From Fallen Tree to Dr. Seuss in Lancaster County

A nasty storm rolled through Lancaster County in late June. Terre Hill was right in the path. We lost a White Cedar tree behind the Olde Stone Cottage. I hate to lose trees, for they enhance the quality of our property and lives. Trees provide homes for birds, shade the yard and help clean our air.

As is common after every storm – winter or summer, we walk through town and talk with neighbors – seeing how everyone fared and assessing the damage. As we looked at the large broken limb, a name came to mind – Dean Fox (717-355-2566). Dean has been chain saw carving all sorts of creatures for our town park at our Terre Hill Days celebration each year. That would be a great tribute to our fallen tree.

It is quite a show to watch him work – climbing all over the tree. In fact, the event drew a few spectators.

Unfortunately, we discovered that the tree, although healthy at the top, was rotted from the base up to 6 ft. – which is the part that Dean would need to carve. So Dean took what he could use for other projects and we went home disappointed. The rest of the tree was ground up for mulch. As you may know, cedar makes great mulch, because it doesn’t attract insects and smells nice when warmed by the sun.

Dean offered to carve a felled Red Cedar tree for us that had been drying at his house for two years. We agreed.

There was only one choice for subject matter.

As an inn that hosts four cats and seems to attract most of the neighborhood strays, it was only fitting that Dean carve a 6 ft tall Cat-in-the-Hat – our tribute to one of America’s most beloved poets, Dr. Seuss.