Thursday, March 5, 2009

Winter Reruns?

We've been so busy here, celebrating Mac's birthday with a great party last Saturday and now working on getting the bedding plants repotted that I find my time is so limited it's painful! I'm putting a re-run and hopefully will be back within the next two days! Hope you won't mind to much!


A few years ago my husband Mac and I went out on a limb. No, really. We ACTUALLY went out on a limb. Going through our library of gardening books looking for "how to prune Pecan trees" we decided we pretty well knew what to do and how to do it. We assembled saws and ladder, (including a chain saw. ) There was only one pecan tree to make the pruning attempt upon, but it was so large it was like pruning three trees. We attacked it from about 8 different directions and all was going well. My nerves over the use of the chain saw were taken in hand and I found that I could assist Mac without having a breakdown. We were on the last limb when disaster struck. The chainsaw became lodged in the limb. Mac told me to climb up on the ladder and push up on the limb in an attempt to free the chain saw. So, in our attempts to free the saw from the grip of the limb, I pushed a little harder than maybe I should have. The limb exploded, the ladder flid out of place, fell to the ground and I hit the pavement...I broke two ribs and as we learned later, my neck. I swore that I would never attempt such a thing again.

Well, that was then, this is now. We have this apple tree here at the new house. It is a very big old apple tree. Limbs are growing willy-nilly and crossing over, going straight up, curving around. And to top it off, it had a terrible case of fire blight. Mac started out spraying it to kill the fire blight. The first spring we had such beautiful flowers and soon there was fruit. The fruit wasn't pretty to look at. Due to the trees diseased state, the fruit fell off the limbs to soon. We decided the tree needed lots more work. We tackled this job Tuesday.

Mac got out the (new) ladder and the chainsaw. I had the loppers in hand and got the smaller branches on the bottom that were growing in all directions. Mac cranked the chainsaw and I stood back as far as was humanly possible to stand and still remain in sight. After a few limbs were expertly trimmed from the main trunk of the tree, I was coaxed closer, Mac assuring me that all would be well this time.

There was one limb that went straight up out of the main trunk and took up much sunlight for something that was dead as a hammer. This branch was as big around as a man's leg. It was very hard wood and Mac was having a time getting the saw to cut through it. Hesitantly, I approached the tree and tried to help. Finally, we tied a rope around the limb and using the tractor, pulled it down and out of the way.

There was much pulling, tugging, twisting and straining to make this tree look as good as it does right now. We hauled limbs till dusk. This time there were no accidents involving the tree, and I didn't get knocked off the ladder by a sizable limb. I just feel as though I had been. The difference in five years from then till now is amazing. We did the job on Tuesday. This is Friday. Recovery may take a while. I remember my mother singing "too old to cut the mustard anymore." Those words speak volumes.

55 comments:

skywind said...

WINTER re back? Spring, small princess where you went to? I love you, I miss you. But you is not see me here. I do not live, I go to find you. lol.

Health is the Greatest Happiness & The World at The Present

Pam said...

Happy birthday to Mac!

Anonymous said...

Happy late Birthday Mac. I bet Sandi treated you so special.
Hope things go great around the home. I know ever time I think about plants we get a chill so Im just trying to wait.

Vee said...

A belated birthday to Mac!

Sandi, hope that you and Mac have considered that in order to be hale and hearty upon this earth for many more years that you may have to give up some of these chores. Not all, just some. It's not worth a beautiful apple tree at the cost of your health and well being. Boy, am I ever glad that this is a repeat post and all this didn't just happen. Phew!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I like to keep my cellphone handy when helping (overseeing) these kind of chores. I can call 911 with the touch of a button!

larkswing said...

Hope Mac had a happy birthday and that you both prop your feet up and enjoy the day!

Nessa said...

Take a break. You deserve it.

Anonymous said...

Happy B'day, Mac!!

david mcmahon said...

Happy belated birthday, Nac.

Good luck at the ``branch'' office, Sandi!!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Wishing Mac a very Happy Birthday...m.

Akelamalu said...

You broke two ribs???? :0

Happy belated birthday Mac.

Donna said...

Your re-runs are Always great reading sweetie!!
Don't work too hard!!hughugs

cheshire wife said...

Belated Happy Birthday to Mac.

Get a tree surgeon in next time. Haven't you done enough damage to yourself.

cheshire wife said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lib said...

Hope you get caught up soon. Spring it's hard to do it all around here. We have the inside finished now temps are getting nice we will start outdoors, chainsaw,ladder and pruners!
Have a great wk.
Blessins',Lib

Anonymous said...

You broke your neck??? Yikes.

Tree surgery, in my humble opinion, should be left to the experts. The very notion of being up in a tree with a chainsaw is enough to give me palpitations.

We had a large tree pollarded last year. A team of fit young men came along to tackle it. They had body harnesses and ropes (one was stationed on the ground to make sure the ropes stayed properly anchored) and they had safety goggles and they had chainsaws, handsaws, and a couple of other implements up there and they took NO risks. And yet they got the job done in a timely and professional manner and (most importantly) no-one got hurt. Not even by a falling twig.

You stay safe now, you hear me? Don't make me come over there!!

Thom - - Dr. John said...

I held my breath the entire time I read this, hoping it didn;t end with a repeat performance like before. Glad it ended well, but sorry you're so sore.

Maggie May said...
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Maggie May said...
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Maggie May said...
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Maggie May said...

That sounds a very dangerous task, Sandi.
Surprised you went back for more. Don't think I would have.
Anyway glad it went without incident this time round.

Maggie May said...

Sorry about that. I had a problem leaving a comment. Please feel free to delete a few.

granny grimble said...

Happy belated birthday to Mac !
My! Fancy breaking two ribs and your neck. But more than that, fancy attempting it a second time! I am terrified of all things to do with chain saws, and would have nothing to do with one. And I didn't see the film!!!!

Aunt Julie said...

Sounds like you'll be sackin' out in front of the TV for a while, huh? Our snow is starting to melt, and I saw a couple of daffodils trying to punch through the frozen tundra. I'm sure in the mood for spring!

Lee said...

LOL Happy Birthday, Mac! May you have many, many more! Congratulations on a good tree trimming job!

Sandi, does this half week + n days of exhaustion mean you are too tired to think your way through a bingo in scrabble? (weg)

Hugs!
Lee

Femin Susan said...

Happy birthday to Mac!

Janice said...

You can't keep a good woman down ~ I would have been back out there too! Glad you survived this round with just a few aches and no major injuries!

Denise said...

Trimmed our apple trees last weekend.. I stayed far away and let the hubby and the brother do that work...... I am toooooooooo old to fall! hahahhaah

Glad you made it through that one without a tumble !

Sujatha Bagal said...

Hello Sandi, thank you for visiting my blog and for that wonderful comment! I've thoroughly enjoyed discovering so many beautiful stories and the people behind them.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Life's too short to get hit on the head with falling branches. Pay someone else to do it! Happy belated bithday to yer man there.

Merisi said...

Well,
I for one I am really glad you two made it out from under the tree alive and well!

Congratulations on David's POD award! :-)

Anonymous said...

Not an easy job I expect. We have a tree here that is currently in the process of being chopped - it really needs to be cut down altogether but that's another story!

CJ xx

Casdok said...

Happy birthday Mac!
Glad there were no more accidents.

imbeingheldhostage said...

Sandi! Can you hear me "Tsk Tsk Tsking" from over here????

Can't you hire someone to do these things?????

San said...

Thanks for the re-run, Sandi. I hadn't watched it the first time around. And it's a great episode, the one called "Out on a Limb."

I hope Mac's celebration was happy. May this be a joyous year for the two of you!

Suldog said...

Happy Birthday, Mac! Hope the year ahead is magnificently filled with joys.

San said...

P.S. And I believe after your breakneck experience, you would be entitled to a life free of tree trimming. The father of a friend of mine fell out of a tree he was trimming and had to be hospitalized. No broken bones, but his entire body was bruised. And it was a heck of away to start his retirement.

Debbie said...

I broke just one rib a few weeks ago and was in so much pain. I can't imagine what you must have experienced.

Anonymous said...

I hope you get lots of apples off that tree to make it all worthwhile.

Woman in a Window said...

MY GOD! Ribs and your neck?

And yet you went at it again. Yes, five years can be a lifetime in some ways.

(OK, you totally cracked me up at my place today. Much thanks. Much needed.)

��Radio Mihalis Thalassis - Athens Greece said...

Hello, you chereto, Michalis from Greece

Shrinky said...

I'll bet Mac was spoiled rotten, huh? Smile. Goodness Sandi, when I read what you get up to, I feel such a total wimp. That fall was a narrow escape, bad as it was, it could have been far worse, eh? But to go off and tackle yet another tree afterwards?? Sheesh, girl - respect!

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

You were brave to get back out there Sandi after your accident. My OH was up a tree today lopping branches - I just watched from a distance.

A belated happy birthday to Mac.

A x

Lavinia said...

Wow....brave of you to get back up on that old horse. Glad it worked out better for you 'the second time around'.

I am noticing alot of limbs coming down in my neighbourhood lately. Tis the season I suppose....

Alison said...

Happy belated birthday to Mac. And take care of yourself--that sounds like something that would wear anyone out!

Catherine said...

Glad the whole thing was accident-free this time around...

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

I can't believe you are doing that!!!! Tree trimming should be left to those who love heights and danger!! (Oh, is that you?)

Happy BD to your MAC!!

Jeni said...

Hmmm. I'm thinking something must not be functioning on the up and up with my reader as I came across this post via David's Post of the Day. Generally, when he gives a "post of the day" to someone on my reader or following listings, I have already read it as it has shown up on my reader a day or two prior to David's putting it up on the POD list. However, this one had never shown up on my reader as a new post from you. Now what's wrong with my darned reader and is this doing that with other bloggers I read daily -if their posts are up on my reader anyway? I hope this was just a fluke as I sure don't want to miss any of your posts, Sandi -your blog rocks, in my book!

Aunt Julie said...

BTW, I'm starting a new Pop'rs Giveaway tomorrow!!

i beati said...

ouch I cannot understand when I do the smallest of jobs i hav e to sit down for twice the time- The girl who used to work 5 jobs - glad it was a great birthday sandy

Diva's Thoughts said...

I hope things slow down for you a bit my friend.

CatHerder said...

my hubby did that once..years ago...now that he is much older, i dont think there is much fear he will get up on a ladder with a chainsaw again...Our old oak needs trimmed, but the tree guy cant get his equipment through our driveway, its too narrow with the sunroom that was built on our house......i guess i will have a fully shaded yard again this summer!

Carol said...

Hello Sandi, the bad blogger is back.
Happy Birthdday to Mac, sorry I am a bit late.
Thank you for the email, glad you like the gift.
I am going to try and visit blogland more often now that I have my parents all sorted.
Remember you told me a about something you had been working on!?
What has happened?
Carol xx

Unknown said...

Miss you! Hope your hubs had a good Birthday :)
The nasty white stuff is still falling here :(
I really want spring...

Anonymous said...

Hey Sandi, Well guess what? We (when I say we, I mean Bobby G all by his lonesome) had the chain saw accident this time. Trimming out small trees in the front natural area and he just cut right into his leg. He's fine...required a trip to the emergency room and stitches and shots. Life's never dull in the country. Between you and me I just as soon he leave the darn thing in the shed! xo Lynn