At Days End on the Orchard

So we have been working hard on our apple trees - trimming, weeding out saplings and other pesky trees. It's been a family daily ritual. And we are starting to see the orchard take shape. We are losing alot of trees due to overgrowth and too many dead branches to save. But we are saving alot too and finding many with sparse apples. Next year we should have more - or so we hope. It is very relaxing to go out there and work. I escape from all the other things on my mind and focus completely on the trees. The kids are getting into it as well. Our son especially. He works the loppers and us the saw. Our daughter, well, she's the princess of the family. She sets out with big intentions of joining the family on the daily trimmings and she pretty much dances about and sings to the orchard and gabbing to whomever is within earshot or not.

Here's our princess at the end of the day yesterday when we were dog tired and checking our garden to see how it grow. Pic to follow. :)



Ok so the princess had to pose for mommy in the sweet light. To get her smiles we talked about funny things. And after this she continued her rounds chatting and singing around the property.



She is a happy child beaming with loads of energy up the the last minute of the day before she falls asleep. And she is our tender-hearted girl. This next shot is my soul shot. I can see into her heart. It's also my fave smile that she makes.



And now for the littlest worker of the orchard. Just 4-yrs old and he can work for hours. (We don't make him I tell you he just loves to work.) Here he works in the garden with some twine. I'm not sure what it is he is trying to do here but I thought I would capture him in action.



We have been sawing down many young Pine and Ash trees that grow like weeds around here and not in the most desirable locations. So, we have been taking those down. We are leaving an area of the orchard as a pineland - none of the apple trees survived in that area. So it will be fun to have a woody spot to enjoy. Anyway, one of the pines on the edge of pineland was spared due to the bird residents you see pictured below. Just when I was getting ready to make it to that tree to saw down our daughter noticed the family of birds. There are three babies. So cute. I had to run to the house to get my camera and came back and had my hubby hold the branches out of the way so I could sneak this shot. They were such good babies. They held perfectly still. Maiya was so pleased and touched by their presence. She is such an animal lover! She talked about them all night and went to visit them many times today. And so... the tree stands. I would love to know what kind of birds these are. Anyone have a guess? I have seen the parents many times but haven't photographed them yet. I will in time. And if I learn their kind I will post it here.

{edited: yay, Grama & Grandpa identified this bird for us: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxwing }


And finally, my guy. :) Here he is playing baseball with the kiddos and I asked him if I could grab a shot of him - such a rare thing! I love my guy.




Thanks for stopping by!