Signs of Aging

We have enjoyed the trees that Tristan planted in our backyard.  They have provided cooling shade and made our backyard seem pleasant and comfortable.  This year, however, as the leaves filled out on the branches, we realized that the trees were overgrown.  There are places where the shade has become so dense that the lawn won't grow.  When you look out the window, you can't see anything but trees.  The Quakie tree keeps sending up small shoots all over the lawn.  It was kind of scary to realize that those small trees we nurtured and babied so many years had grown too old and large for our yard.

Yesterday Tristan got out his chain saw.  We started trimming large branches at the bottom of each tree. Tristan trimmed, I evaluated.  After each trim, our yard opened up to more sunlight for the grass to grow. When there were large limbs scattered all over the yard, we realized we still needed to cut down the Quakie tree because it was still too crowded.  Down it came.

We spent the rest of the day picking up our carnage.  I should have taken a picture.  It looked like a tornado had ripped through our yard.  It took all afternoon into the early evening to clear it out.  The branches filled up a pick-up truck even with Tristan inside smashing them down. There is another overwhelming pile waiting to be loaded. The trunks that were cut into pieces filled up another pickup load.

It was a good feeling to work so hard and get our yard cleared out.  By the time we went to bed, however, we realized that the trees were not the only things that had gotten too old at our house. We can hardly move today.  Good thing our kids are not around with their saws to chop us down because we are too old and large!