I mow, I mow, so off to work I go...

 

Before. This is the Hill Orchard looking west from the drive at the bottom of the hill. You can see the pattern on the plaid shirt because the sun in the eastern sector of the sky.

 

After. The sun is in the west and the plaid is invisible.

Also after, looking to the southwest.

Mowing isn't the hardest part. Picking up all of the things you shouldn't run over with the mower is what takes the most time. I got poked by a stub that punched through the skin of my lower arm. I am still getting used to the increasing fragility of my skin as I age.

Two apple trees that are grafted to Melrose. The tree on the right had two limbs grafted to Melrose and three grafted to a very early apple (Dayton?) that never "paid its rent". While picking the Melrose, I marked the two limbs of Melrose with left-over Covid face masks. Then I removed the three limbs of Dayton this winter. It made for a very strange looking tree.

Melrose has been a very grower-friendly apple.

Work report

I hit the stretch goal. The "goal" and "stretch goal" have become closer together as I got experience. There is no substitute for experience when it comes to figuring out what is possible and what is fantasy.

Brush was dragged. Grass was mowed. A pecan (Earlton) was grafted. Chestnuts were planted. Posts were driven and trees were secured to them. Five hours was spun off-the-clock. I am tired.

It also seems that I now have a poltergeist. Boxes jumped off of shelves. Bottles crashed to the ground. Heavy objects flew out of the bed of the pickup truck. Does anybody know if they will go away if I give them a sock or an article of clothing? Maybe I need to pour some beer into a dish for them.

Family responsibilities

Tomorrow, my family will be celebrating those of us who were born in May and June. Southern Belle stepped up and will be hosting the party.

I have been informed that my attendance is mandatory. I have also been informed that I am to be on my VERY BEST BEHAVIOR.

Pray for me.