April 9, 2008

• This That and Other Reflections

  This tree is found in a small corner in a far pasture on our farm.  Many a warm summer evening has been spent by our family and friends around a bonfire singing songs, reading poetry, talking good talk, playing games and just having a good time.  Oh, and did I mention, eating good food.  This tree has played a part in many of these good times too.  This tree stands there very silently day after day, year after year just waiting for the good times to come to it.  When my boys discovered it they were fascinated by this tree because of the way that God had made it grow.  Many is the time that they would try to climb it.  Now I refer to it as Adam’s tree because he has always been the most persistent of my children.  He is the one who has to conquer.  He is also the only one who has actually climbed that tree. 

  

  The reason that I have recently been reflecting on this tree is that on a walk around the farm last Sunday Ian noticed that it is dying.  He suggested cutting it down this summer rather than letting it fall down.  Now the tree is in the pasture and we have no cows anymore so no one and nothing is in danger from it falling.  I was slightly taken aback by the thought that it should be cut down.  My husband saw my shock and suggested that he leave it to fall on it’s own since I was so attached to it.  How perceptive for my husband who is usually so oblivious to the feelings of others.  Thank you Douglas for your thoughtfulness.   This tree which is a monument to Adam’s persistence.

  

  Matthew and Mary-Kate decided to take her 410 shotgun out and do a little target practice.  She is very careful and big into safety (thank God).  So she gets a bunch of green tea bottles and fills them with water so they stand up and measures out the distance.  Then she sets them up and gets the ear protection.  She and Matthew take turns shooting.  Then they break the weapon and set it down before they go down range to check their targets.  I love to take pictures of their intensity while they shoot.  She is getting so she doesn’t even flinch when the gun goes off. She also is getting more accurate.  Next she wants to get a box of slugs to try practicing with them. 

  

  Last Sunday we thought that we would take a leisurely walk through the valley and see what animals we could find down there.  Also what changes the winter had wrought in the contours of the land.   Now most people take a nice walk of a Sunday afternoon.  They like to chat with the other people who are walking with them.  Most folks like to look around at the flora and fauna that they may encounter.  Not Matthew.  Not only does he not stroll but he takes the hardest path that he can find. 

  

  Whenever the valley got deep he had to climb up.  In some places it is deep, very deep. 

  

  Here the sides are shale and slippery and there is no under growth to grab onto.  Remember here is central New York we have barely gotten into spring yet so not much is growing yet.

  

  But he is nothing if not persistent.  He climbed and slipped and climbed some more until he finally got to the top.

  

  This climb was so intimidating that the dogs even avoided it.  They waited until they got to a less steep part. 

   

  Oh to have that kind of energy and determination again. 

  • 9:22 pm
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