Big job, big chain saw

All that wind mentioned on blogs from the mid west to the north east came through my little township too, Friday night.  We lost the upper half of a dead tree, trunk and branches all over the driveway.  Tom was clearing it away when our neighbor at the end of the road and way up a lane called. She lost an entire tree she’s been worried about for some time.  Was Tom interested?

Tom and Ham came back from assaying, Tom grinning, Ham bemused.  Tom needed a bigger chain saw and coveralls and steel toed boots for the boy. There was wood for two years.  Only a wood stove heats the entire studio, and that can be a challenge in a brutal winter. 

The good old boy network kept Tom apprised of trees for years; his buddies even drove overloaded pick up’s of trunk chunks from all over the state for drop off in the side yard.  The emerald ash borer brought that to a halt and the wood pile was down to this winter and part of next.

So, yesterday Tom upgraded from his little branch lopping chain saw to one that really makes him smile.  He put coveralls and steel toed boots on the boy, too.

Yesterday was beautiful.  I went down the road and looked at the tree.  It’s a big ‘un, and way up the hill.  There will be some serious toting to bring it home.  Then I drove over to Hammy’s potential new church.  He was quite disappointed I didn’t just take him yesterday; services began at 9 am.  I put my hand on his shoulder and said I was responsible for him and would not send him into the midst of strangers until I talked to the minister.  He settled down, and came home smiling from being outfitted for tree removal.

I planned my arrival at church to go in as members drove out.  I timed it perfectly.  When three cars remained in the lot I walked up to the door.  Locked!  Drove around, tried the other door.  Locked.  Well, these are strange times.  I called the number from the phone book and told the man who answered who I was.  I wanted the minister.  He offered me others, but I wanted the minister.  I was given the phone number of someone who could make an appointment to see him.

I drove through the blue heron rookery on the way home.  The herons haven’t come back yet.  At home I made the appointment.  The minister can’t be seen for another two weeks.  Oh, well.  I told Hammy he can substitute good deeds and getting started in school for church the next two weeks.

Today it’s snowing and the tree trunk chunks are moving up the hill.