Some before and after views

The brown area used to be part of the yard but was used as a paddock 

for years for weanlings and getting the animals close to the house so hubby could watch them.

The trees behind the truck were the ones that needed trimming down.

Below is after Patrick worked up the areas and took down earthen mounds and uneven areas that made the areas impossible to mow. 

Even with his skid steer and brush hog, it was hard for him to mow this area. His suggestions and improvements make it safer for him to brush hog and possibly for me to mow with a regular mower. 😮
 

This is the Tree Trimmer's Bucket Truck and the trees before. The trees are in poor shape and full of root rot. One of the trees had a hole right through the trunk.

As a reminder.  

This is what things looked like in March.

The Trimmers took a break and now you can see the lower part of the trees. They asked if they could take the firewood and I said 'absolutely' as it would be a pain to pile up those large pieces of wood and then burn it.

The afterwards. They left two large trunks which won't harm anything, they hauled away all of the logs and piled all of the limbs in a brush pile. 

I refenced the mules' north lot while Patrick worked on the field south of the house.

Here Patrick is reshaping the old yard and leveling an area that was still a yard in 1997.

The views below are from the porch door. It shows where the yard will be reseeded and the pasture conditioned and reseeded.

Next year instead of unruly weeds, rocks, humps, little ditches, and uneven ground, I should be able to maintain those areas with alternating between the mower and rotating in the elderly mules. Patrick will still brush hog for me when needed.

The view from the porch however will not be one of burrs, weeds, and dirt mounds. In 1996 the pasture was a hay field. This section of the land is the only flat area we have on the property aside from the current yard.

5 years ago of the view from the porch:

After Patrick was done with the dozer. 

Patrick will be back with his skid steer and 'conditioner' attachment the prepare the ground for seeding. He will be doing the seeding work too. 

It is my opinion that this place will have more 'curb' appeal with a tidy looking field and yard in front of the house.

I see these improvements as in investment in the property. The cost was not as bad as one would think. 

I'll take photos after it has been seeded and of course follow up shots this spring when things green up again.

Before winter sets in, I'll be refencing the winter lot which can't be seen here.

I think I'm going to take the weekend off.