Great day to do yard work so I went for a ride to meet people and to have lunch

[..]

https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qkGALnz3q

[carolinarider09]

 

[f6john]

Good decision! I cut grass and when for my good weather walk around the neighborhood. Saw some familiar faces in your pics. I would have ridden somewhere today but my granddaughter shared her pink eye with my wife so we had to make a run to the doctors office. Glad you had a good time, that burger looked great.

[Jess from VA]

I did yard work.  After the big oaks were hacked on by the crew Mon and Tues, even though they did a good cleanup, there was still a metric ton of sawdust everywhere.  Then I planted a row of Helleri Holley (green and yellow tip), and Nandina ornamental bamboo.  Then I watered the new stuff and some dry old stuff.  Then I came in and had some dinner and watched the last Big Ten Ten team in the big tournament (MI State) lose to K State (booo).  Then I had a shower. 

It was unseasonably warm today, and at 9P it was 77 degrees.  So I suited up and went for a night ride for the first time in a long time.  Cruised by George W's Mt. Vernon up the GW Parkway along the Potomac River, cruised down the main drag of Old Town Alexandria with all the shops and restaurants, then headed down the Richmond Hwy past Ft Belvoir Army base, and looped around back home.  76 at 11P in March is awesome.

Hit 70 a few days ago, and I'm kinda tuckered out.  Good night.   

[cookiedough]

Hey Jess,  glad the tree trimmer crew cleaned up for you good.  I will see today the guy who cut down our huge oak tree is suppose to come today.  I hope he brings a truckload full of dirt to fill in the 6-8 inch ruts in my yard?   Also sucks since had to drive 10000lb. or more eqmt. thru my garden,  they compacted the garden soil a good foot down hard as a rock.  Not sure my rototiller will get thru it in a few weeks to plant a garden even sorta like concrete now?  The 12000lb. or so trailer is also still sitting in wet farmers field behind the house, wonder if that will go thru the yard today as well? 

I was hoping they could all remove besides wood chipper and truck the rest in farmers field, guess not?  Pretty tight lot about 40ft in back yard x 100 ft and 20 ft on the sides to maneuver out of my city lot. 

coulda been a lot worse though when the 70ft tree came cracking down at the base hitting neighbors garage or my house, luckily it twisted to the farmers field on the way down. 

tomorrow instead of changing the oil and getting snow tires off my car,  we are going to get 30 mph winds and 2-3 inches of darn snow.  Probably LAST measurable snowfall of the year, or better be.  Usually by April 1st got the cycles out, probably not so this year colder than normal spring here in WI.

[DDT (12)]

 

DDT (12)

[Jess from VA]

Cookie, my crew threw down some kind of big heavy polymer pads on the ground (like 4' X 8') to move their tracked creeper lift over.  There were only 6 of them, so as it moved through the back yard the crew kept lifting these heavy things up and moving them back in front of it.  All the way back, then all the way back out.  They probably didn't need them on our hard compact clay soil with low rain, but the owner has been given all kinds of legal and other trouble by homeowners over the 40 years he's been in business, and he always stays ahead of such complaints now.

Like these.


That tracked creeper lift I pictured in the other thread cost him $160K, which he reminds me of when he gives me his bill.  


  

[0leman]

I am sitting here watching it snow, not worrying about yard work or going for ride.  It'll be another 4 weeks before the yard gets attention.   

I do have a mid size pine tree that needs to be removed.  The original owner planted it too close to the house and it is blocking the winter sun from coming in.  I do have the ability and equipment to cut it down, but like I said close to the house.  So, will go with a tree removal company, probably on that removed a 60' pine tree from my back yard.  Had a nice comfortable chair and cup of coffee while watching them 

[Valkorado]

Feet on the ground here still, more in the forecast along with some below 0° nights.  Springtime in the Rockies!  At least they are saying local drought won't be an issue this summer.

[Jess from VA]

The original owner planted it too close to the house

I believe this is the most common mistake made by Harry Homeowners doing their own landscape.

Without ever reading about the size that mature plants grow, they just buy nice looking small (economical) stuff, and surround their house with it (way too close).  Then, they don't keep up with trimming it back as the years pass, and it causes no end of troubles over the years.

Thirty years ago, I killed the grass and weed-blocked all down the front of my house (sloping it away from the foundation), filled it with nice river stone, then planted landscape outside the dry river bed (which also helps keep water off the foundation).  

Also, letting scape touch your house is a great way to get termites.  

All the scape around my house can be walked (and worked) behind.  This is the way.

PS: Another lesson learned... Leyland Cypress is a beautiful fast growing evergreen, but the roots are shallow, and once they get big, they easily go over in wet and winds or ice storms.  The ones I have left all get their tops cut off, and damn the goofy looks. 

[RNFWP]

Hey, I recognize some of them fellers from TN. 

[0leman]

Jess, what is funny the original homeowner was a forester for the USFS.  Should have know better than to plant a tree that close to the house.  Trees do grow here, and can get pretty big.

Still snowing, need some sun.  Thankfully its only a trace, but more is one the way.

[Rams]

Took two trees down a few days ago, when the spousal unit returns she may not appreciate this but, they needed to come down.   I piled the "remains" on my burn pit and waited for the "remains" to dry out a bit and then with a little help of diesel fuel, held a cremation of her beloved flowering trees.   We're talking about a pretty large pile of tree limbs and trunk pieces here about 15 feet in circumference and 8 feet tall.

I was up late in the night ensuring the fire didn't get out of hand.   Regardless, what remains is a lot of ash and two small lumps of charcoal/wood.  (Note to self: Never do this wearing shorts and a tee shirt.)   Now to get the leaf blower back out and blow those ashes down range.   She'll never miss those damn trees (I hope).

The biggest clue will be the lack of hair on my arms and legs, it was there before the fire..............  Got up this morning and realized my eyebrows are missing.   Who'd have thunk it..............

Today, I hope to ride.  (I think I deserve it.)   She won't be back until after Spring Fling so, maybe my eyebrows will grow back.  


Rams  

[0leman]

Rams, got caught in a bad spot on a wildfire in the early 70's.  Had hair a bit longer than it should have been, lost all below my hard hat, plus arm and facial hair.  Took the eye browses a bit longer than a week or two to grow back. 

[Rams]

Rams, got caught in a bad spot on a wildfire in the early 70's.  Had hair a bit longer than it should have been, lost all below my hard hat, plus arm and facial hair.  Took the eye browses a bit longer than a week or two to grow back. 

Hmmm, physical evidence may be hard to overlook.   After 41 years, she might not even look.   We can always hope. 

Rams

[Jess from VA]

I lost a beard and a full chest of hair (and skin) to FFFG black powder (no shirt). 

The eyebrows (and eyes) were saved by glasses and a hat.  I was young then. 

Sorry to say... but you ought to know better.

You must ignite a big fueled fire with some kind of stand off or fuse. 

[Rams]

I lost a beard and a full chest of hair (and skin) to FFFG black powder (no shirt). 

The eyebrows (and eyes) were saved by glasses and a hat.  I was young then. 

Sorry to say... but you ought to know better.

You must ignite a big fueled fire with some kind of stand off or fuse. 

Jess,
You are assuming ignition of the fire is when the "hair" got burnt off.   Not the case.   To control the fire and keep it contained, I fed the fire's center from the outside by picking up the non-burning limbs and tossing them into the center.   This kept the fire where I wanted it but, did cause me to get a bit closer to it that I would have liked. 

As I previously said, the pile was about 15 feet across and 8 feet tall in the beginning, the burn area on the ground is less than 6 feet across.   So yeah, I know better than to start an explosive fire but, I did control the fire from spreading and only lost a bit of hair.   

BTW, the Annual Southern Storyteller's contest is coming up this weekend.   You're invited. 

Rams

[f6john]

I’ve heard women love the slick look, just shave everything off, she won’t notice the tree situation at all!

[Rams]

I’ve heard women love the slick look, just shave everything off, she won’t notice the tree situation at all!

Not sure who you "heard" that from but, it may have been a suggestion.   Don't know, I wasn't there. 
You should try it and see.   


Rams   

[..]

I'll join in on the hijack.  

We are having 2 trees removed today that are threats to the rental cottage Sandra owns next door. $2,500 to be cut down and removed / chipped.

Tall and surrounded by other trees. Until you see a human up a tree you don't "see" the height.

I spent about an hour observing until the trees were down to about the 30 foot mark.

It was enjoyable watching the guy up with the tree with the chain saw and ropes. Very methodical and cautious.

I was watching from the 2nd floor deck and using full zoom on my phone. The base of the trees are about 30 feet below my vantage point.

[Rams]

These are things I used to enjoy doing, challenging tasks with a bit of caution being necessary.

It's no longer something I seek.  I've learned most of those life lessons, the hardway. 

Rams

[old2soon]

     Further back than I care to recall did some tree work with daprez's then bil. We'd take turns climbing with not much safety gear!  Now I couldn't git up a tree iffin I had too!  Fer as I'm concerned tree work a young mans game. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

We are having 2 trees removed today that are threats to the rental cottage

No lift can get back there, so free climbs.

No houses or buildings, so an easier drop (can't see the cottage).

Short sleeves is a bad idea.

Vines must never be allowed to grow up trees... certain sped-up destruction, over time.  Kill them on the ground (without poisoning the trees), chop them off at ground level, and chop up the roots.

My bill was about 3 times yours. 

[..]

We are having 2 trees removed today that are threats to the rental cottage

No lift can get back there, so free climbs.

No houses or buildings, so an easier drop (can't see the cottage).

Short sleeves is a bad idea.

Vines must never be allowed to grow up trees... certain sped-up destruction, over time.  Kill them on the ground (without poisoning the trees), chop them off at ground level, and chop up the roots.

My bill was about 3 times yours. 

No tree dropping.

I'm working on dealing with vines. ITSALOTTATREES.

I cleared the bases of 2 trees today. Some of the vines are thumb thick.

Not as bad as my Roswell house which were wrist thick.

[Jess from VA]

Most tree creeper vines are not poison ivy or oak, but some may be. 

[..]

Most tree creeper vines are not poison ivy or oak, but some may be. 

Don't I know it. Buggers can getya no matter how covered up you are.

[..]

Well bugger me O'Riley. The up the tree guy just dropped a piece onto the small footbridge across the creek and broke it.

[Jess from VA]

Well bugger me O'Riley. The up the tree guy just dropped a piece onto the small footbridge across the creek and broke it.

He should fix it.  Withholding some payment pending repair may also be warranted. 

Some of the vines are thumb thick.  Not as bad as my Roswell house which were wrist thick.

Big loppers, an ax and hatchet work well.  

[..]

Well bugger me O'Riley. The up the tree guy just dropped a piece onto the small footbridge across the creek and broke it.

He should fix it.  Withholding some payment pending repair may also be warranted. 

He will and I agree.

[Jess from VA]

As careful as they were, my guys dropped some stuff and snapped off some of my old landscape (Tanyosho Japanese red pine), 25yo.  I knew some of this would happen and said nothing.  A new bridge is a bit different.

[..]

After Will was back on the ground he told me he was about 110 to 120 feet up the tallest tree.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y8K1nOe9nL8

[..]

Hole in the footbridge and it's also been twisted.