snapshot
Farmwife
That sounds like a really busy day! I'm amazed you had time left to relax!
hqueen's collection of Far From the Usual stuff.
- Thread starter hqueen13
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hqueen13
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Well, once we were done, we were DONE! LOL
Today was another productive day. We didn't get up until a little later, but once we finally got moving we got some things done. He made the phone call to switch our car insurance and sign up for renter's insurance, which even with the addition of the renters is going to SAVE us about $65.00/month!
Got dressed and headed outside to do some cleaning up for the season. I always prune all the trees around here, in the yard and on the grounds (the ones that are worth pruning anyway!) and I really enjoy it. I like cultivating and nourishing the tree into a better shape that is healthier, more balanced and allows the tree to thrive better. Pruned up all four crepe myrtles. Found that the largest one is doing pretty well, as is one of the tiny ones. The other two aren't great, but they're hanging in there. One of them is technically the same age as the big one, but does not get enough sun, so it is barely my height and never does flower
But it is still happy and green, so its hanging in there.
I also pruned several of the larger trees in the yard and behind the yard. Some of them are doing really well, and I did very minimal work to them to help open them up and correct crossing branches and such. One of them is a beautiful tree with peely paper bark, but the branches start high and then draped downward in beautiful shapes. However, getting knocked by a branch while riding the mower when the branch actually starts 10' in the air is a bit irritating. So the other half went and got the tractor and lifted me up in the bucket so I could trim some of them off so that we won't get smacked while riding the speedy mower. Much nicer now!
I also finished by pruning the little lacy leaf maple that the barn manager planted where she buried one of her horses that she had to put down. I noticed the tree two years ago, and when I found it, it had been in a wire cage to keep the deer off of it, and then it was forgotten for at least two years. The poor thing had grown all up in on itself and was basically choked by weeds and its own branches when I got to it. I cut away the wire and raked out the leaves before going to work on all the branches and trimming away what was horribly grown. When I finished the first time it was rather barren, but it FLOURISHED that year into a beautiful little tree! I recaged it with a much roomier cage of chicken wire, and let it be. Now that I am coming back the second year to trim it up, it is no where near as difficult. I try to leave the shape as natural as possible, just trimming away competing branches and things. It looks lovely again, and I widened the cage yet again, now the cage is probably more than 6' in diameter! I can't wait to see how it leafs out this year and thrives.
It only took us about two hours, but I am really really tired now. My arms are aching, which is not surprising. It takes a lot of work to trim branches that are 1 1/2 to 2" thick. I am not a big person, either! My back is telling me I've worked. I think later today I will soak in the tub with some muscle salts for a while!
Now... what to do with the rest of my afternoon....
Today was another productive day. We didn't get up until a little later, but once we finally got moving we got some things done. He made the phone call to switch our car insurance and sign up for renter's insurance, which even with the addition of the renters is going to SAVE us about $65.00/month!
Got dressed and headed outside to do some cleaning up for the season. I always prune all the trees around here, in the yard and on the grounds (the ones that are worth pruning anyway!) and I really enjoy it. I like cultivating and nourishing the tree into a better shape that is healthier, more balanced and allows the tree to thrive better. Pruned up all four crepe myrtles. Found that the largest one is doing pretty well, as is one of the tiny ones. The other two aren't great, but they're hanging in there. One of them is technically the same age as the big one, but does not get enough sun, so it is barely my height and never does flower
But it is still happy and green, so its hanging in there. I also pruned several of the larger trees in the yard and behind the yard. Some of them are doing really well, and I did very minimal work to them to help open them up and correct crossing branches and such. One of them is a beautiful tree with peely paper bark, but the branches start high and then draped downward in beautiful shapes. However, getting knocked by a branch while riding the mower when the branch actually starts 10' in the air is a bit irritating. So the other half went and got the tractor and lifted me up in the bucket so I could trim some of them off so that we won't get smacked while riding the speedy mower. Much nicer now!
I also finished by pruning the little lacy leaf maple that the barn manager planted where she buried one of her horses that she had to put down. I noticed the tree two years ago, and when I found it, it had been in a wire cage to keep the deer off of it, and then it was forgotten for at least two years. The poor thing had grown all up in on itself and was basically choked by weeds and its own branches when I got to it. I cut away the wire and raked out the leaves before going to work on all the branches and trimming away what was horribly grown. When I finished the first time it was rather barren, but it FLOURISHED that year into a beautiful little tree! I recaged it with a much roomier cage of chicken wire, and let it be. Now that I am coming back the second year to trim it up, it is no where near as difficult. I try to leave the shape as natural as possible, just trimming away competing branches and things. It looks lovely again, and I widened the cage yet again, now the cage is probably more than 6' in diameter! I can't wait to see how it leafs out this year and thrives.
It only took us about two hours, but I am really really tired now. My arms are aching, which is not surprising. It takes a lot of work to trim branches that are 1 1/2 to 2" thick. I am not a big person, either! My back is telling me I've worked. I think later today I will soak in the tub with some muscle salts for a while!
Now... what to do with the rest of my afternoon....
Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
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What kind of trees are the ones w/the peeling bark?
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hqueen13
<Insert Snazzy Title Here
No idea, LOL It is a lovely tree, though. The branches grow a little odd though, draping down and out. We had to trim almost 10' up to make sure that the mowing head space was clear.
Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
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Can you post a pic? I'm curious now. Or, if you can't post a pic, can you describe it more?
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- #176
hqueen13
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Sure, I'll post a pic later. Its a pretty tree, might be something like a paper birch or something, I have no idea though. I'm not super good at identifying wild things yet.
Saw more of those fun ducks at the reservoir driving the other morning. White on the bottom, black heads, and it looks like a black line down their backs. Super cute, and I did see one dive as I drove by
Also saw my friend the Heron again. I am always pleased when I see my friends the Herons and Foxes.
Had my eye appointment this afternoon for my yearly follow up. Good news, my vision hasn't changed. Bad news is that she dilated my eyes and UGH! One eye dilated really well, the other not so much, and its been bugging me all afternoon. Other good news is that between my insurance and the price match I paid $121.25 for contacts, the contact fitting exam and the annual exam. This is a year supply, plus she gave me an extra pair. Plus there is a $25.00 rebate on the contacts that I have to mail in. Pretty good deal!
Saw a blub today that there have been some pretty big solar flares lately, which probably explains why my cell phone battery was worn down a bit more than usual today during the day and the fact that the cellular signal was spotty on the way home while chatting with the other half as we both made our commutes (I was later due to the eye appointment). The signal actually dropped the call at one point in an unusual spot.
Checked the weather forecast and it looks like there is only a 30% chance of rain on Friday now, which is GREAT for our plans this weekend. Mulch will be delivered either Thursday or Friday some time, and the community service kids crew will be here Saturday to spread it. The logs for the outline of our fire pit patio will be coming along with the mulch, and we'll probably see about constructing that the following weekend. Sunday's weather is also good, and warmer, which is GREAT considering I have a 4 hour outdoor handgun private lesson. WHEW. Looking forward to it, but I am a bit nervous... FOUR hours of shooting, that is a LONG time when the most I've ever done is shared a lane with the other half and shot for an hour or so.
Now if only the rest of the week will hurry up!
Saw more of those fun ducks at the reservoir driving the other morning. White on the bottom, black heads, and it looks like a black line down their backs. Super cute, and I did see one dive as I drove by
Also saw my friend the Heron again. I am always pleased when I see my friends the Herons and Foxes.
Had my eye appointment this afternoon for my yearly follow up. Good news, my vision hasn't changed. Bad news is that she dilated my eyes and UGH! One eye dilated really well, the other not so much, and its been bugging me all afternoon. Other good news is that between my insurance and the price match I paid $121.25 for contacts, the contact fitting exam and the annual exam. This is a year supply, plus she gave me an extra pair. Plus there is a $25.00 rebate on the contacts that I have to mail in. Pretty good deal!
Saw a blub today that there have been some pretty big solar flares lately, which probably explains why my cell phone battery was worn down a bit more than usual today during the day and the fact that the cellular signal was spotty on the way home while chatting with the other half as we both made our commutes (I was later due to the eye appointment). The signal actually dropped the call at one point in an unusual spot.
Checked the weather forecast and it looks like there is only a 30% chance of rain on Friday now, which is GREAT for our plans this weekend. Mulch will be delivered either Thursday or Friday some time, and the community service kids crew will be here Saturday to spread it. The logs for the outline of our fire pit patio will be coming along with the mulch, and we'll probably see about constructing that the following weekend. Sunday's weather is also good, and warmer, which is GREAT considering I have a 4 hour outdoor handgun private lesson. WHEW. Looking forward to it, but I am a bit nervous... FOUR hours of shooting, that is a LONG time when the most I've ever done is shared a lane with the other half and shot for an hour or so.
Now if only the rest of the week will hurry up!
Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
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Does the bark have a reddish tinge to it, like this? http://www.google.com/imgres?q=rive...tbnw=85&start=17&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:17 If so, it's a river birch. I love them. They're one of my favorite trees. And, the bark is great for starting a fire. It has some kind of oil in it that makes it easy to light.
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- #178
hqueen13
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I think so! It is beautiful! I really enjoy the tree, it is just tough to keep trimmed reasonably so that you don't smack your head on those super whippy branches while mowing at high speeds on our zippy mower! Is it native?
Denim Deb
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Yep. And, you can tap it like a maple tree to make syrup. I just don't know how big a tree you need since it is generally a smaller tree than the maple. I've seen very few w/a large trunk, though it can get up to about 2 feet in diameter.
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- #180
hqueen13
<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Interesting, Deb! I ended up pruning too late last year, and when I cut the branches the poor tree just ran with sap. Glad I got it sooner this year. I felt bad!
Ordered my new gauge from Ace hardware today! Yay!
So once I get that I've just got to collect more jars and rings and get lids and then I can start canning! I might try the mushroom cream soup first since its easy and I don't have to wait for something to be in season.
Things are shaping up to be a great weekend to work outside, which is good since that is the plan! Can't wait to get the yard covered in mulch again so it looks nice again. Its been 2 years since we got a load, and it is LONG overdue. Going to fertilize the azaleas and rhodies before they start throwing mulch, too. I have GOT to order stakes to attach the new hot wire to protect the front row of plants. I was looking at the azaleas today and I think they are a bit chewed, there are almost NO leaves on them right now, and they really don't ever lose their leaves If I don't get them protected soon I am going to have some serious issues. The poor things are already stunted as it is. They had a tough go the year of the triple snowstorms and ever since that year when the deer discovered they could eat them, they have never done well. Poor things.
Ordered my new gauge from Ace hardware today! Yay!
So once I get that I've just got to collect more jars and rings and get lids and then I can start canning! I might try the mushroom cream soup first since its easy and I don't have to wait for something to be in season.Things are shaping up to be a great weekend to work outside, which is good since that is the plan! Can't wait to get the yard covered in mulch again so it looks nice again. Its been 2 years since we got a load, and it is LONG overdue. Going to fertilize the azaleas and rhodies before they start throwing mulch, too. I have GOT to order stakes to attach the new hot wire to protect the front row of plants. I was looking at the azaleas today and I think they are a bit chewed, there are almost NO leaves on them right now, and they really don't ever lose their leaves
If I don't get them protected soon I am going to have some serious issues. The poor things are already stunted as it is. They had a tough go the year of the triple snowstorms and ever since that year when the deer discovered they could eat them, they have never done well. Poor things.
