Spring Cleaning!

We decided last night to do some spring cleaning on the yard today.  There were several blow downs between our place and Michelle's rental.  We got out the extension cords, electric chain saw, 4 wheeler and got started about 9 AM.  It went as planned for a change and we were done fairly early.  Since we had the time and weather was nice, we then took out a cascara tree that has been dropping berries and leaves on the deck.  It was three trees coming up from one stump, I cut the first one and it got hung up in the second one, I cut it and nothing happened as it was hooked into the third one.  I was about to get the 4 wheeler when Vera said, "cut the third one and they will all go down".  I did, and the whole bunch ended up right where we wanted them.  When we hauled that away to the compost pile, I saw this tree that had fallen this winter over the trail we had to use.

I saw it a month or so ago, but forgot about it.  After we finished all the cleanup, I decided to see if I could get it to come down.  First I pulled it off the stump, nothing happened, then I hooked the winch up about the middle of the tree with the 4 wheeler against a tree and tried to pull it out of the fork in that tree.  That did not work either, Vera thought we should try pulling it back at the base, so I moved the 4 wheeler down there.

After I got around the compost pile and Vera hooked the winch line to the tree, I was able to winch it towards me and we got the top out of the fork and it fell to the ground.

I got to use my birthday presents from yesterday, the Twist N' Stay Ties worked great for the big extension cord, I never had it secured before and it fought me every time I took it off the hanger.  My new gloves are really nice and comfortable.  It was our first big outdoor day this year, we had a great time and got lots done.