The Saddest Thing I've Heard In Awhile (Longish)
Recently I heard heavy equipment running at the neighbors about a eighth mile away, along with chainsaws. I figured he was clearing some trees and perhaps having a small pond built, since he had mentioned in the past that he would like one. He and his wife are in their seventies and their house was her fathers that he built as a young man, and there was another house on the home place before the present house replaced the original one.
He came by a couple of weeks ago and I asked what he had done that required heavy equipment, hoping there was a new fishing pond close by.
He explained that he grew concerned about the large Oak trees around his house and had had them cut. I immediately had visions of hundreds of board feet of almost free Oak lumber.
I asked about the trees and he asked why I was asking, then had a OMG/concerned look on his face. I started having a boulder growing in my gut as he said he is getting forgetful, and forgot that I do woodworking. UH-OH
Says he, well, you know the heavy equipment you heard?
Says I, yes, Mr. Owens.
Says he, well Ken it was a big backhoe digging a huge hole to bury the trees in!
YEP, they buried 4-100 ft. tall either Red or White Oaks, he didn't know which. I've seen the trees many times, and they were straight and clear for many, many feet. I'm sure the first 10 feet or so would be questionable due to perhaps having metal in them but there was still 1000's of board feet of lumber, the trees were a minimum of 4 ft. dia. at 6 ft. above the ground. Not to mention the huge crotches up high at the branches and forks.
Ken Weaver has heard the story up to this point, but not the final blow.
Mr. Owens came by again yesterday for a chat and brought up the trees again. After burying 2 of the 4 trees, the logger decided to count the rings in the remaining 2. They were so close he says he is sure he missed some, but on one he counted 168 rings and on the other he counted 188 rings. And 3 of the four were solid throughout, one had some hollowing near the ground.
As he left he said, Ken I am sorry I didn't think of you, you could have had all of the wood you wanted
I'm still crying.
Please send me your condolences.
He came by a couple of weeks ago and I asked what he had done that required heavy equipment, hoping there was a new fishing pond close by.
He explained that he grew concerned about the large Oak trees around his house and had had them cut. I immediately had visions of hundreds of board feet of almost free Oak lumber.
I asked about the trees and he asked why I was asking, then had a OMG/concerned look on his face. I started having a boulder growing in my gut as he said he is getting forgetful, and forgot that I do woodworking. UH-OH
Says he, well, you know the heavy equipment you heard?
Says I, yes, Mr. Owens.
Says he, well Ken it was a big backhoe digging a huge hole to bury the trees in!
YEP, they buried 4-100 ft. tall either Red or White Oaks, he didn't know which. I've seen the trees many times, and they were straight and clear for many, many feet. I'm sure the first 10 feet or so would be questionable due to perhaps having metal in them but there was still 1000's of board feet of lumber, the trees were a minimum of 4 ft. dia. at 6 ft. above the ground. Not to mention the huge crotches up high at the branches and forks.
Ken Weaver has heard the story up to this point, but not the final blow.
Mr. Owens came by again yesterday for a chat and brought up the trees again. After burying 2 of the 4 trees, the logger decided to count the rings in the remaining 2. They were so close he says he is sure he missed some, but on one he counted 168 rings and on the other he counted 188 rings. And 3 of the four were solid throughout, one had some hollowing near the ground.
As he left he said, Ken I am sorry I didn't think of you, you could have had all of the wood you wanted
I'm still crying.
Please send me your condolences.
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