Every December, Cindy Lee and family get together to attend the Festival of the Trees in Salt Lake City. This is not about their annual adventure. Thirty plus years ago, when Syd's family planted a bunch of pine tree seedlings. As the trees grew bigger they were cut, often leaving the bottom branch and sold for Christmas trees. The bottom branch was then staked up and a new tree began to grow and grow and grow. After many years they got too big and not really ideal for Christmas trees, as they grew and grew and grew. Eventually, some were thinned out. But there was still on problem. Pine trees like to shed needles and pinecones year round. This problem makes for extra work when it comes time to mow and water. Afton was getting tired of the extra work and wanted them all cut down. We compromised and said we would cut a few this year and maybe more next year and see how it all went.
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| The boys in action. Give them a chainsaw and they are in heaven. |
We put a call out to the Hendrix/Walk bunch. They jumped at the chance to get together and participate in the Festival of the Trees cutting down, especially since it meant using chainsaws and train rides.
The rope was tied to the tree to guide it in the direction it needed to fall. After it settled on the ground the men cut off the branches, which were hauled to the burn pit and the trunk was cut into three foot logs. The logs where loaded on the trailer.
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| Hauling the cut logs |
The kids love to pile on the trailer and ride along.
Even the adults like to ride, even though it is shorter to walk, but there is something about everyone riding.
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| No fair, the kids get to ride |
Every jumps into help, even the little ones. They quickly realize that it takes team work to tackle the job.
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| Everyone unloads |
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| Even the little guys help, it take team work but they do it. |
There is never any problem getting someone to mow the lawn. April was excited to do it, as it had been more than nine years since it had been her turn.
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| The lawn get mowed |
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| Cousins are so much fun |
The day was a hot one. Lots of water was consumed and poured on each other to cool off. The sun was generous in the burns it gave to those who chose to let it, despite the frequent use of sunblock.
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| Cooling off |
Fudgesicles at four. We were due for a break. Some wore as much as they ate.
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| F. A. F. |
As the day wore on we ran water in the ditch. The kids had a waterfight.
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| after the work comes the fun |
The fire was kept going all day, burning the branches off the trees. Those burning it were jealous of the little ones and their waterfight.
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| burning the branches, an all day process |
Poor little B-boo. She was running a temperature and felt terrible most of the time. She did feel well enough for a little swing time between naps. She was a real trouper.
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| Finally it is time for a little swing time |
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| Grandma with her newest great-grandchild |
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| Trying out Grandma's green apples....SOUR |
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| At last it is the adult turn to relax. |
Ten trees later, everyone was tired. We had a delicious supper of grilled chicken and dutch oven potatoes. Then it was time for the highlight of the day.
Train Rides!
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| The engineer and his son |
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| The engineer and his neices. |
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The engineer and his daughter
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| What a cuties (mom covering ears so the train horn doesn't scare him) |
We are the luckiest people in the world, because we have such a great family who will help out, despite it being hard work. We enjoy the day, we enjoy the company, and we enjoy the fruits of our labor. The yard looks better.
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| The perfect end to beautiful day. |
