The Tree - Part 3

Only a stump remains.....

A VERY TALL STUMP

There WILL be a future for the tree's stump and it will stay, where the entire living tree once stood tall and majestic, as the perpetual guardian of the cabin.

ALL WILL NOT BE LOST.

The Tree - Part 2

A decision was made. It was the end of time for the tree.

The "tree man" and his sons came one early morning.....

Branches were removed and chipped.....

The final climb.....

Topped.....

The trunk is bare and ready to be felled.....

The Tree - Part 1

It was presented as a gift to the owners of Cabin Tranquillity (yes one "L") and planted by family members back in the early seventies. The cabin was built in 1961 as a quiet summer retreat in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. The lakefront property was originally purchased by the owners from the wife's cousin, who constructed the 47 acre spring-fed lake. This was a dream which came true. The Blue Spruce tree flourished.

Over the following years, all four of the children and many grandchildren came to the cabin for swimming, horseshoes, campfires, camping, ice skating,

hunting and many other activities, thoroughly enjoying the experience of family and adventure and recreational opportunities.

Time went by and the tree grew and GREW! It survived hot and dry summers and hundreds of snow events. The family changed, too. The original owners left,

taking their memories with them.

The only son, the twin daughters and the eldest daughter all now resided in the area near the cabin. The tree remained.

Year 2005

The eldest daughter and her husband now reside in Cabin Tranquillity. The tree has by now had several haircuts, lower limbs removed for easier lawn mowing and ventilation.

One day in year 2010 it was noticed that the needles were thinning in extremes. A regional forester was called in to diagnose the problem.

It was heavily infested with tree mites! Its roots were impacted under the concrete foundation. It was dying! The invasion of the mites had started many years ago and went unnoticed.

Too late.