Tree Huggers Beware

Incase you are in a part of the country that isn't relishing the incredible spring weather a month early.... News flash! It's been BEAUTIFUL here in Ohio this past week! The saying goes, March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb, but this year the lion never came! So we did what every good homeowner does and spent at least one of our beautiful days working outside on the house :)

Jake's first order of business was to deal with the pine trees in the front yard. Now, you may be thinking that pine trees are great, but talk for 10 minutes to Jake about pine trees and you will quickly understand that they must be the spawn of satan! lol He hates the needles everywhere and how they make the soil so acidic grass won't grow, he hates how quickly they grow and then often die leaving you to deal with them, he hates how they are weak in storms and always snap, he hates how they sap all over everything, and well... I could go on, but you get the picture! We also had to get them out of the way so he could update the electric, so it really was necessary...

So here is the house with the massive pine trees before:

The whole process had to start with removing the branches around the wires delivering electricity to our house. The wire had already been spliced twice where the stupid tree had worn through it! Can you say dangerous!?! So up went my sweet husband in a tree with chain saw... needless to say I was probably pretty annoying telling him to be careful!!

The foreman and backhoe operator, Farmer Joe! 

Before the tree could come down they had to cut the slice out, then Jake cut in just a little more while Joe pushed on the tree with the backhoe bucket so it didn't fall on our house. If you notice... Jake had to try a couple different angles before cutting in, but he got it and the tree came down without crushing any doggies and without pulling on the wire rubbing up against it! Whew!

 

Now I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea and think that I should take any credit for helping with all of this... because this is what I was doing this whole afternoon :)

Pregnancy has its perks ;) but I did grade papers while I had my feet up in the lounge chair, so I wasn't a total bum!

We counted the rings on the tree after it was done, and the tree was HUGE but only 54 years old. The little old lady who lives next door said she remembered when it was planted. This lady is hilarious and deserves a post of her own!

After all this clean up...

And a little help from our friends Brewster, Bailey, and Rock...

This little tree was literally just knocked over by the backhoe. It's amazing how much simpler things are with a little heavy equipment! 

This became our new and improved view of the house!

Now imagine a big flag pole that Jake plans to put up in the front yard and a white wooden gate and rail to replace the pipes on the steps leading from the main yard level up to the house.... our little farmhouse is on its way to picture perfect! :)

Well, picture perfect except for the white trash pile of furniture we are slowly leaving on Jake's grandpa's curb for the trash man! ha. It's a little bit of a slow process!

And for those who were wondering about the baby bump... Jonah's growing big and strong... making me extra round! :)

Stay tuned for updates on the nursery, shower, and all things baby Jonah!