Harbingers of Spring

If you’ll notice our header, you’ll see a reference to John 1:12. There is a bit more explanation in our About section, which see.

On your left you’ll see the evidence that our long wait for winter to move apace is nearing an end. Daffodils, tulips, flowering plum tree, and raspberry plants join in the witness. Yay! and Hooray! Lola says.

Recent days have been largely spent in producing a new website dedicated to the history of the English Bible.

For far too long the windstorms that periodically cruise through the area have worried us, having 100′+ Lombardy Poplars lining the west boundary of our property.

And then there was the Cedrus Deodora that stood in our front yard. It came, innocently enough, from the former property. We had no idea the dimensions it might reach. Nor did we realize how gangling and misshapen that variety of tree becomes. But when it had long-ago threatened the driveway, had long been a serious clean-up pest by way of needles and cones non-stop — and was now appearing to be a culprit in the septic system problem, well…

Cedrus Deodora in front yard

This tree was quite small when we moved in, but was well over 35′ when it came down!

The short stump made an ideal place for a flower pot of daffodils and crocus.

The tree crew made short order of taking down the cedar tree and reducing the branches to chips. It was another thing for us to move the fireplace shorts to the backyard. The John Deere 140 with a

John Deere 140 made it easy!

hand truck-fashioned trailer did the job, though. Lola did the heavy lifting and I drove and gave orders!

It was rather messy work in the mud, but what are tractors for, if not to play in the dirt and mud?

It was October and the inevitable storms of winter were on their way, so we decided to bite the bullet and get the Lombardys topped and the Cedrus Deodora removed, so we called in “The ‘A’ Team.”

Final result

The 100' Lombardys

The three guys had topped three poplars, taken down the cedar, and chipped it all up in about 3-1/2 hours!

The camaraderie was phenomenal (two were brothers). They chatted and joked as they teetered out on limbs, lopped huge tops and generally played the daredevil.

Tony at 85' from ground-- branches at bottom of view are 50' from ground.

Tony makes a set-up

Ropes, climbers, chainsaws and pruning hooks were all extensions of their bodies as they plied their trade, working seamlessly in a rhythm of efficiency and pure enjoyment. To watch them tended to make it all look like child’s play, yet there was an amazing precision and awesome caution in every move.

Even though I spent several summers in the woods with loggers during my college years, watching this team brought a new appreciation for the skill and years of experience that they were putting into play.

Finally, here’s the “dance” captured in video… click on the link below:
Topping the last tree