Cause and Effect

We have a big spruce tree in front of our house which we planted over 35 years ago.  It was a tree that was in the way of a shed I wanted to build but I wanted to relocate this little tree instead of cutting it down, so I dug it up and planted it in front of our house directly in front of our kitchen window.  About 10 years ago we wanted to hang some bird feeders where we could see them from inside the house so we cut the lower branches of the spruce tree on the side facing the house so we could hang some feeders.  It worked out quite well except for the squirrels which had easy access to the bird food but it was ok as I reloacated them about 8 miles away to a nearby lake.  We always leave them a good bye present of a hand full of sunflower kernals.  They seem to be happy at their new retirement home. 

Last winter I learned about tree hugging and how great it can make one feel being conneded to the trees and to mother earth through her root system.  It did seem to make me feel really good  so every time we had a snow storm, I would make it a priority to stop and give this tree a hug while shoveling snow off the front walkway.  No matter how cold it was out side, I would always give this tree a hug.   When the weather warmed up I stopped hugging the tree.  I had other things to do that kept me very busy.  The other day it was really hot outside. Dressed only in a t shirt I took a break from weed whacking and gave this tree a big tight hug.

Now let me explain how a spruce tree heals itself after an injury.  Whenever you cut a branch off, the tree makes a very sticky substance called Pitch which seeps into the area where the missing branch was and fills it in.  It was pretty well frozen in the winter but under 80 degree heat, it came to life again and I never noticed how much pitch there was until I tried to get myself unglued from this tree. That tree previously had alot of limbs that I had removed and now shirt and arms were covered with the stickiest substance known to man.  My partner was watching from the kithen window and laughing. Looking back, I thought it was pretty funny also.  It's like the tree was paying me back. 

That was my laugh of the day, and it was on me but that's ok.   Hope y'all have a great day.