I found the rest of the worm grunting tools, namely the metal bars and big files. The bucket is heavy but we have a ton of variety to try.

The amaranth is still loaded with seed tops so I pulled an arm load down and went around the farm spreading the seeds everywhere.

It's incredible that this little poppy seed sized seed turns into the 8 foot tall plants. I spread a lot of seed along the rock wall and amongst the rocks in hopes they grow in them so I don't cut them down while mowing next year. Hopefully they will grow as they will create a solid wall between the road and the house.

After noon I was out at the gear shed and working on moving the dirt over the hill.

I filled the wheelbarrow a couple times before I had enough dirt removed to try pulling the tree down.

So I hooked up the cable, chain, and come-along between the tree and the stump by the garden shed.

I ratcheted the come-along until the tree was leaning towards me. All I had to do was push on the wire/chain connection and the tree fell perfectly.

Thankfully all the roots were growing AWAY from the shed so the wall is untouched.

For a couple hours I had seen Jax on the hill barking at something in the bushes but didn't think much of it until I was sitting at my computer and he was by the couch pawing madly at his nose. I called him over and saw the quills sticking out of his snout.

7 porcupine quills were stuck in his lip and nose. It was rather amazing as he let me grab the pliers and pull them all out. The last 2 were the hardest as he was flopping around a lot but I managed to get them all out in one piece.

So I grabbed the .22, loaded a couple shot shells above the varmint load and went to ind the porcupine. It was about 20 feet up the hill from the corner of the garden in the brush. I looked around hard for any other options to get it gone but there was no chance of me catching it in the dense brush. It wasn't moving as much as I tried to poke at it and make it move.

Porcupines are nocturnal and can get straight up huge. This one was small and likely a young one. The biggest problem for me was how the hell it got in the fence and how to get it gone.

In the end I shot it and it dropped instantly from the head shot. Our prior dog Rocky had gotten into it with a porcupine years back but he had bitten at the porcupine and got a mouth full of quills so needed to be sedated for removal. Jax was nosing at this one so got the few in his lip and not in his mouth thankfully.

I pulled a ton of the long hairs from it and will get more hairs and quills today to put in my fly tying kit.

I then hiked the fence line to try and find where it got in but there was not a single sign. I presume it climbed a tree and maybe fell?

With the dog okay and the blood stopped from the punctures I was going to the shed for the chainsaw when a pair of C-17s flew past to the north, one after the other.

The tree was lying perfectly for me to cut it up. I got the saw started and really quickly limbed the top. I was actually surprised at how sharp my saw chain was, my prior sharpenings have not done this well and it made me giggle a bit thinking of the many other trees I need to cut down and cut up knowing my chains are so sharp.

10 minutes and the tree was apart.

I even hacked the top of the stump off.

It left a bit of a mess but WAY better around the shed.

The boys got home from school after a bit of a fiasco. Seems their bus driver was sick and there was supposed to be a sub but they never showed so she had to drive down to the bus barn quick and drive the route while sick. I feel bad for her, and that was why the boys were late.

They helped by hauling the all the branches to the sheep pen and tossing them in for them to eat all the greenery.

I kept shoveling dirt int the wheelbarrow and dumping it over the edge of the hill.

Gradually I am getting the ground more level and have created a nice open area around the shed.

It was around 5pm when I got the fire going in the pit and then later grilled burgers for dinner.

Maddening I tell you! The groupings are great, just not in the right spot. Just a few mm higher... That's why I practice though.

I never knew of the White Rabbit Project when it came out in 2016 and just found it so we have been watching the episodes. Headed out to soak and got a bit longer than normal.

Today I get the boys to school, PDC is on, move the cut up tree logs, take out the cucumber and tomato plants that are bad, get what I want from the porcupine carcass then will take it to the bone yard, keep cleaning up around the gear shed, maybe haul the rocks out to the wall, then this evening we have the Worm Charming event at R's school.

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