Week 16: Adieu to the Plum Tree

The last two weeks have been busy.  Very busy.  There was a gigantic plum tree in our backyard that we vowed to take down the first day we bought this house.  Two years later it was still standing.  I never liked this tree.  I have always hated walking in the backyard during the summer because no matter how carefully you step, you are bound to hit a squishy slimy plum and have it splatter all over your shoe, or worse, your bare foot.  GROSS!  Our house was originally owned by my grandparents and I remember when I was 5 or so my grandma offered to pay me a penny for every plum I picked up in the backyard.  I donned a pair of gloves and got to work picking up those putrid plums; after an hour or two I had earned $6 or $7, which was quite the sum of money for a 5 year old.  Last summer we said we would chop the tree down, but that idea quickly vanished as we devoted a majority of our time to finishing the living room and kitchen.  Late last summer I highly regretted our time allotment and cured that tree over and over as I spent hours picking bucketfuls of plums.  Picking them off the tree wasn't so bad, but picking more than 15 gallons of little rotten plums out of the lawn over the course of three weeks was NOT fun.  I renewed my vows then and there that the tree HAD to come down.

I am happy to report that it is FINALLY gone! . . . ok the stump is still there, but the tree is down, which is a HUGE triumph!  I'll have you know this is maybe 1/5th of the tree.  It was GIGANTIC.  We spent hours cutting up branches, preparing them to be hauled away in time for the City's spring pickup.  And of course the last two weeks have been cold, rainy, and even snowy and there we were cutting up endless amounts of branches.  The day I took these pictures was just about the only pleasant day.  By the end there were large piles of sticks completely lining the perimeter of our property.  I only wish I had gotten a picture of all of our hard work, but unfortunately I was outside in 30 degree weather trying to keep Alex entertained and get the last of the branches cut up when the City workers showed up to haul everything away.  Oh well.  It is finished!  NO MORE PLUMS!  YAY!!

We celebrated by going snowboarding one last time this season.  And for once the weather was beautiful!  Still cold, but beautiful! 

Surprisingly, it was the best snow conditions we've had all year. . .what happened to spring?  Maybe one day it will come!  We got to go with my family, and had an awesome time.  My brother got his mission call this week and leaves in July, so it was the last time we can go skiing with him for the next three years.  It's sad to think that he will be leaving in a few short months, but we are all very excited for him!  

Happy photographing!