some power lines so he called and they said that since it was not about to fall they wouldn't cut it down. He poisoned it and when it was good and dead he called again and they cut it down.

You have to be creative!
We needed some branches removed that were close to the lines entering the house.
My son called the power company and told them that he could hear a cracking/sparking sound during a rain storm. The next day the power company removed the branches.
One of the guys smiled at my son and said "so you heard a snapping sound." My son replied "yep" and the guy just smiled.


One the other hand every time we loose power the electric company says that it was branches on the power line so I figure that it is fair to have them removed before there is a problem.

David, did they cut, split and stack it for you?

T

Terry,
Nope, it looks just like the last photo. Would like someone to take it for LUMBER!