Our morning started with my husband and I standing in the street under a crystal chandelier of birch branches. We noticed that cars were drastically slowing down and then saw that our huge birch was bowing in four different directions, almost touching the ground. Afraid that if we didn't do something, the township road crew would come and hack at it, we grabbed branches and started shaking and jumping. It is amazing how this tree of the North bends, not breaks. After getting showered with ice pieces for several minutes, I grabbed the lopers and managed to cut off the tippy tops, since they wouldn't be within cutting range again soon. While we watched, the tree branches slowly started to rise. When we returned home several hours later, it was back to normal. Nature never fails to amaze.