A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

And Sparks Flew



That Eastern Spruce is what I call our Snuffleupagus tree. It's very special to me because, other than the lilacs, it's the only tree on my property. Bet that surprises some since my corner looks very tree-filled. 

Snuffleupagus needs a good pruning every few years. John wants it pruned more than I do, but I see his points: moisture control on the deck and air flow and the health of the tree itself. Here he is checking out which branches are too close to the deck or too close to the ground. Plenty of them are just too dead.



Sadly, it did involve some ladder work. I held the ladder and I carried most of the branches out to the truck.

 ~Tuckered or Lost in Thought~



In the afternoon, I was happily visiting you when I became aware of  grinding noises and a certain smoky smell and sparks! Lots and lots of pretty sparks. I decided to practice for the 4th of July using my camera's fireworks setting. 

This was another case of John's being bugged by something that I had never noticed. Apparently, the bolts were hanging way below the deck and he didn't want the boys to get hurt. Awww...in that case. Thanks, Hon, for not burning the deck down. 

Speaking of boys, they'll arrive soon and I will have them all day and for the remainder of the week. Fun! If I don't show up by Saturday, send out the troops. (I hope to be posting, but we'll have to see how it goes.) 

Thanks for popping by and a good Tuesday to you...

36 comments:

  1. And sparks flew...yes, they surely did. That husband of yours is a keeper. Glad he is so able and willing to take care of the many things a property requires. Have fun with the grands.

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  2. Good job, there, John. The place is looking spiffy.
    Snuffleupagus appears to be a Larch (conifer) or some type of Fir? Cute name. I name places and trees in our yard too.
    Enjoy the boys! Don't let them wear you out. If you're still absent by Saturday, we'll send in the calvary. *giggle* ~:)

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  3. I imagine this will be quite a fun week!

    We are blessed in our men, Vee. They can handle just about anything, from tree work, to the deck, siding etc.

    I need to find the charger for my camera battery. I have all kinds of nifty settings on my camera that would be fun to try out!

    But today I'm headed to Maryland to meet a friend for lunch! (she lives about 45 minutes away from me) I'm excited to see her.

    Deanna

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  4. Gotta love how willing John was to be part of the photo shoot. :)
    Enjoy your time with the boys.
    xoxo's

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  5. You have such a way with words, my friend. I find myself smiling ear to ear danged near every time I stop by.

    Wow- your sweet hubs has been one busy bee! I absolutely find that "lost in thought" pic a classic. He totally looks exhausted, doesn't he? What a great pic.

    Funny, I sooooooooo know the sight and sound of exactly what John was doing. Remember my hubs is a corporate dude by day and blacksmith by love. I ALWAYS hear the sounds here - lovingly referred to as "sounds like the orcs in Lord of the Rings making blades to wage war for Sauron!" Ahem. Well, that and he really loves meat. I rest my case.

    As for you and your regular visits to me. Thank you for being so loyal. And your opinion *always* counts. And they are safe with me. : - ) Hugs, enjoy the grands. They are little for like 3 weeks then turn into disinterested teens it seems. ♥

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  6. I absolutely love that John was "making sparks fly" for the boys! That is so sweet. Enjoy these summer days with them...make some memories. (Crash in the evenings? If you're like me, you will.) ;)

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  7. John is incredible! ~ That is a beautiful tree. No wonder John takes such good care of it and wants it to remain healthy and beautiful. Sounds as if you did your part, too. Branches with evergreen needles are difficult to handle. Have a fun week with the boys.

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  8. John sure is something else (smiles-and a good thing), my husband is like that..can't sit still for long. Always finding something to do. ANYWAYS--enjoy your grands. Blessings

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  9. Wow Vee....that is (well, at least it was) one BIG tree! And great job on capturing those sparks the way you did!

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  10. After two summers of terrible fires - mitigation is really big here. I think it is a wise thing to do. They go 5 feet up here with the trimming and fires can't go up the tree.

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  11. Those honey dos are getting checked off the every growing list. It's funny how you start working on something and keep doing more improvements. Looks like the weather's nice! Have a FUN week! Hugs, Diane

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  12. You got yourself a great keeper there Vee! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  13. John does good work! The sparks looked great on your fireworks setting!

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  14. Holding the ladder and carrying branches out to the truck are familiar responsibilities for me around this old house. Looks like you got a lot done. Love the sparks you captured. You really have a fireworks setting on your camera? I need to double check mine. Have fun with the boys!

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  15. I think your new camera will capture those 4th of July fireworks nicely. John looks tuckered out...or is he just perplexed because you are pointing that camera at him?

    When we moved here, we had scads of trees but with oak borers felling the huge oak and then the drought killing off other trees, mainly the evergreen variety, and lightening striking the soft maples, I'm beginning to fear that we won't have a tree left in a few years. I hope John's trimming will help save your tree!

    Have fun with the boys!

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  16. They do get shaggy looking if they are not pruned and that is a lot of sticky icky work.
    Your lucky to have such a good guy to do that for you.
    On the other hand, men do love tools, especially if they make sparks.

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  17. "You're"... how can I misspell in a note to an English teacher!?!! I feel like I might get my hand smacked with a ruler.

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  18. I am surprised you only have the one tree on your property but i guess it's situated next to a forest and the neighbours have trees so why plant any. One is enough to maintain! Says I, who has 16 still standing. Oh, those sparks are frightening. I'm glad John didn't burn the deck down! I hope you have an enjoyable week with the boys. Have fun!

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  19. You two are tackling lots of projects these days. All the sparks had me wondering about eye protection for John. I'm kind of fussy about that since the day many, many years ago (37) when Tim was working on a construction site cutting aluminum siding and a teeny tiny speck flew into his eye. On a Friday. He waited until Saturday to go to the ER and they didn't have the specialized equipment needed to even see it. He had to wait until Monday to see an ophthamologist - it was a very, very long weekend. Ooh, I got carried away here. See what those sparks brought up?
    Have a fun time with your grands. Shall we send restorative tea and cookies by the end of the week?

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    1. Good point! And one I raised. I'll have John read this. He's worked construction all his life and pooh-poohed me, but then he has had a lot of stuff land in his eye.

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  20. John looks like a man on a mission this week.
    Oh, you will be busy with the boys arriving, but
    a fun kind of busy!
    I hope you don't get rain like we're having today.

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  21. I agree with Lorrie about the eye protection. Ken is a real stickler about that kind of stuff. He would also say that John should have been wearing a hard hat pruning the tree. Ken is always making me wear safety stuff. I'm quite a site on my lawnmower with the hat, glasses and ear protection. : )

    Have fun with the grands this week.

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    Replies
    1. Better safe than sorry for sure, even if you do look ridiculous. My neighbor wears ear protection, but I never have.

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  22. John is such a cutie....:)
    We always hated trimming trees...and when they got really bad, we have a friend that has a tree service...
    *say it with me..."it's all in knowing the right people.." lol
    You did a great job on catching those sparks...I have a fireworks setting on my little point and shoot but have never tried it. Next time Mr. Sweet gets his grinder out, I'll give it a try...:)
    Have fun with the boys....I'll be staying with two grandgirls for a few days while their parents are on a business trip ..(monkey business..???...hahaa) ANYway, I sure am looking forward to being with them.

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  23. Aww...wish John could rent one of those "chain saws on a stick" from the big box home improvement store. Of course using one of those things with the grandsons around might lead to trimmed to the bare stick kind of trimming. But oh how much fun!!!

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  24. I think that is wonderful the way he helps out like that - a real mover!

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  25. Always something to do around the house. I wish you and the boys a great time and precious memories.

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  26. I think that you have a keeper in John! I like your fireworks picture!

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  27. He's a good man, that John. So sorry about the arrow through his head. lol Have fun with the kids!

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    1. Had to go looking for that one. Found it! LOL!

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  28. John sure is ambitious! Always doing something! :)

    Enjoy your time with your grands!

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  29. Even though you've only got a couple of trees on your property Vee, I'm one who thought you were on the edge of the forest with trees everywhere!
    I just love your Snuffleupagus name for your tree - that's such a Vee thing ha ha!
    I've got a feeling your John is absolutely "tuckered" - I love that word too!

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  30. I'm smiling at your comment 'John wants it pruned more than I do'. I like to be around when the trees get trimmed, since Hubby gets carried away! You did a good job of capturing the fireworks...and thanks for reminding me that I also have a fireworks setting on my camera.

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  31. Whoa! Shouldn't he be wearing a welding helmut or something? Those sparks look pretty close to his face. My husband loves pruning trees too and using manly equipment :) Have fun with the grand boys!

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