Still Here

Living among the creaks and groans of decay and grief

The old apple tree in the orchard fell, toppled by the weight of the abundance of apples upon aging limbs, the excess underground moisture (too much of a good thing) providing an unstable and shifting foundation. One early and mild autumn storm, the body of the tree ripped into the flimpsy fence initially put around it to keep the sheep from nibbling, and, upended, the roots were exposed to daylight and the open air. Apples were everywhere.

I’m certain this is most people’s experience on homesteads: there is always something to repair or replace or remodel. Our roof was replaced completely last year, for example, and in that process we discovered that improper framing caused so much of the leakage within the house, so the job was much larger and more costly than expected. The dishwasher was also removed last year, exposing DIY wiring (masking tape? really?) and an explanation for its constant troubles and ultimate demise. Currently, there are bowls underneath all three sinks in the hou…