The burning of Narnia...or...Are we idiots?

We bought our home in November of 2007.  Behind our fence in the back is another half acre of lot that is ours.  It is my own little forest.  It was very unusable for the first couple of years.  The overgrowth of a noxious weed called multi-flora kept us from enjoying it.  To better describe this weed....remember Brer Rabbit?  This is his briar patch.  Ping even got stuck in it and Charlie had to risk limbs to get to him.  They both came back with thorns, scratches, and bloody.  Little by little we have been ripping it out and burning it.  So, this is the story of Narnia.

Our first chapter is the idiot chapter. We have been so close to getting all the multi-flora out. Last Saturday would be the end.  We would be done if the weather cooperated.  It didn't.  We were in the middle of a heatwave.  Saturday was the climax.  98 degrees with a humidity factor making it feel like 110.  Everyone, especially the old, were encouraged to stay indoors.  We decided to just go to the movies.  Well, we couldn't find anything we agreed on so we just stayed home.  Charlie got antsy and went out with the bic lighter and some WD40. (Great fire starter.)  Pretty soon there was a blaze going.  I felt pity for him and took him a glass of ice water and a popcicle.  It had to have been 150 degrees near the fire.  I tried to help a little but retreated to the AC. (I'm not THAT stupid.) Too hot and too big of a job so after a while he called it a day.  On Monday I thought I would surprise him and pull a lot out to put in the bonfire area so we could have a bonfire for Family Home Evening.  I tromped out to the multi-flora with my leather gloves protecting my hands.  The fact that I was wearing a short sleeve shirt, shorts, and flip-flops  made me as smart as my hubby.  After the bonfire, which was spectaular, I spent the next hour with a needle and a pair of tweezers digging thorns and slivers out of my legs and feet.  I wish I had gotten a picture of the bonfire.  You will just have to be satisfied with the aftermath above. By the way, all the brown dirt visible was covered with 4 foot high multi-flora!!

We have a path cleared now all the way back to my Halloween tree. (It's hollow and real spooky looking at night.)

This mighty oak is the biggest tree in Narnia.  It's got to be 60 feet high!!  Ginormous!!

The plan now is to cover Narnia in grass seed in the fall and see what happens in the spring.  Can't wait!