Tree on House BAD!

Hours after arriving home from the farm on Sunday, August 15th we received a call from our 'up north' neighbors that a tree was on our house! We fought the urge to jump into the car at 6 p.m. and make the four hour trip back since we would be arriving in the dark and may not have a place to sleep. So bright and early, 3 a.m., Monday morning we drove back to the farm and found this:

Fortunately some poplars and a birch tree were in the path of this falling balsam and gently eased the giant tree onto the roof rather than allowing it to crash.

Now it was just a matter of removing the tree gently so it didn't take out the door roof or deck below. The thought was to use the loader on the John Deere to lift the tree and quickly push it forward and down. Easier said then done!

With great luck and the help of good neighboors, Thanks Al and Kathy!, we got the tree off the roof, righted the tractor, and sustained minmal damage. WHEW!!!

The tree was punk and hollow in the middle. With all the rain we had the rotting root structure just couldn't support the tree any longer and a gentle breeze was all it took to lay this tired balsam down.