Grovers In The Grove

We had plans to work in the grove today.  Geeps got up at sunrise and started the bonfire to burn off some of the dead brush we had out there.  I made us some breakfast burritos and joined him at the bonfire.

It felt so nice to sit by the fire in the early morning chill with my coffee.

Wearing my favorite chicken pants.   After finishing my coffee, I went in to get dressed so that I could help Geeps with the grove.   I began with the pruning while he continued to burn off the brush.  Then he came in with chain saw and removed branches that needed removing.

We piled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow full of branches up along the back of the property to dry out.  We loaded up 6 large recycle cans (borrowing my neighbors too)  and piled the rest along the back fence.  We will burn some off when it is dry and refill our cans again next week.

 We sat in the swing about midday for a break and a cold drink, and then got right back to it.

 This row here is what prompted us to get to work.  With our paddle tennis playing, the balls were getting lost in the thickness of the trees.  Plus you could take an eye out if you were trying to run one down.  They all need a good pruning, but I pruned this row behind the court a bit more heavily to allow for space to run down the rocket balls that Greg hits to me....that I miss!!  Today we just concentrated our efforts on the trees that are around the court.  I heavily pruned 11 trees!!  The entire grove needs to be done, so it is barely a dent.  But a start nonetheless.

I swept off the sport court, and cleaned off the swing.  That old swing was in our backyard at one point, by the pool.  The awning rotted out, and the seats rotted, so we retired it to the court in the grove, and I gave it new life by topping it with an old heavy fabric roman shade for the awning, and I made cushions for the head rest, and put our old wicker cushions on the seats, and I'll be gosh darned if that old rusty swing isn't just as comfy as it was 10 years ago!!

As the shadows got longer, our energy waned, and we began to pack it in for the day.

The dry brush had all been burned off, and the new brush was neatly lined up against the back of the property.

 While I was pruning, I came across this perfect little hummingbird nest.  When I find these, I cut them out of the trees and display them in my house.  

It was a long hard day of work.  We are not spring chickens anymore!  Geeps will be 57 this year, and I will be 52!!!  This stuff was much easier 20 years ago.  But if we pace ourselves, we can still do a lot of the work here ourselves.  We put the tools away, turned on the grove water, put the chickens to bed, hosed off our shoes, and shook the sawdust from our clothes before going inside.  I hauled the full wagon to the back patio.  Looks like we will be having fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning!

 We heated up the spa, and took a long hot shower.  Geeps just went to pick us up a pizza for dinner.  I am sitting here in my favorite chicken pants again....resting.

Before I go, here is the new black infinity scarf/cowl that I made.

I stitched in the back loop to get that cabled look.  I love this one.  It is different than the others I have made.  It is longer, and can be worn alone as an infinity scarf like this.  Only not with a wedding dress!  I leave my wedding dress on my dress form in my sewing room all the time.

And also doubled around your neck like a cowl.

This one may be my favorite one yet.   So versatile.  Black looks great with almost any color Bloomie too.

The one I am about to start now is in browns with a little bit of green running through it.

Pizza is here.  And then a long soak in the spa for these tired and aching bones!!!  Hope you are having a great weekend wherever you are, and whatever you are doing!
XO  Kris