Yesterday afternoon we trekked up the mountain to get some extra cleanup done. First Reader and I talked about doing that during the week. Still, we got busy with other necessary tasks like gas company inspections on our rental and doctor appointments.

While First Reader moved a pile of burned and broken bricks and paving stones, I started playing with our new battery-powered chainsaw.

I downed almost a dozen charred saplings, burned trees, and scorched limbs in two hours and less than a full battery charge.

Next time we go up to play with power toys, I will limb the pieces I want to keep. Then, I’ll cut them into varying lengths and move the trunks to an area where they can cure. Those will be used in the future. The rest of the brush and smaller limbs we will either chip out or take to a landscape place that accepts that kind of stuff. As you can see, I still have some work to do.

I have to say, I am impressed with that battery chainsaw. Battery-powered tools have come a long way in the last decade or more. I wasn’t sure how well this new toy would hold up. So far, though, I can say it did well. I had to adjust the chain tension a couple of times, but it’s brandy-new, and I expected to tighten it at least once. The tension adjustment is so much easier than a gas-powered saw. Enough drooling over my new toy.

Another event of note this week is that we received verification that our loan modification was approved. The word “manufactured” is no longer part of the verbiage. YAY! Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that this smooths the path ahead.