More Tree Work

We planted the last of the trees in the turkey/duck compound and then mulched them all up, including the ones we planted two weeks ago.

Success! Without A Story!

Yesterday morning, quite early, we dropped the big gum tree that was too close to the house, garage and house tanks. Our tree lopping friend had first identified at as a potential danger when we did the first round of lopping at Easter. A "widow maker" he called it.

We borrowed a very long rope from our friend and added a length of chain, just to be sure.

"Geez, I hope it works".

There's the poor old clothesline, on the ground again.

Here we go - first job was to take a chock out of the tree. Note the use of full PPE.

The Helpers were safely hidden away; it's one thing to have a tree branch fall on your head (and end up at the vet on steroids for a week); it's another thing to have an entire tree fall on you. There'd be no vet visit. They weren't very happy. Poofy stopped smiling and Coco cried.

I sat in the car, taking up the rope slack, waiting for the dropped arm command from R that would signal it was time to plant my foot (the signal that never actually came). I had discussed with him what to look for when it was getting close to falling.

In the end I just kept soft pressure on the accelerator and kept the rope tight. When I saw that G was around the back of the tree I knew it wouldn't be long so I gave a little rev and the tree started to come so I gave it a bit more and down she came.

Success!! It's down - without a single casualty!! House, clothesline, garage, Helpers and people all safe. There was plenty of back slapping and high fives and even some nervous laughter between the boys. It seems they may have been a little more nervous than they let on.....

The area is totally opened up now and we'll be able to plant the Spartans.

It all went to Plan. We actually did something and there's NO STORY. What a nice change! All done by 6am. We went inside for tea, coffee and scrambled eggs.



Now we just need the tree fairy to come along, cut it up and take it away.

New Trees

I've been trying to get this post written for days but haven't found the time until right now.

G and I spent the day in Twba on Wednesday; I had some more tests and got a 5 year clearance which was great news. After leaving the hospital we visited a nursery and bought 10 trees and 2 shrubs and planted some of them when we got home.

We had a hole ready for a tree just at the end of the laneway entrance. G chose a norfolk pine. Here's the blank spot. It will be good to plot the progress of the tree/s over the next few years.

It's hard work being a labourer. Just ask me!

We also bought 3 acacias and another gum - a fast growing, bird attracting acacia for the house garden and the other 3 for shade for the turkey/duck enclosure.

Helpers!!

These are conifers, Juniperus chinensis 'Spartan', to plant as a screen/windbreak out near the tank garden. We bought 5 but should have grabbed another 1. Before we can plant these we have to remove the enormous gum tree that sits in the triangle between the house, garage and clothesline.

Then we drove to pick up some meat, deliver a vehicle and get a quote on selling mine. While we were away the weather blew up and blue and grey clouds raced quickly across the sky but we only got a few spits. It rained overnight - 7mm.

This is the little bottle tree that G dug up last weekend; we moved it to the Tree Line (ie line of trees).