The Tree Problem
There are always projects to be done on a farm. Ask anyone who lives out in the country, you never run out of things to do. Even when you think you are caught up something happens to kick you right back into gear and says “get back to work”. In our case it was a dead tree across the driveway. This tree has been looming over our mailbox since before we moved in just teasing us to cut it down. I’m a sucker for old trees and try to avoid cutting anything that is not critical to remove. I guess you could say this tree was probably critical to cut down but we also just haven’t had the time. Story of our lives, nature forced our hand.
As I mentioned previously spring has sprung on the ranch and with that comes rain. Apparently a little rain and wind was all this tree needed to just topple down right across the driveway perfectly between the gate and the mailbox. Jaken got out the tractor and chainsaw and went to work bucking it up before clearing it all away to the burn pile. Once that challenge was done we got set on a new one. Clearing around the pecan tree.
Jaken’s grandpa had bought a backho at the beginning of all of this ranch shenanigans and he was itching for a project to use it on. So we gave him one. The property already has several large majestic pecan trees scattered around it and we have slowly been trying to clear around them and bring them into the light so they can flourish. One such beauty was absolutely smothered by brush and vines and directly next to the little trailer we are currently residing in. So gramps loaded up on his backho, drove it over to the house, and got to work. By the first day he had cleared a pretty big chunk of brush away and already discovered a very large coral snake. Love that it was just chilling right next to where Hope likes to play with her toys….Thankfully that snake is no longer with us.
As he continued to clear the yard opened up more and more and we got comfortable allowing his to take more trees and brush out of his way. After about a week of clearing and burning he managed to give us a gorgeous view of the hay field, as double the yard space, another dead snake, and a excellent spot to potential put the new house.
After all the work clearing the trees and grading the dirt and picking up branches and trees all over the place it was time for a little R and R. Rodeo and Relaxation. That’s right, the rodeo has come to town. Our buddy Josh and his gal pal had gotten some extra tickets for Brad Paisley so when they asked if we could go we were so down. We found a sitter for little Hope and boot scoot boogied down to the George R Brown for the biggest Rodeo in America.
We rode some rides, ate some deep fried everything, decimated a tub of popcorn, yeehawed for our favorite bareback riders and did our best to help the barrel racers ride faster as we yelled louder for them. Rodeos really are so fun and its been a while since we had gotten to get down to one and it was much due. Now Jaken is looking for some more broncos to hop back onto for his 8 seconds.
One fun little fact about this rodeo experience, we had recently ordered a John Deere Gator to add to the JD family at Rowan Ranch but they were on back order except for the ones being used at the rodeo. So we put ourselves on the list to receive one when it became available. I know some would question the decent to get a “used” “new” gator but it being used at the rodeo just added to its personality in our books, Rowan Ranch wouldn’t be its first rodeo.
