We’ll start with the tree. Here it is in all it’s splendor.

The tree is dying of some internal, invisible rot, or at least that is what the arborist, James, told us. But it’s a wonderful tree, and we are going to take it down. This is very hard for Larry, who would prefer to re-route the driveway, if that were not so spectacularly stupid from an economic point of view.

So we got a phone call on Monday morning that the crew was on the way to the property with saws and rigging. And Larry wanted to be there. It was raining fiercely all the way down I 5 and we supposed we would arrive to find the project called off. Yet it was somehow almost sunny when we arrived, so there was no stay of execution. Work had already begun, and it was fascinating to see how a tree comes down if you don’t simply saw it off at stump level.

At least I was fascinated; Larry mourned. I suggested that this was more fun than the Super Bowl, but that was silly. We like the Hawks and all, but this was our tree, for God’s sake.
Here are the woodsmen: Guy and Henry and Tom. As you see, they have already been busy removing limbs from the main, but alas crooked, stem. Click on the photo and you will see Henry high in the tree.

I always fall in love, a little, with these men who work outside, handling huge machines or, in this case, moving with grace and caution about their business. These three manage to move tons of wood through the air with chainsaws, pulleys, harnesses, skill, and caution. When I asked to take their pictures for my blog, Guy was interested. He’s an acoustic guitar singer/songwriter and wants to use the blogosphere to promote his music. I wish him every success.

We had to leave before the main event, and won’t know if enough of the tree remains to shelter the house, as we had planned. Because we had a stop to make at the county offices.

The report from the asbestos survey had come in, with minimal material to remove. Good! Next we have to submit a demolition petition before we may tear down the old house. We must decommission the septic system, if such there be, provide maps, and here’s the good one, photos of the interior, exterior, roof, indoor plumbing to include an operating toilet, kitchen faucets, heating etc., etc. Seriously? We’re TEARING IT DOWN! Does it matter if there’s a toilet? Apparently so.

I phoned the county petition desk to speak to a woman we’ll call Linda. But she is with a customer, is, apparently, always with a customer. However, she will call me back and attempt to answer my question regarding this requirement. As we have already proved, with photos and, in fact, legal council, that this thing we want to pull down is actually a house, may we not refer, on this form, to the county’s files thereon?

Linda has kindly, in a phone message, assured me that we need to provide photos to document that a tree, for example, has not fallen on the roof and thus compromised the entire project. We determine to visit the petition desk in person.

Of course Linda is with another customer and so we wait. I am patient with the certainty that logic will prevail in this case. And finally it is our turn. Linda is also patient. This is not her department. Who helped us previously? By some miracle, she, Janet is in. Comes into Linda’s office. Looks at the document approving our project and says certainly. Just refer to the case number on our document.

In order to calm myself, I offer this photo of sheep, gathered for the first time directly across Llewellyn from our driveway. I don’t know if these are to be our sheep for shearing, but aren’t they beautiful?

You can count them if you have trouble sleeping tonight.