Weeping Birch?

Trying to ID this guy and I'm pretty positive he's a weeping birch. The problem is he's got some heavy damage- what I'm thinking is bug and fungal damage, possibly a woodpecker? I do NOT want to give up till I have to, he's super pretty even all boogered up, and despite the fact that some idiot topped him. :/

Base trunk and why I think some fungal damage- it's do bad it doesn't much look like a birch, right?

You can sorta see the birch-ness here.. Point towards that ID I think... But that's a helluva lot of bug/bird damage.

The cut the top right off him.. He's coming back though.. See why I want to keep him? It looks healthy.. Or not dying. 

Larger close up of branches

Tighter close up

Cones/seeds

Hobbitses love their meals.

It's just a place to bank hobbit recipe places I like. Because second breakfast. Yum :)

There was a feast for Tolkien, he gave speeches, etc. I'd really like to find the whole menu for that dinner, and the recipes attached. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/12/09/249827551/elevenses-and-then-some-how-to-prepare-a-feast-fit-for-a-hobbit

Awesome list of recipes. 

http://lotrscrapbook.bookloaf.net/other/recipes.html

Discussion of hobbity recipes

http://www.strangehorizons.com/2008/20080211/green-a.shtml

Bombur's cookbook ( Warner brothers site)

http://apps.warnerbros.com/thehobbit/recipes/us/

This one has links to recipes including but not limited to Lembas and seed cake.

http://www.tor.com/2013/12/04/hobbit-recipes-food/

A few recipes:

https://kitchenoverlord.com/2014/12/18/how-to-eat-like-a-hobbit-in-7-steps-second-breakfast/

I'll add more as I'm able. Feel free to respond with your favorite sites/recipes :)

Recipe: Chicken Salad Veggie Sandwich

Chicken Salad

-1 c shredded chicken

-1/2 c mayo

-3 T pickle relish

-3 ribs celery hearts ( very small, leaves incl)

-1 t marjoram

-1/4 t garlic powder

-1/2 t onion powder

-Salt

-Pepper

Mix it up. That's all there is to it. 

Toppers

-Sliced tomatoes

-Avocado

-Lettuce

-Cucumber

-baby spinach

-Toasted bread 

Avocado: I tend to mush it up and spread it on the toasted bread but slices work too

Lettuce: any kind. I keep an arrogant den do I've got agourmet blend of baby greens year round for my whims :) I usually swipe out of it daily. But it also makes a great lettuce wrap. 

Cucumbers: sliced, or peel/seed/dice and add in the salad. 

Bread: optional really. One slice for open face, two for a sammich, do a wrap with greens or a tortilla. It's alllllll good. No, really, it is- I've tried it ;)

There you have it. 

Prunus americana: American plum

I've been trying to identify the plum trees out front since they decided to have a mast fruiting year last year. Apparently in 30 years they ( there are 2) have never fruited, so said the neighbor. In I come, hack the crud out of it ( limbed out the dead, low hangers, etc- a really goo lower clean up) plant some grafted  tri-plums and BAM!! So. I think I've narrowed this 25-30 foot monster plum to this beauty.. 

Prunus Americana.

Here is part of my tree.. End of flowering.

Little dude, just coming on again this year. Going to be a big year again I think. 

This however is last year:

They are the right size, shape, color.. And they have the white blush on them.

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/pruame/all.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_americana

The problem I see is that we are a bit far west according to a lot of sources, BUT Burke out here says it's ours too, so there you go. I call it. Will post more pics as it blooms/fruits this year. 

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?SciName=Prunus%20americana

Prunus americana ID video

https://youtu.be/ENCP0AR9Dd4