Chain Saw Massacre

I am so ready for Spring I could just scream!  This is a current view of part of our front yard:

Look closely at the expression of the face on the tree.  He seems to be saying, "Oh my!" 

Now here's a view of the same area taken last summer:

Is it just my imagination, or does Mr. tree appear to be much happier?

Here's the back yard:

Everywhere we look around here it is the same thing, even worse in some spots.  We will be having a chain saw massacre of this mess for sure.  I posted an invitation on Facebook for my friends to come to the chain saw party, but they all said, "after you come to mine first"!  Seems it looks like this all over our area.  (sigh)

It never ceases to amaze me how dramatically the scenery out here changes season to season.  By this time in past years we have been able to be out in the yard to start the clean-up process.  Unfortunately, the way things look now, it will be at least another month before the snow is gone and the ground will be dry enough to start.

And I'm not the only one who wants out ...

Mr. Donkey and Casper (the sometimes friendly horse) would much rather be munching on mulberries in the shade than staying in the barn.