Due to a freak storm during the past winter, we lost some of our larger trees.. Our friendly neighbors helped us tremendously by cutting up the huge tree sections which blocked our driveway, leaving us with the minor task to clear the debris caused by the torn bushes. So far, so good. However, the trees, as well as the bushes, had been a nice visual barrier between our home and the lightly traveled road. And that’s not so good. We are just as everyone else and like our privacy. Now that the snow is gone, we are finally able to access the full damage which is far greater than we first thought.
At first blush our job looked simple enough.. “Just clean up the area and start planting new bushes and trees”. Yeah, right! First of all we wanted to be sure that we did it right. Hmm, this resulted immediately, into doing . . . . .nothing.
Remember? We wanted to be sure that we did it right!. . . . . and there is no such thing!
Alone the abundance of suitable trees turned the selection into a serious challenge. We wanted “deer friendly” trees and our local expert told us: “Good luck with this one”. Then we needed to consider the time, costs and back breaking labor to install water lines. (Not to mention that a water line would mean that we would need to cross the drive way.) It was extremely easy to postpone the whole idea, Which we did, every time we thought about it.
Easy? Yes. .Productive? No.
That was until I remembered that I solved likewise problems by simply deciding to start.
So, we started. We went ahead and bought a 38 ton log splitter, Bought a bunch of assorted trees and bushes, irrigation lines, and mulch, . . . . and we are digging already the holes for the trees. . . . . .we are halfway done.
It is always the same: “You need to decide and “begin”. The rest is easy.
(Hmm, yes, I also bought a bottle of “Ibuprofen” the large, economy size)
Trees! We had a lot of loblolly pine trees that were infected with southern pine beetles so they had to be cut down. A couple of years later a tornado took a lot of oaks, sweet gums, tulip poplars, etc. It is an expensive mess when someone has to be hired to cut them down, or clean them up! A terrible mess is left after the heavy equipment leaves!
(In the south we have red clay to suffer through afterwards) We aren’t planting new trees, though since there are still a good many left. We were quite fortunate that none hit the house or cars! Good luck with your cleaning and planting.
Hi Judi,
Thanks for your “Good Luck” wishes.
Once we began to tackle the challenge, it was as good as solved.
One of the huge trees fell down alongside our driveway and the fenced grazing area of the Llamas.
We cut off the branches, but otherwise decided to just let it lay there as a kind of natural barrier.
It actually looks’ pretty good, much better than the original fence.
The replanting is also done and all that remains to do is to extend a water line to the area.
Another bottle of Ibuprofen should finish the project.
It is always nice to hear from you, Judi, and we hope that you are doing well.
Enjoy the warmer weather!
Horst
Dear Mr. Christian,
Thank you for publishing your experiences.
I have read books one and two and have purchased three and four.
I came to Germany in 1963 as a lieutenant, served 16 years in Germany, married a German, grew up with German immigrants who came in 1912 and with whom I lived.
Your writings provide answers to questions I never asked.
I look forward to communicating with you, given your permission.
Donald Fischer
Hi, Donald,
Thanks for your interest in my books.
It’s always a honor to correspond with a former military man.
Your introduction reads very interesting and I bet that you could write a book of your own.
You mentioned that I provided answers to questions you never asked, and I wonder
if there are still unanswered questions about Berlin or WWII, lurking in your mind?
If so, please ask away. I will always answer, and also freely admit when I don’t know.
Just in case that you don’t wish to post your questions on this open forum, I invite you to email me at ” trenolake@outlook.com “.
I hope that you are doing well and, please, let’s stay in touch,
Horst