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It’s what you see just above, though my desk in our little library is a little to the left of what the photo shows, and right behind our giant old apple tree, the base of which is now strewn with newly fallen fruit. The morning sun is bright on the left of the tree trunk, and the grass is deep green again, and long, after such a dry summer. The day is bright and promising here at Applewood, and I’m feeling good again after several days of some unknown illness. The Geek Squad is on the way over to hopefully install a much-needed wi-fi range extender, and I may get the lawn tractor out later if it warms up enough. Feeling hungry, so I’ll go get a bite, and watch a little more of Morning Joe to see what political blunders today holds. Both indoor cats have been needy this morning, and they are always a delight.
The Great Apple Oak
For more information on chainsaw carving, contact Michael Bihlmaier at 815-404-6375, or Google him.
The carving is done, and our initials have been carved by Mike, and at the back of the tree, he added his signature as artist.
Mike Bihlmaier – 815-404-6375 – and his skateboarding avatar, the bear, have completed the chainsaw carving of our bicentennial oak. 
He began the final animals by roughing in the doe and her fawn at the base of the tree. 
While the curious 
squirrel looked on from above.
Meanwhile, the wood chips piled up higher, and higher.
At last, the deer were fully hatched.
While elks Joan and Fred looked on from behind the stone wall. 
All the remains is to give the oak its new protective coating, take down the scaffold and clean up the scraps, and maybe add some initials and an autograph (see final edition to come, in a few days).
The frisky squirrel on his branch is now completed.
For more about Mike Bihlmaier of the Echo Carving Team, see this website: http://www.echo-usa.com/Carving-Team/Members/Mike-Bihlmaier. Here’s Mike with his array of echo chain saws being used at the Applewood Lodge oak project.
Mike has prepared the base of the massive tree for the impending carving of a doe and her fawn, which will complete the new, permanent animal and bird population of our tree.
Artist Mike continues to discover new occupants. Here’s a long look at work to date.
Now we see a nest taking shape.
And so here they are, a wise mother owl enfolding her two chicks in her broad wing. 
And, now, another character scampers onto the tree — a curious squirrel! 
The owls better keep a close eye on Mr. Squirrel. 
Another cat joined our first today, as artist Mike Bihlmaier (815-404-6375) continues his chainsaw sarving on our deceased, but still kicking, bicentennial oak here at Applewood. Here’s the latest progress: 
