Apple Tree Prune

Hands up those who remember the out-of-control apple trees (all 2.5 of them).

I mean, yeah, I could link the blogs, but I'm in a mood about spoon-feeding the readers - go on, ask me, I dare ya....

Of course, we had to wait till it had snowed a few inches before having a go at the big trees, I mean, of course we had to <don't get me started>

Freddy started and got a few of the low-hanging branches, but quickly got out of her reach, so I went out and climbed the things to get the stuff poking up.
We did leave some of the stuff poking out the sides, and yes, it was a pretty brutal hack job; that was always the plan. Two-year plan, remember.

The 'apple' tree (allegedly, as we have never seen actual apples on it) near the house was first because Cole was not home, and we needed him and the chain-saw for the other big one near the shop.
It's actually a pretty fun tree to climb. I bet Lee is going to have a blast up there in a few years' time.

I hacked at a few of the bigger branches that were hanging over the fence and almost touching the cable wires running under the power lines. Cole can get a bit too much 'shee be right mate' even for this Aussie.

Cole showed up with a real chainsaw.

Did some real damage, errr, pruning.

Two options for the trimmed branches.... We could load them in the truck and take them to the dump (probably 2, perhaps 3 loads) or.......

Turbocharged burn barrel.
Honestly, it was stunning the difference in how it chewed through the green cuttings.
We burnt the whole lot in just a few hours. Never before have we chewed through so much fuel in such a short time. Took about 4 batteries, but so worth it not have all the stuff sitting around (in the snow) for the weeks it would have taken a NA barrel.

House tree.

Shop tree.

In other news, I've been as sick as a dog for 2.x weeks. I have not been this crook for years and years. Finally feel like I am turning a corner as of today.
I think the stress of the past 17.5 years just unloaded on me all at once.