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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

SUDDENLY A FOREST

So yesterday, I posted HERE about hiring out some land clearing and we suddenly had a yard.  Now we suddenly have a small forest!  

When the man came out and quoted us, I showed him several areas but the one behind the house was the first one we were going to do and the most important.  What we didn't realize (or understand) is that the price he quoted was for the DAY...as much as he could do and whatever we wanted them to do.  Stump grinding, tree trimming, brush clearing, whatever...we just had to point where!

So about halfway through the day, he came to me and said "we're almost done, do you want me to work on another part now?"  UM, YEAH!  This is why we didn't do any more wood chipping.  If we had, he would have had to stop and do that in between clearing and since we paid for work to be done, it made no sense to pay for wood chipping when we could get more cleared and then just burn it ourselves.  Without further ado, here is the other section:


Before:

Two major things in this photo actually.  The mess of trees and brush of course in the background and the stump in about the middle of the foreground.  It was waaaay too big to get rid of (and believe, me we tried everything) and since they had a stump grinder, we pointed, ha.   


After:

This is it when they were done (on the left side is the debris they put aside for a burn pile).  The stump is also gone (the dirt spot in the middle).


Before:

A closeup of the job and once again, just brush and vines and thorns and dead branches, way more than we could safely tackle ourselves.  


After: 

Now a more open area.  They left the trees that were good to leave and didn't have dead or dying limbs.  There is a stump left there, a large mesquite stump, because they ran out of time when they got to that.  It was really more about having them do as much as they possibly could before the time that the money we paid for, ran out, ha.  


Here is a different angle.  Wherever you see brown, that was where the brush and stuff came to.  I could mow right up to the edge of it, where the green is but I couldn't get any closer.


We really like how this part turned out too.  We think it will be a nice, woodland type area.  So much of the property has only mesquite trees and random other trees growing far apart from each other with not many that are grouped together like this.  Now it looks like an area you might see 'in the woods'.  It's the closest thing we have to a forest, at this point anyway.  With 11 acres, there are some other possible spots that we'll get to someday but for now, this is going to be fun to work on. 

I'll mow over it when it dries out (rain expected this week) so it's cleaned up a bit more.  It's shaded most of the time so we are thinking it will have to be types of plants that do best in those conditions.  We're not sure what else would be nice here...a seating area perhaps?  Having never had a spot like this, we'll have to think about it.  It might not get on this years 'list', but perhaps I can start planting some stuff this Spring.  


39 comments:

  1. Look at all the space you have now.

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    1. I know, ti's so great. Kind of overwhelming but exciting too.

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  2. Wow, what a difference. I'd say that you got your money's worth. With your heat and humidity it would be almost impossible to do all that yourselves. Also, with recurring drought, the fire danger is real. My niece lives in Magnolia and fires were within sight of her daughter's school a couple of years ago. Brush like that close to buildings is not safe.

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    1. Definitely. And you brought up the perfect point I forgot to mention. Yes, our weather makes work like this next to impossible (heck, we feel guilty paying someone to do it in the heat and humidity too, ha). And yes, great about the brush close to house. Thanks!!

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  3. I have only a 1/3 acre lot. I put two swings and 4 benches around the yard. You can never have too many places to sit and rest and observe. Nothing was bought new except for my wooden swing.

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    1. I think that's the next thing we'll focus on, places to sit around the yard. I already know a few spots to put something, just need to GET it, ha. Will look for some bargains for sure.

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  4. you sure got your monies worth from that company! it's like having a whole new lot!

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    1. It is, a whole new lot is a great way to describe it, ha.

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  5. Wow! What a difference. I think you'll be spending more time on that Zen Machine in future :)

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  6. Not only does it look great, it is safer for fire danger and there is less cover for unwanted critters or snakes!

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    1. I mentioned in another comment about the fire, that's a great point. And didn't think about critters but yeah, great point.

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  7. I'm assuming it's dry shade... a spot like that here would breed mosquitoes like mad!

    You could really make that an attractive, restful spot; and I'd be willing to bet that you do!

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    1. I think it will be a dry shade. That's a dry spot of the property, so I think it will stay dry. Definitely will work on that as I can.

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  8. Totally amazing transformation! You got your money's worth and more. You now have "views" instead of nasty clutter. Can't wait to see how you transform it over the coming years.

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    1. yes, the view out the window is amazing. Didn't realize the difference if would make.

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  9. 1st Man,

    Only in TX will you get great service at a good deal :-)

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    1. Nothing like that up there huh? Maybe it's the competition, ha.

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  10. Oh wow. Definitely a garden seat. Several garden seats so you can always take advantage of the view, the light...

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    1. Several seats would be awesome huh? I can't wait!!

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  11. Solar powered fairy lights woven through the branches of the trees!!!

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    1. Now you're talking! I like that. Do they make those? I will have to look for those.

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  12. Lots of possibilities for you to think about on what could be done in that area.

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    1. I know, don't want to rush into it but it will be a nice process for sure.

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  13. Wow what a difference. You have a fab area now.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. Well thank you!! It's on its way to being fab I hope. :-)

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  14. They did a wonderful job on clearing this - money well spent!
    I love this new area. Looks like the perfect spot for a picnic table. A great place to eat an ice-cold watermelon in the middle of summer!

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    1. I like the way you think, isn't an ice cold watermelon on a hot summer day just the absotlue best? You know, we're going to have tables on the other side of the house under Barnabas (the tree) but who says we can't have another set over here? Also thinking of a hammock or something (if there are two trees the right space apart, ha.)

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  15. What a wonderful difference! I love it when quick projects turn out wonderfully! I especially love it when someone else can complete said project for me ;-)

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    1. Amen about that! We've done a LOT on the property but this was just beyond us and the speed of having it finished vs the cost just made the best sense.

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  16. What a great job! It looks wonderful, you have your own woods!

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    1. I know, right? It's kind of exciting. Can't wait to get in there and start doing some little things at first.

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  17. Beautiful shaded area. Just keep on top of keeping the vines, new shoots, weeds from creeping up or you will have another helter skelter area on your hands. You do own a string trimmer right? If not, I would invest in one (get a good one) ASAP.

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    1. Amen, yes, We have a really good trimmer, and it's been invaluable around the property. It even has the optional saw blades we can put on, etc. There are some vines that will sprout up, I'll make sure I mow over/trim them back.

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  18. Money Well spent!

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    1. Thank you, it seemed like a lot when they told us the price but then when we saw the end result, it was so worth it we would have paid more actually, ha. (hope they don't read this, ha)

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  19. They certainly do make them. You can buy the type that a pearl like or the ones the hang down in threads. You can also get them in different colours. The ones that hang down in multiple threads look amazing at night.

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