the next hurdle

And again, we're swirling with tree decisions. No sooner had we forged a plan to clear the land where we will be planting our 75 baby trees, than we meet our next hurdle: how will we protect these saplings from deer (and groundhogs and who knows what else)? I always assumed we'd place cages around them. We have some material to make those. But of course, the effort is so much more than that! Securing adequate wiring to the ground, chipping the base of the tree, accessing the sapling so that we can continue to weed each little guy until it is well established -- real issues requiring real effort, multiplied by 75.

We have no regrets, but it's becoming abundantly clear that the purchase of these trees was the least of our problems. The work before us is daunting!

But, the skies are clear, the temperatures will be rising, and we are onto the second day of April.

Breakfast, with my favorite table flowers. Well, the concept of "favorite" rotates, but it is true that spring cut flowers are to me the most exciting. 

And then there is a scramble to get stuff done. I want to move my mom to a different assisted living place and that will be a super scramble -- not one she especially wants, but nonetheless, I'm of the opinion that it has to happen.

Apart from indoor work, I have the garden to pull me out once again. Weeds! Many of them. Ones I had forgotten existed sprung up in a "cleared" bed. Yes, it happens -- beds with lots of empty spaces, waiting for new flowers tend to sprout weeds. 

And in the afternoon, I pick up Snowdrop and bring her to the farmhouse.

Well, sort of to the farmhouse. I ask if she would like to take a walk in our favorite county park. It has a forest, a lake... She wants to go! Right after the fruits and book session on the orange couch, of course.

We did not count on it being so windy! 

The outing did not last long, but it had adventure written all over it! Pigs copulating, burned prairies, snakes chasing each other, hounds barking, kites flying over the lake.

A girl, flying down a hill.

Who said your local county parks are boring!

In the evening, Ed and I try not to dwell on the obvious: we've bitten off more than we can chew with the farmette lands this spring. Still, if we don't do it now, while we (sort of) can, then when? Plant saplings when we're ancient? Dig weeds out of new beds when our knuckles wont bend anymore? It's now or never. We choose now.