Tis the season of conifers, axes, and mice

I really need to remember my camera for photo taking on the trail. I always, always forget.

I was shocked to come home during the recent massive weather event to power and no trees in the driveway. I was on my way home from Boston and drove right through the doppler "red" in Ohio. There were a lot of branches down, and two falls that required the axe. One, an ash, fell across the boardwalk. Oh, ash. Takes so long to hack. Fortunately, the pup got to play with a fellow canine walking past while he waited.

The woods have taken on a whole new character with the changing seasons. The conifers are having their time in the spotlight. It's been a delight, taking my usual walks but noticing so many young stands evergreens that had been hidden behind shrub thickets.

I've had some mice hanging out in the cabin, pooping where I prep my food. Bought live traps yesterday, and already had success. They are released across the lake. Hopefully they won't be able to get in once the sealing around the chimney is fixed.

Tomorrow is an eventful day. Well, "eventful." The water is being sampled, and I'm getting a new (functional!) heater. So pleased.

Mixed-Bag Morning

This morning we hopped a bit from job to job.

Task number one was taking care of a downed tree across the trail. I made quick work of it with the axe and moved it all aside. It was one of those really satisfying last cracks, where the last inch or so just totally ripped through with the final blow. After all the wind last night, I was fully expecting more than one to be down. I was surprised that this wasn't the case.

Next stop was the front gate. I've been wanting to work on the honeysuckle patch growing alongside the road. It is a huge obstruction when looking at oncoming traffic. I often find myself guessing if the road is clear and gunning it, so I can't imagine what it's like for anyone driving larger, slower vehicles out of the forest. I got a large chunk of it, though I'll probably be going back for more.

Finally, today there was a lot of trash about. I don't know if it was the wind or what. Either way, walked around and picked it all up.

Less scary

The boardwalk was looking real grizzly and had started to feel kind of closed in and unpleasant. Went through it yesterday cleaning up the edges and picking up leaves and stalks that were forming large piles of debris. It looks great now, and feels wonderful to walk along. There's another tree down. Not big. I'll be headed over to it with the axe tomorrow morning.

Lots of wind today. We're a bit tired and chilly over here. Well, I'm chilly. The husky has his back feet stretched up to his chin and is sleeping on a pile of blankets. And my fleece robe. I don't have the heart to move him for it.

Deadfalls and photography

Hello again.

Last week's messy weather brought a number of trees down (including a whopper in the driveway!), so Friday was a busy day with the axe and the chainsaw. I admit, it's fun. Nothing makes you feel like Paul Bunyan more than swinging an axe. Paula Bunyan.

On Friday, a photojournalist from the Ann Arbor News/MLive came and followed me around while I worked and such. Guess there will be a photo essay about it coming up soon. It was a little strange trying to act normal when someone was snapping pictures. I'll probably look really sheepish in all of them.