A few years ago, a group of friends started building a treehouse overlooking our lotus ponds. Last year, the big old red oak that held a key part of it died. Recently, you could feel the tree move when you climbed up into it. So Jamie Coe, armed with his trusty chainsaw, stood on an area that will become the new viewing platform and cut the two very large branches of the trunk. 
It was a very scary sight from down below (and well off to the side) where Henry and I sat. Matt Barnes was off in the other direction that an anchor chain had been set. Jamie and Matt will spend the rest of today clearing the debris and saving some of the wood parts so the area will be ready for the treehouse crew to return and begin completing the viewing platform over the lotus pond.