Bucket Trucket

The bucket truck is back. 
 

We had a weekend full of pine needles in our gloves and sawdust in our boots.  Friday afternoon, after finishing trimming for the day Walt Kowalski and I ran to the home improvement store.  We were standing in line at the check out and I pulled a handful of pine mulch out of my pocket.  He in turn pulled a handful of pine mulch out of his pocket. 

We laughed.

The associate running the register just looked at us over her glasses.
 
The weather Friday was perfect.  Cool, but not cold, and sunny. It got increasingly cloudy all day with an approaching storm front. The rain eventually came overnight.
 
Walt Kowalski flexing his bucket skills. It took him a few minutes to get his "bucket legs."
 

 
The bucket truck helps, but the driveway and wires really limit the size of the bucket truck we can use. 
 

 
The ground was too squishy from the snow and rain, otherwise Walt Kowalski would have driven the truck up into the yard.
 
Instead, we attacked one of the pines across the driveway.
 

 
Walt Kowalski would cut a branch and we would watch it fall.  If it went on the road, I would run down the road and drag it out of traffic.  We only *almost* hit one truck.  It was ok.  It was just the Mayor of the neighborhood.  And he was driving WAY too fast, anyway. Of course, that brought him over on his scooter to "inspect" our work.  We joked he should have had a clipboard with him like and official inspector.
 
Walt Kowalski has a plan to take down the totem pole that is left.

 

 

 

Saturday brought rain showers in the morning.  But it also brought help.  Chain Saw Johnny.  They were prepared with their rain slickers.  heck, we go to the amusement park in the rain and golfing in the rain, why not trim a few trees in the rain. 

 

Just call them the Pancho Villa boys. Poncho Villa, that is. 

 

 

 

All of the trees on our to cut list are a concern because of their height and age.  Mostly a concern if they fall on the house in a storm.  This was the tall pine you can see on the left in the first photo. We didn't want to just cut it at the bottom and drop it because it would have hit the house.  Walt Kowalski first placed his extension ladder as far up as he could reach, roped off the tree, then cut up as far as his pole saw could reach.  Chain Saw Johnny and I were the leverage on the rope.

 

 
It fell without a hitch.  Sunday brought more tree trimming, the Gray Hoodie boys, and more mud.  The washing machine is going to get a workout from those work clothes.
 
 

 
This is only half of the burn pile. 
 

 
Saturday I struggled all day to keep the fire going.  Everything was wet and fresh pine is hard to burn without a hot fire.  The drizzle didn't help the situation.  I will try again next Saturday.
 
Chain Saw Johnny even took a ride in the bucket truck.   

For the man who is hesitant of heights, he was having fun.  I said being in the bucket felt like riding the paratroopers at the amusement park.  Same metal latches and chains. 
 
If you are wondering 'What is the rush?"  Why does it seem like you're rushing the spring season working in the rain and cold? There is a rush for two reasons.

Reason #1. The trees are just coming out of hibernation.  No leaves yet.
Reason #2. The trees are too close to my garden.  (Directly above!) My flowers are *just* starting to wake up in the garden.  If we wait any longer, the flowers will be up and we won't be able to work. Walt Kowalski wanted to get the trees cut before he had to be cautious of where they were stepping. 
 
Thank you. I appreciated that.