The Pet Minder

Another beautiful day today, Sunday, and as promised, the neighbour was out and about early to beat the wind, and resume the tree cutting exercise.

As I was frantically trying to clear the back yard, to make way for the patio, that was lurking beneath the undergrowth, the chain saw was making its own cacophany beside the kennels, and disturbing some of the pups.

After a couple of hours I ventured out to the front, to find two men standing outside the gate, one with a cell phone, pressed tightly to his ear.

The news was not what I had been hoping for, or had even contemplated for a minute.

The chainsaw was stuck in the tree, and the tree was leaning precariously inward, toward the kennel buildings. The full meaning of this, was, that, with another gust of wind, it would fall over the fence and demolish the little dogs and some of the large dog kennels.

To be brutally honest, I was not amused. However, I did what I could, to try and procure a larger chainsaw, but that was of little value, so it was back to three heads are better than two.

After much use of axes, splitters and man power, the tree was down, with no damage to anything or anyone, other than perhaps, a bruised ego over a near failure.

And so it proceeds, the abolition of the trees. Not good for the green house gases, but hey, good for the dogs in the bigger scheme of things.

Another beautiful day, with temperatures at 25+.

I am asking myself, why am I suddenly moving freshly cut wood, in wheelbarrow lots, on such a warm day?

The trees concerned, form a barrier against the kennels, supposedly to stop the wind coming over the top of the 6foot fence. They also remove sun in the afternoon, from those kennels that face north west. More sun for the pups for longer in the afternoon ? That alone, is a convincing argument for their demise.

Great stratagy on someones part, eucalyptus and silver birch, alternationg, in a nice neat row. Some rogue pinus radiata have also sprung up in the same area, all self sets, and of no intrinsic value to the landscape.

Unfortunately, all I  have, is eucalyptus leaves in the play yard, which have to be removed with a blower/vac.

So, what better solution, to secure firewood, as well as removing a hindrance in the back yard.

Luckily, I am not the one wielding the chainsaw. That, is an accident waiting to happen.

Another busy morning, another item crossed off the “to do” list.

Time to give the little dog area a good wipe down inside, and also to clear the remaining storm debris from the pathway and gutters.

The latter I was not really looking forward too, as am not too confident on the roof of a building.

However, I had some helpers, including Puff, the five month old labradoodle. His help would certainly allay my hidden fear of climbing on the roof

The little dogs were happy to play outside while I was making my exursions, up and down the ladder, Puff even thought he could climb up and help me.                  

He was  even more help when it came to sweeping the floor. Just as I was about to sweep the rubbish on to a shovel, he took a mouthful of leaves and ran away again. His idea of a game, unfortunately, I did not want to play, at this point.

I guess when you are only a baby, anything is fair game.

He is now in his bed, chewing his bone, waiting for the next opportunity to amuse me with his puppy antics.