Over in the woods along the trail is the tree I showed that used to have the big dead bush in front that I cleared out. That tree looks like a nice place to sit for a while if I take a notion. However all tangled up around it is an old dead vining plant that had collected years worth of pine needles. It made me feel weird to sit there, because I couldn't see through all that pile of stuff behind me. Gave me the willies. Here's what it looked like:
It's hard to get a good picture of it. Here's one more:
Like I say... kinda creepy. I went over there yesterday and looked at the whole mess. Some of the branches were taller than me and went way back into a whole 'nother area of brush. I took my two saws with me and proceeded to saw off dozens of branches, thick and thin.
Then I had to yank and wrangle to get them pulled out. It was really a terrible job. But once I got going I just could not give up. It took an hour and a half, but now I can walk all around what turns out were two trees! I couldn't even see the other trunk for all that choking gnarled thicket.
I still need to rake away some of the pine needles. These two pictures give you an idea of how much needed to be cut. Here's one side:
And the other:
I am a little worried that I won't have proper self control not to try and groom the whole dang hillside. I really am going to have to pick my battles. But at least I won this particular skirmish. Now I'm duty bound to take lunch over there one day and sit under the trees and watch the world go by. :-) And NOT have to watch my back.
