The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

I just want to cut down the two in the middle of the driveway turnaround, but they are very tall oaks and will have to be done by professionals who can climb and section them down.
As far as "mounds" for privacy, it will be a million years, if ever, before they put sidewalks here. We don't have cable TV and can't even get cell service at my house, so sidewalks are probably not happening (thank goodness!). I've seen what you're talking about, though, plantings with Leyland Cypress and such at the road to hide the house. I did plant two rows, one on the power line easement side in case someone across from us builds on that lot-if they ever do, it will open us up to the road we have to turn off of to come up here and we'll look like a cherry on an ice cream sundae.

We built a quickie wood rack today. That area slopes forward and toward the backyard, so it's wonky as heck, but it will hold the wood, probably 2 cords' worth at least. That eastern side doesn't normally get the weather. And, of course, DH is in extreme pain because of it. Used lumber from the big building we tore down after the steel barn was finished and we moved chickens out of it. So, recycling at its best!

ETA: That is the old driveway gate sitting behind it against the house, not part of the rack.

 

[1muttsfan]

Leahsmom, do you mean hugelkuture? I would love to try one, certainly have plenty of wood here. I have clusters of beech along my driveway, all affected by Beech Snap and on their way out , needed to cut them this fall.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'v considered using hugelkulture, but on the house part of the property that wouldn't be advisable as the underlying wood is going to deteriorate and it will flatten out over time if it's working correctly.

For that area I'm just looking at a privacy berm made with dirt. I don't even want to landscape it except for grass and a tree or 2. I'd like to be able to mow like normal and I don't want another garden/landscape area to maintain. Just easy

 

[Leahs Mom]

Something like this but it's not that wide between the drive and the fence. Then it would have grass planted on it that could just be mowed. Maybe higher...it's hard to tell from this photo how high it is.

 

[Leahs Mom]

This but with grass...easy maintenance.

 

[speckledhen]

I've often seen things like that around here when folks build a log home close to the road, basically because it hangs off a cliff and they still want privacy from the road.

Today, we are splitting logs from trees we cut up with our electric splitter, which works amazingly well and was much cheaper than a gas one. It saves some work, for sure. We postponed the wood delivery on Monday because we're getting heavy rain from the new storm coming up from the gulf on Sunday and Monday. Still need to get the shop vac out to the barn and get all that nasty dust out before it actually turns cold on us, too, but that may wait a few days.

 

[speckledhen]

Since this is the Atlas thread, here is Atlas & Company. Liz was in the nest, Gloria Jean was eating.

And I snapped a couple of great pics of my very much loved Gypsy. Doesn't look like she'll be 10 years old next month, does she? This girl is my heart.

 

[1muttsfan]

Energizer bunny bird.
What a nice looking bunch of birds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Gypsy sure is pretty. I had a pair of Ameraucana hens years ago, both blacks, they lived a long time too. She reminds me of them. Your rocks are looking good and fluffy too, so different than hatchery birds.

 

[speckledhen]

Energizer bunny bird.
What a nice looking bunch of birds.

They are, aren't they? And most are fairly old, too, other than Tessa and Lizzie. Of course, Gypsy is getting positively ancient, but she sure holds her age well.

Gypsy sure is pretty. I had a pair of Ameraucana hens years ago, both blacks, they lived a long time too. She reminds me of them. Your rocks are looking good and fluffy too, so different than hatchery birds.

Gypsy is my angel. I loved that she kept Zane from being lonely, just loved him. I hope she lives to be 20, as long as she can still be on her feet, don't care if she never lays another egg (though she has been laying within the past year). I can call her from anywhere and she comes running to be picked up.