Sunday, May 13, 2012

Riding on a donkey to watch the Hydro Ax

The lumberjacks finished up the tree thinning project Friday morning. I cannot begin to tell you how much better the ranch looks. The grant money targeted three densely wooded areas, but because my lumberjacks were so efficient – and the Hydro Ax so powerful – we were able to do a whole lot more. Friday's focus was "mowing" the back 40, and Lucy and I rode out to watch. In this video, you'll see that while we're taking out a lot of trees, we're also leaving a lot, of various sizes.

You'll also see how we're trying to not knock down any of the cholla cactus; as much as I hate the stuff, knocking down a living cactus would be a disaster, as a hundred more would grow back in its place.

I'll shut up now so you can watch...and tap your feet...and get this song stuck in your head for the rest of the day. But it's a great song so I hope you don't mind.

29 comments:

  1. I cannot believe how fast the HydroAx eats those trees up! Amazing machine.

    Two thumbs up for Lucy staying so calm during this adventure.

    Glad you're pleased with all the changes that have been made!

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  2. I love Great Big Sea. They are from Newfoundland and they do a great job singing "My Bonnie lies over the Ocean" as well. Great video, Carson. It's a mean tree eating machine. I'm glad it didn't rain. You will be able to spot your buddies at a glance now.
    Best always, Sandra

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  3. I may have spit some coffee on my computer when the music started! That was a great start to the day!(your video I mean!) The views that you have and are now going to have are breathtaking, it blows my mind to see this scenery! Kudos to Lucy for being so brave!

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  4. I'm curious about the cholla cactus...why does mowing them down create so many? How does that work?

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  5. The Hydro-Ax is the master blaster of destruction. Never saw anything like it. You'll really have great scenery now. Lucy was very brave.

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  6. Estella from Co.5/13/12, 7:40 AM

    When I grow up I want that job, it looks like FUN. What satisfaction after a job like your ranch. Lucy was such a good girl....NO SURPRISE. Has anything unscrambled her? Hugs to all

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  7. I love that song and I am suffering real machine envy here. I also thought you might want to know that last night, while I was trying to mow lawn in the near dark, I drove right through the electric fence. Took down about 30 feet and clotheslined myself pretty good. Thank God it wasn't on:)

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  8. as always, thanks for sharing life on 7MSN Ranch with us! The boys won't know what to do with even more space to kick up their heels!!!!

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  9. Good video, Carson and Lucy ! I had to watch it about five times to take it all in. Once for the words, again watching Lucy (such a smart and pretty girl), then to watch the machine at work, then for the vista. Then I googled pronghorns (fastest land mammal in the World and can see you coming from 3 miles away!!!!)So then I had to watch it again. Thanks for sharing. Shoutout to all the MOMS out there. Happy day!

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  10. Great Big Sea!!!

    Off to find my CD's. Thanks for inspiring the theme music to my day.

    Love the videos always. :)

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  11. Carol in N. Colorado5/13/12, 8:58 AM

    WOW the tree eating machine has made a big improvement of the view. The gang will be happy to have those trees gone. Miss Lucy is a great riding companion as the machine didn't seem to bother her one bit.

    Happy Mother's Day to your mom, to you, and all the other blog readers.

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  12. That machine is incredible! And so is Lucy! I'll be sitting in church later on this morning with that song running through my head-I just know it. :)

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  13. I was hoping that you would use that song that I emailed you awhile back in one of your Lucy videos!!!! :)

    Watching that machine in work sure is impressive! He literally just plows down those trees...no problem at all! :)

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  14. I remember that song from elementary school! What a cool character is Lucy. my horse would have headed for the Sandia Peaks.
    BTW: My dogs had their first Frosty Claws of the year yesterday. Love the recipe!

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  15. You know how old folks can be crumudgeons (spelling oh well)? You know how tree huggers can be a pain in the sit down? You know how hippies, even old ones just can't keep their views to themselves?
    The gratuitous violence perpetrated upon albeit non native species arborial growth, was harsh. It was rated PG for sure. We watched a violent end to a "just growing and going tree" grouping. But just like other acts of random violence, we were captivated by the doers of the violence and blinded by our love of large machinery.

    And inquiring minds want to know about the lumber jacks, woman. I know they weren't firemen on a calendar but what......?????? No comment on the human element? How bout the spray guy????? So much nature and ya don't include the humans....???? I'm afraid that we're gonna need to picket your work sight. A very olde, tree hugging, opinionated hippy woman, Oma Linda

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  16. It must be a blast driving that Hydro Ax! I want one!

    Was Lucy looking back at you for reassurance or was she looking back because you were talking to her?

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  17. I remember learning that song (cleaner lyrics) in third grade. Love this version.
    Oh that Lucy is such a good donkey. It must be so much fun to go riding with her. The HydroAx and Co. are amazing.
    Bluebells are like the cholla around here. You pull it up and the next year get more plants!

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  18. That is SUCH a COOL machine!

    BTW that song is even better live. GBS is such an awesome group with so much energy. Also the CD "Play" (which Donkey Riding is on) is one of my favourites!

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  19. Between that and the furminator, you're golden!

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  20. I wonder if the HydroAx diver play PacMan as a kid?

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  21. Hard to believe we're on the same continent with our different geographical features. I wonder . . . if you didn't have those trees removed . . . would the whole place turn into a forest? Hard to believe, but maybe.

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  22. Sandy from Edgewood, NM5/13/12, 4:15 PM

    Happy Mom's Day to you! You are the best to Lucy and the whole herd!!! Lucy has the prettiest face, even when afraid!

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  23. Okay, just so I understand, Junipers are evil because of the amount of water they suck out of the ground? And so that's why it makes sense to get rid of them, right?

    Read your twitter feed. It's things like that that keep me a carnivore. Hope you are healing up okay.

    (That wasn't sympathy, just for the record. It was a wry observation.)

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  24. You da mom, Linda, of the 7MSN ranch family!! Happy Mom's Day to you and to your own momma.

    Now I see from these comments that I must have been asleep during 3rd grade and missed Donkey Riding and The Great Big Sea! Will have to go searching youtube and see what I've been missing...Never too old to learn something...especially a ditty that gets stuck in one's head. Thanks. Sigh, you warned us :-)

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  25. Loving everyone's comments and am totally impressed with that machine too! What I love most? The bond you have with Lucy. Watching those ears listen to you and her looking back...priceless.

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  26. Please let me know when you will be holding the "Write a New Verse to 'Riding on a Donkey' contest". I want to play.

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  27. Totally....stuck.....in.....my.....Donkey Riding....head...Darn You! :-)

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  28. Damn! That is quite a machine. (All the boys in my house REALLY loved this video, heh) :-)
    And such a brave girl, Lucy!!

    But seriously? Pronghorns? In your pasture, no less? C'mon!!!
    (lol)

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  29. Very cute song! AND Amazed at that machine just INHALING those trees! WOW!

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