Treeman

                           American Elm

Well today is December 1^st and it is this writers birthday, been hanging around now for 74 years, not bad for an old tree man. Started in the tree business back on October 1^st 1959 and enjoyed every minute of it right up until I retired in 2004. During most of those years was spent removing the big elm trees throughout New England.  Worked on other species but the removal work was primarily the American elm.

Did work down in Florida for a year or two as well as up in Inlet, N.Y. before moving up into Vermont and then landing safely in Maine.  Met some really great tree men along the way as well just interesting folks from all walks of life.

When I started back in 1959 the tree industry was in the middle of the transition of using the chain saw to replace the cross cut. I worked with one of the first climbers to actually use a power saw in a tree. Back in those days the lightest saw made weighed 32lbs.

It was also at that time that we began to start seeing the development of the bucket truck  (cherry picker). We were still doing most of the line clearance for the power companies by spurs and rope. Some times it got pretty dang scary working around the hot lines. I have seen all kinds of dangerous situations as well as having lost a few friends and co-workers to electric shock.

One of these post I will have to go into more detail regarding some funny and unusual events to I either observed or was actually involved in. The best thing that ever happened to me is when I hired on with that very first tree company. Learned a wonderful and very satisfying trade, worked outdoors, and made a decent and honest living.

BEAVER FLOWAGE

While visiting a beaver flowage I came upon this beaver enjoying a fresh snack of speckled alder. He certainly felt secure for he continued feeding and primping his fur for some time allowing me to take a few photos as well as enjoying this beautiful, wild Maine beaver flowage.

The second photo is the actual beaver made pond that I visited. Every beaver flowage is unique as well as mysterious. A beaver bog is the kind of place that if one wants to see different species of wildlife in their own natural habitat they are a must.

Just to name a few critters one may observe up close are beaver, muskrat, ducks, moose, deer, 'coon, a huge variety of bird life, frogs, mink, fisher and the list goes on. Love to take a book along, find a neat little beaver flowage, sit down, lean back against a log ot tree trunk and enjoy the show. Things don't get any better than that here in Maine

Bird Hunting Rest

My best hunting partner taking a break while bird hunting to enjoy the autumn color engulfing North Otter Pond. The mountain in background is Otter Pond mountain, the color was breath taking.