LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP -- Genelle Sweetser and Gene Chenoweth live in what they call a peaceful spot along Penns Creek near Mifflinburg. Recently, the couple had to cut down an oak tree that was more than 100-years-old. It had termite damage and was leaning towards their house.
"We were proactively going to take it down. It just destroyed us because we both loved this tree," Sweetser said.
Sweetser thought if they had to take the tree down they may as well make something pretty out of it. That's where Michael Blaine comes in. Blaine is an international chainsaw carving champion who lives in White Haven. The couple hired Blaine to make a sculpture out of the tree stump. He made a crane and a heron.
"I started carving maybe 11:30 yesterday, worked until dark last night and we're done," Blaine said. "I hold world records in speed carving, even though I'm 57."
This isn't just a sculpture. It also serves as a memorial to Genelle's late mother, Marcene.
"She didn't have a headstone so this is kind-of a memorial to her," Sweetser said.
Genelle's mother passed away in January at the age of 94. She loved fishing at Penns Creek and loved cranes.
"And so now we have a crane and a heron watching over it all," Sweetser said.
Blaine makes sculptures for people all over the country, so Genelle and Gene were excited to have him here!
"Are you kidding me? He's just amazing," Chenoweth said.
The couple is pleased that their new friend resurrected the dying tree stump with a fitting tribute to Genelle's mother. For more information on Blaine's work, click here.
