The watery late Winter sun was trying to break through the heavy cedar boughs that cascaded to the ground. Beneath the century old canopy of branches, the ground was strewn with decaying debris that had accumulated unnoticed since the original forest had been cleared when this land was still young. With the old green farm tractor positioned beneath the swaying branches, Greg, tightly gripping a freshly sharpened chainsaw. issued his very limited tutoring on the basics of safely getting him up and down in the tractor bucket... there was as I remember no mention of trying to remain composed with my foot planted firmly on the brake and the tractor sitting at what appeared to be 45 degrees on a hilllside listening to the creak and crack of a breaking branch whilst the love of my life appeared to be disappearing under a weighty cedar bough. Somehow, together, we succeeded in clearing the lower branches of the cedar copse, the sun cast heavy shadows across a pasture deep with ancient fir needles and cedar foliage.
As the tractor engine growled and I cringed beneath the increasing pile of brush falling from and covering the ground of the cedar copse, neighbor Paul rumbled down the farm road in his rusty yellow bulldozer. Within moments, the antiquated fence line had been transformed and as rich dark earth churned beneath the tracks, a new and level fence line emerged. Thank you Paul.
Not quite as stressful for me ( but I can't talk for big brother John !) the new white picket fence in the barn yard is the answer to one of the (one of these day items) on my barn wish list...thank you John, I will think of you whenever I look at it. It has been a busy, painful and fruitful few weeks but as I review the results in the pasture and barnyard.....I will sleep well tonight. Take care, keep safe, M