Friday:
https://17sounds.substack.com/p/readiness-is-all Christine has a video here of the first tree coming down, a crepe myrtle that we asked to have removed while the tree guys were here to get the other trees that were blocking the solar panels to some extent. We took out around twenty sweet gums, plus two maples, two oaks, and the black gum (tupelo). One oak and large sweetgum were growing tightly around a persimmon, and were also not really in the solar panels' way. We left the black cherries (Prunus serotina) that are at fairly mature heights. One resource says they get to 80 ft: i estimate the pines must be 90 ft, so these could be 80, but probably 70 ft. The crowns aren't very wide (because of competition with the sweet gums) and they always seem like wispy trees. They loose their leaves quickly in September and don't seem to shade much in the spring. And they are such good wildlife trees. Anyhow, they stay. I weeded in the garden plot and was disappointed by all the stilt grass -- so many seeds falling. Then i did a good bit of raking in the back yard. I was definitely exerting myself, my face red, the tree guys all said i was working as hard as they. (No.)
After that wrapped up, I had a call with B--, we always let it go too long before getting togehter again, and she's now worried about me because i was coughing from the asthma again and was flushed.
Saturday: i was so tired, and i spent so much time looking at the stock at Mellow Marsh Farms. I've placed an order for three sourwoods in 1 gal pots (slow growing to 20-30 ft with vibrant fall color), a serviceberry in a 5 gal pot (A canadensis, grown height 15-25 ft, flowers! fruit!), two ninebarks (fast growing to 5-8 ft, with showy white flowers, berries, and hopefully bright autumn color), and coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, 2-4' tall with showy berries and hopefully showy autumn color). They didn't have fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus, also slow growing to 30' apparently) but i will get that else where. After the showy white flowers, it has has olive like fruit that can be cured like olives. Anyhow, lots of bird food to replace the horrible Elaeagnus umbellata (Autumn olive) that grows thickly and shades everything out. Everything was "deer resistant -- i'll still need to fence because the deer have eaten so many "deer resistant" things. Like the cactus, for crying out loud.
Later, i went into town to a "pop-up park" where there was some little festival, to see my sister, her daughter, and meet the director of the theater she's starting as a nonprofit for her daughter after the very dramatic meltdown of the community theater this year .. in January? Home via the co-op then to my sister's with Christine for an awesome game of scrabble. For years we've been talking about getting together with my sister and her husband more frequently; his job has changed dramatically recently and now we have a chance.
Sunday i was going through email and stuff, including getting the next meeting of the Quaker planning committee organized. I was also pouting: beautiful day, AGAIN, and i was sitting inside all day, AGAIN. Christine got us organized to walk Carrie and then return downtown to listen to my niece sing at the tree lighting. I am so appreciative of that: it's not like i was not doing anything, but i wasn't doing what i had in mind. There was enough time when Christine changed between dog walk and downtown that i got some leaf raking done.
It's now past 11 and i feel like i've done nothing yet. But i have journaled! And we have reservations to take Dad to a Thanksgiving lunch. He called proposing we get together, which was another of these thoughtful things, but it was sort of inviting himself over and the house is not really clean or orderly. I don't think we want the pressure quite yet. Christine's been thinking about it -- a lovely gift from her to me, to propose something she's comfortable with -- so we now have settled plans! Miracle! Outstanding is when my sister wants us to come over for deserts, but that's probably flexible.
And i have done other things, but i haven't looked at my todo list since Thursday morning, so that's next.
I am wondering if i have a cold again on top of the cough. Curses.
From Sunday Night at the town tree lighting![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
