Jonny, do you have a mini-loader or tractor/ iron? Oak is f'ing heavy.
Saw a customer who's become a friend, who wants to adopt me. She recently lost her husband after a long MS battle.
She needed a 2 dead trees knocked down. She does all her own groundwork and firewood cutting/ splitting. Works off frustration, and now grief, regardless of how little cartilage she has left.
She has two MS251's with EZ-Start, or whatever. She had a low-hour 026 that's too hard for her to start, had been her husband's. Asked if I would have any interest in it, if she got it running. Dumped out the old gas, unknown age, put in new gas, started up. Runs a bit smoky and won't idle long without stalling. Ran it to limb up felled cedar. Will send it to the Maintenance Department (my neighbor), along with a couple other saws, including my blown up MS660.
Offered me more money on top, but the 026, 2 dozen eggs, and two pints of homemade strawberry preserves and a cup of coffee and conversation was fine.
Has a few more pound-overs in the woods, that she'll take her p/u as close as possible and make trips...a round under each arm. Tough old woman, retired Army.
Their daughter moved back from the east coast a couple years ago, and my friend wanted to hook us up. haha.
Now it's mom and daughter, no husband/dad or everyday significant-care provider...
So they were thinking of taking their dog in to be put 'to sleep' today, when I called and said "can I drop by?", unbeknownst to me.
Old dog spent the day on the back deck in the shade. Passed peacefully in the living room. (luckily, not unexpectedly, no 'messes'). Loaded him into the suv for them, off to be cremated.
and the guys did great on the ground. The new guy is a burly young stud who is the best friend of my now-top guy. He has a good attitude and just got out of jail (which as a buddy said, is "perfect!" lol, cuz of course tree work can suck but its a lot better than jail). They both want to learn how to climb and they have way more than enough physicality for it, it'll just take time. 
