April 23, 2006 — About a week ago, Kelly bought a good long ladder and immediately trimmed some of the branches of our trees to improve our view of Lake Chapala. Then he got to thinking that if he took down a dead tree trunk that’s not too far from the house, the view would be even better. It’s a huge old tree, though, and he didn’t want to think about how much work it would be without a chain saw.

Not long after that, he heard a chain saw being used about a block away. He wandered down and found a Mexican man handling it very deftly. Kelly asked the guy if he’d be interested in taking down our tree. The guy came by after work that evening and took a look. He and Kelly made a deal: he’d be here Saturday afternoon around 3 PM, and he’d do the job for 300 pesos, about $27. The guy could have the wood.

So he turned up yesterday afternoon, with another man, a younger man, and two school-aged boys. They all got to work, and Kelly got out his camera. Here, work is underway on the sawing.

A closeup of two men with the guide rope:

And here’s the best picture… Kelly caught the tree in midair! (His camera did, I mean.)

Our view IS nicer.