A MUST HAVE for Felling Pine Trees

One of the first adventures at Redwoodshire, happened the day the Laird decided to fell 2 very large pine trees that had overshadowed the swimming pool for far to long.  The Laird could not comprehend why these trees had been permitted to live there, and continue blocking the sun to the pool.  What a misfortune!  Thankfully, the job went off with only a small casualty.  They calculated where they wanted that tree to fall; away from the pool, between the passive solar heating system and some other large pines.  They trimmed off some smaller branches.  Little John climbed up the tree and tied ropes to act as a guide for the felling process.  Friar Matthew conducted the process, and lumber jack Alexander worked heartily with all his might to assist the Laird with this job.   "Timber" they yelled as that first tree came crashing down!  Bringing those trees down was the easy part.  Then the real work began- cutting the massive trunk and branches into smaller pieces and hauling them into the woods.  It was a whole Saturday morning of grueling labor.  Being sustained by  only donuts, muffins, bagels and water (supplied by the Lady of Redwoodshire- me), they worked and worked and worked.  

  As I have little knowledge of the process of felling large trees, I have  discovered the most wonderful product to help remove that terrible sticky pine pitch.  Months after this adventure of tree felling, we are still cleaning up the remains.  The back woods are filled with massive piles of pine remains.    Eventually the Laird hopes to transform some of those large chunks of pine trunk into cool seats to go around the campfire pit.  A couple days ago, Miss Sarah and I were out for a stroll along the woods edge, picking up some of those small pine remnants and depositing them to their place in the woods.  When we were finished, we quickly noticed we had spots of sticky pine pitch covering our hands.  "How annoying" I said.  Miss Sarah responded, "I have "Miracle Salve" that will take it right off."  "Really?  What's it called?"  "Miracle Salve" she replied.  It was truly as good as she described it.

Burt's Bees Miracle Salve.  Rub a small portion over your hands or other affected body part.  Then rinse with water.  Smooth and soft again, as if we had never encountered such stickiness.  

Timber!  First tree down, one more to go

Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho it's off to work we go

The aforementioned casualty: a lone bush planted in the middle of the grassy field.   It appears to have buds growing, so we think it survived the trauma of Pine number 1.