When bedtime arrived here Saturday night, my Fit bit was showing 25,000 steps and having walked 10 miles. Here's how...
We hardly knew where to begin? What a mess!
Friday afternoon a man came out and cut down all the dead pine trees from the left side of our property. With all the windy days we've had lately, it was dangerous walking down this way.
Do you see our little Weetie, standing guard in all these pictures?
It was noon before we got all the logs and trees moved away, then Poppy had other things to do so I started raking.
There were two years worth of leaves packed in places, and you know me...once I get started, I don't have sense enough to stop and rest. No, I am bound and determined to clean up every inch of ground, and every leaf!
So, here are a couple of "after" pictures...
We're going to sow grass seed here. This add a lot more yard space.
Knowing there was still other work to be done outside and supper to cook, at 4:30 I stood the rake against a tree, went in the house, got two Tylenol and a bottle of water, and sat down for five minutes.
I was exhausted! My hair was in knots, my cheeks and eyes red from the sun, and my eyelids white...seriously, probably from squinting. Looking in the mirror actually scared me.
This eastern red cedar grows at the end of our property...
Poppy says it is unusually large and I think he's probably right...
On line information says the eastern red cedar can grow 40 to 50' high with a spread of 8 to 20'. This cedar looks to be all that, and more.
anyhow, it's a beautiful tree. We love the cedars and hollies as they add lots of green during the winter months when the other trees are brown and gray.
okay, one other bit of boring information...
ever seen this many pine cones on one little limb? Twenty! Doesn't look like twenty, but Poppy counted them. Good year for pines cones maybe. Poppy said, "this is the kind of thing you need to put on your blog".
That's about it for my nature post for the month. Hope you will come back. I worked a little on the doll dress last night, and I have another sweet doll to show you.
Love,
Henny
Oh, and I have a new follower, thank you, Prairie Needleworks
It was noon before we got all the logs and trees moved away, then Poppy had other things to do so I started raking.
There were two years worth of leaves packed in places, and you know me...once I get started, I don't have sense enough to stop and rest. No, I am bound and determined to clean up every inch of ground, and every leaf!
So, here are a couple of "after" pictures...
Knowing there was still other work to be done outside and supper to cook, at 4:30 I stood the rake against a tree, went in the house, got two Tylenol and a bottle of water, and sat down for five minutes.
I was exhausted! My hair was in knots, my cheeks and eyes red from the sun, and my eyelids white...seriously, probably from squinting. Looking in the mirror actually scared me.
This eastern red cedar grows at the end of our property...
Poppy says it is unusually large and I think he's probably right...
That's about it for my nature post for the month. Hope you will come back. I worked a little on the doll dress last night, and I have another sweet doll to show you.
Love,
Henny
Oh, and I have a new follower, thank you, Prairie Needleworks
You do have beautiful property and magnificent trees. Too bad I don't live closer as I would have helped with the raking. That's one thing I love to do here, too. "hi Wheaty"
ReplyDeleteand I would have loved having you help me rake. I've always enjoyed raking too.
DeleteWow, you and a Poppy were very busy. I love all of your trees! The red cedar is beautiful, so big. The pine cones are lovely.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a chance to rest!
Thank you Robin. :)
DeleteWhew, I am worn out just reading all you done!!! That is one big bunch of pine cones!
ReplyDeleteHey Rose. I may have overdone it! I am still tired and this is Tuesday! :)
DeleteI am exhausted just reading this!!!!!!!! *Crazy* woman! Wonder you didn't give yourself a heart attack, with all that!!!!!!!! -sighhhhh-
ReplyDeleteAhhhh yes, those people who, once they start something, can not put it down, until it is allllllll donnnne. Ahhh yes! I live with one of those!!!!!!! LOL He drives me crazy, sometimes. >,-)))))
You certainly did a wonderful job of it. Both of you. But you and all that raking. It is now pristine!
Hope you spent all day Sunday, in a state of "suspended animation"!!!!!!! Please say you did!
Lots of gentle hugs,
Luna Crone
Hey Luna Crone. Crazy woman is right. I had rather work outside than eat when I'm hungry. I just don't have sense enough to stop and rest.
DeleteYour post title made me laugh. My grandpa used to use that expression! Such a lot of work but a very nice clearing for more yard now. You should be very proud. Excited to hear the doll news.
ReplyDeleteThank you Melanie. I messed up on the title. Folks used to say, "wore" slap out. :)
DeleteI don't know how you do it. I've never had that much energy even when I was young. And every time I've raked, even with gloves on, my hands just blister. That's proof that I don't work very hard right there; my hands definitely are not toughened up. I've never heard the phrase worn slap out. I guess it's a regional thing. My family from the Ozarks used to say plum (plumb?) wore out. Your trees are beautiful, especially that huge cedar. I wonder how old it is. The yard looks great.
ReplyDeleteHey Peg. I've heard that too...plum wore out. I meant to use the word "wore" in my title. :) I've always loved working outside, and love it so much that I don't realize just how tired I'm getting...then pay for it later.
DeleteWow, now that does look like a lot of work you got through. Hope you are Ok and have not overdone things. How pretty your new space will look all seeded with grass. I don't think I have ever seen so many cones all on one limb.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Hope grass will grow there. :)
DeleteThat was a lot of hard work you both tackled, mounds of leaves, and now all neat and tidy !
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking as I read, ooh Henny your back !!
Yes, that Eastern Cedar is extremely large, we have some in the woods, I would say they are a few hundred years old.
I like them for the same reason you do, they offer some color in the grey of Winter.
Enjoy your week Henny, and Happy Valentine's Day to you and Poppy :)
~Hugs,
Jo
Oh Jo, my back! I worry too, after doing so much. It is amazing how my back has stopped hurting. Hard to believe, but I am careful...a little anyways. :)
DeleteOh you dear woman...10 miles of walking! The raking is amazing! How many hours did you rake? And all you needed was Tylenol, water and a five minute rest? My goodness...I've said this before but I will say it again...you are a WORKER! Loved the pictures of the red cedar...that's quite a tree! And those pine cones...20 on one branch! WOW!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have rested all day today. Glad to know that those trees are down now though. We've had a lot of wind here the last few days.
xx
Hey Dianna. I never did have good sense when it comes to overdoing it! I simply don't know when to quit. Poppy said, you should have gone to work for a tree company or something like that, many years ago.
DeleteOh my goodness, girl, I bet you were worn slap out! That many steps and miles would probably put me in bed for a week or two. My body just wouldn't be able to stand up to that! I am so glad you like cedar trees! I detest them and apparently they hate me! My allergies flair up every time the wind blows, out of the south, because of the cedar trees! I love your new little spot of the yard! I can't wait to see what you do with it!
ReplyDeleteGrace & Peace,
Pam
Hey Pam. Oh, it's Tuesday and my body is still telling me how dumb that was. It's mostly my shoulders...aching all night. I didn't know cedars caused allergies. Wait til I tell Poppy. He will think for sure that's what is causing his problems. :)
DeleteI've cleaned up a tree or two in my life. It's lots of work.
ReplyDeleteOh Red, it is work! But fun work. :)
DeleteI think I will go take a nap just for you! I know it had to be done...to clear away the leaves for a larger yard...but I do love a beautiful carpet of fallen leaves!
ReplyDeleteThank you. :) Yes, we probably should have left the leaves. We are hoping this cleaning up will help with the big tick problem we have every summer.
DeleteI do see little Weetie keeping watch. Wow, that was a lot of work. You will be much safer with these dead pines down. That cedar is huge and very nice. And what about all those pine cones?? I look forward to seeing the new dolly dress. Take care. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you Mildred. Weetie is such a little guard dog.
DeleteYou got a LOT done! Once our snow is gone it will be my turn to get outside and clean up the yard.
ReplyDeleteWeetie is hard to find in your pics. He does a very good job of guarding.
Hey Granny Marigold. Weetie really is a guard. She watches continuously when we are outside. It's impossible to do anything outside with snow on the ground, isn't it?
DeleteNo wonder you were worn slap out! You got an amazing amount of work done in one day. I hope your back is okay Henny. Will you be able to use that wood for firewood? I remember when I was a child my Father would look for dead pine trees that had fallen and then dig part of the roots out. Pine knots make the best kindling since they light like they were soaked in gasoline! I remember the smell of pine knots too!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, thank you. I do still worry about my back and at least try to be more careful. We don't burn the pine trees, but you're right about the roots. We have more kindling than we will ever use. In fact, we gave some away for Christmas gifts. Kindling is amazing! It does burn like it's been dipped in gasoline...you are right! I love the smell.
DeleteWow that sure is a lot of work for one day, but it looks wonderful. What a great job.
ReplyDeleteI did see Weetie in the pictures but really had to look!!
It was a lot of work, and still today, I'm paying for it. :)
DeleteI bet you slept like a "log" after all that work :) I'm the same way when I start a job it is hard to stop even for a break until it is all finished. I am finding that as I get older I need to learn to pace myself, but it is a learning process. Sometimes my neighbors call me on my cell phone and tell me it's time to take a break, LOL.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking two extra strength Tylenol, I did sleep pretty good. I need to learn to pace myself too. That's so funny about your neighbor. You know you're overdoing it when the neighbors start to worry. :) Thank you Connie.
DeleteEven though it is hard work, I love yard clean up. It is so satisfying when you get done, much better than vacuuming!
ReplyDeleteHey Linda! You're right about that. It is so much more satisfying than doing something like vacuuming. :)
DeleteWow that is a big cedar tree. There is one in Grandmas yard it is big around but I am not sure how tall it is. We may go out there tomorrow and trim the grape vine if we do I will take a picture of it. You did a great job cleaning up but I bet your were slap wore out. Don't work to hard. Love you bunches
ReplyDeleteHey Vicki. I would love to see the cedar tree in your grandma's yard. I was slap wore out! :) Love you!
DeleteWhat a huge amount of work you did in your yard. when I first saw the picture, I thought you had a tornado that came through. whew. I'm glad it wasn't that. But you cleared out a lot of trees and what a good job you did with the raking. All those pine cones on one branch are really amazing too...and love your red cedar tree. You deserve a vacation! After your back trouble....you seem to have come back strong as ever! Do take care and try not to overdo....too often!
ReplyDeleteHey Diane. It did look like a tornado, didn't it. As Poppy would say, perish the thought! :) My back seems to be fine...and I know herniated disks do not "get well". Maybe the steroid injection is still working. I do need to be more careful. Thank you Diane.
DeleteWow you were busy as a beaver getting those trees cut up and everything raked up! It looks good! Now you have more ground to rake! That is a great big Cedar and those pine cones are awesome in a cluster! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Far Side! Thanks for reminding me that we now have more ground to rake. I had not thought about it that way. :)
DeleteHenny, you're in trouble when hubby starts determining what's blog worthy! For sure he'll soon tell you not to post about him and we would all miss your entertaining posts about him.
ReplyDeleteI agree! and he suggests a lot of things I should use. He likes for me to post about him so I doubt he will ever tell me that. :)
Delete25,000 steps, holy Toledo. I have abandoned my Fitbit but don't think I ever reached that milestone. My bad knee hurts thinking about it!
ReplyDeleteHey Janet. I almost fainted and wondered if my Fitbit had gone crazy.
DeleteWell, it is no shock to me that you have 25,000 steps. No. Not at all. I am surprised it is not 50,000 some days. And I struggle to hit 5,000 each day! :) You did so much work. It looks really good, mama! You are such a good role model. I need to get busy and do more. I have NEVER seen a branch with so many pinecones!! Love you to the moon and back three times. ~Your girl who had short hair in first grade.
ReplyDeleteOh Lynn, can you imagine 50,000! 25,000 almost did me in. I am still paying. Love you too!
DeleteI though the same way as FarSide. More yard to rake and mow and keep clean. I think I'd leave the leaves, you can still walk in there but won't have to do much maintaining. Interesting to see an Eastern Red Cedar. We have Western Red Cedars here and they look quite different. Lots of good firewood in all those trees cut down. Do you heat with wood at all? Happy Valentines Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen. We do have a fireplace and burn wood, but never the pine. We use kindling from the pine stumps. We may let that cleaned area go natural again, but there were lots of limbs, bark, pine beetles, and mess on the ground. Cleaning it might help with the tick problem too. Hopefully! :)
DeleteMaybe I need a Fit bit or whatever they are! I would never be able to keep up to you! That is a lot of pine cones in that one spot! Nancy
ReplyDeleteA Fitbit is fun to wear. Thank you Nancy.
DeleteYep, where I'm from we said "plumb wore out". Isn't it fun to hear about all the different regional sayings and all, as well as traditions and customs etc. Blogging is so fun and we learn so much.
ReplyDeleteMercy!!---you did alot of yard work, where do you get your energy? ha ha LOL
It does look a hundred percent better.......look at all THAT YARD SPACE NOW!! WOO-HOOO...GREAT JOB!
I do love those old sayings. Thank you!
DeleteThose tall pines are so pretty. We have some, too, and I just go out and stand with them and look up sometimes. I bet you sleep well at night after all the hard physical work you do!
ReplyDeleteI love the tall trees and do the same thing...stand and look up. Sometimes I'm too tired to sleep. :)
DeleteYou are a good worker, Henny! Way to go, getting all those steps!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pom Pom!
Delete