The Little Apple Tree--A True Story with a Happy Ending

There once was an apple tree that wanted to grow. It stood tall and sturdy in the nursery waiting for someone to come buy it and plant it. Along came a certain man who thought he wanted an apple tree, so he paid for the little tree, took it home, and planted it in a hole dug just for the tree.

At first the little tree was happy, but it felt something wasn't right. The tree tried to reach deep into the ground, but its roots were bound up in something tight and they couldn't push through. The tree stood tall, and put out a few new leaves. It soaked up the sun. But try as it would, it didn't get any bigger.

Now the man who bought the tree noticed it wasn't getting any bigger. He thought perhaps it would be happier in another place in the yard, so he dug another hole, and moved the tree. As he placed the tree in the new hole he noticed the burlap tied around the root ball. "Hmm," he thought. "I forgot to cut the burlap. Maybe that's why the tree hasn't grown." And he cut the burlap, loosened the soil around the roots and replanted the tree in the new hole.

"AHH!" said the little tree. "That feels sooo much better and it wriggled its roots deep into the new soil. The tree put out lots of new leaves and was very happy, but it still stayed small, much to the man's dismay. He had been hoping the tree would get big and provide shade in the yard. He could just imagine its spreading branches heavy with fruit.

(He didn't realize fruit trees grow slowly and stay small so their fruit can be picked.)

 Even so, the tree stood strong in the winter months and was looking forward to spring.

When spring came the apple tree put out lots of new buds. Some of the buds turned into green leaves. The others opened themselves into lovely white apple blossoms. The little tree was very proud. The man and his wife came to inspect the tree and were very happy at all the leaves. They sniffed the blossoms and commented on what a pretty tree it would be someday.

A week later the man's wife discovered tiny apples where the blossoms had been. She brought the husband out to see. They talked happily about the apples they would have that fall. That night 3 deer came to visit the yard. They checked the bird feeder and nibbled at the seeds. Then they sniffed the apple tree. It smelled delicious. They nibbled the apple tree. It tasted delicious.

In the morning when the man and his wife looked out the window they were dismayed. What had happened to their little tree? Every leaf, blossom and bud was gone. "That's it!" stormed the man. "That tree has never done anything. I'm getting a different tree!" He dug the tree up and threw it on the bank behind the house. He went back to the nursery and replaced it with another tree, but this time he bought a bigger tree that the deer couldn't eat.

Several weeks later the wife was mowing the grass when she noticed something odd about the plants on the bank. There were new green shoots sticking up in the dead grass. She looked closer. The little apple tree still lay there, its roots exposed to the sun, but there were new leaves on the branches! She picked it up and took it to the shed. She rummaged around until she found a large pot and some planting mix. When her husband came home she showed him the new tree on the deck. "Where did you get it," he asked? "It's the apple tree! I found it on the bank and it looked like it really wanted us to try again."

The tree stood in its pot on the deck safe from the deer. The man and his wife watered it when it needed water and in the winter they protected it from the cold by keeping it in the garage where it could sleep. It is one year older and today it showed the man and his wife how happy it was in its pot, by once again putting on a display of lovely flowers.

The man and his wife are a little wiser now. They've learned some trees grow more quickly than others and some trees take more patience than others. They've promised this tree that they will take care of it until it is big enough for the deer to leave alone. Hopefully, they will live happily together for many years to come.

THE END

 (of the story! Not of the little tree)

A Hodge-Podge of Thoughts

April is almost over and I still find I can't quite get my thoughts together. Maybe it is because in 25 days we have had 18 days of rain. Today the weatherman's comment was right on target. The day had begun with heavy skies, but around noon the sky cleared somewhat and the sun peaked out. "Enjoy this moment," he said as he pointed to the camera shot of the city and the water shimmering in the sunlight. I was enjoying it. And an hour later the rain was pouring down again.

Enjoy the Moment. I know it is spring because the House Finch told me so. Every morning she warbles outside my window at 6:15. She is better than a Rooster because her alarm which is just as punctual as a rooster's is much prettier to listen to. I am not an early riser, but I don't mind her wake-up call. It is so cheerful and it IS a true pronouncement that spring is here.

Laugh at the wildlife. Our neighbor across the street has a deer feeder. Not everyone in the neighborhood is happy about that fact but I like it. I don't believe it brings the deer. They were here before we were. They are all over. His corn doesn't keep them from eating my tulips, but they would eat my tulips anyway, even if they weren't on the way to his feeder. Usually I can't see them. The deer usually stop there at night when it is dark. The other day I noticed the feeder was lying on it's side.

They were sending a message to Chuck. "Fill it up!" Chuck has a camera set up to tape them at night and he has video of them knocking the feeder over and rolling it down the hill to his house 'just in case he didn't know it was empty'! Our deer are not starving, (thanks to Chuck) but they are savvy.

Look on the bright side. I've been able to mow once a week but it really needs to be done every 4-5 days. That's what rain does! The problem is finding a way to get it done. When the sun came out this morning I hoped I'd have a chance, but I was out and needed to eat lunch before I started. By the time I got home and ate lunch it was raining again. I am once again waiting for it to dry out enough that I can mow. Hopefully, tomorrow? Meanwhile the sparrows disappear into the green blades when they search my lawn for seeds. At least I can still see the Mourning Doves. I know a lot of people aren't crazy about mowing twice a week, but to me, it is way more fun than shoveling snow every day.

Inspite of the rain I do think the weatherman was right, this time. Enjoy this moment is the best advice for anyone in any situation. So I am...
Enjoying the moment.

Transition

Long Time, No Hear.

There is something about traveling that always interrupts my flow of thought. It seems to take me a week or so to make the full transition and get back to my normal routine. As a result I haven't made any entries in my blog for a couple of weeks. The laundry is up to date, the groceries bought, and the weather has made a vast improvement so I'm getting back to normal. As a result here I am, with my latest observations on life around me.

While I was in Florida Larry would give me the weather updates; "'It's going to be 16 degrees tonight. We had snow this morning." A neighbor sent me a photo of our snow covered neighborhood, taken just a few days before I was due to come home. Talk about a Spoiler Alert!! There I was enjoying the sun and temperatures in the 80's and all I could think of was I might be going back to THAT! Oh the gloom!

Over the years I have made many trips taking me from where I wanted to be, to a place I was willing to put off getting to. I've learned that a trip that takes a couple of days to make has always helped me in that transition. As I left Florida the sun was shining and the day was beautiful. Oh how I hated to leave. However, the drive was a beautiful one. All through that day as I headed north, I saw various levels of full blown spring. The sky was clear, and trees were green. The further north I went I witnessed earlier stages of spring. By the end of the day I was seeing less green on the trees, but more early spring flowers. It had been a beautiful day, ending with an equally beautiful sunset.

The next morning as I crossed into Virginia I noticed the grass was green but the leaves were gone. I had to chuckle when each time I crossed a state border I noticed a definite difference in the signs of spring, from leaves to no leaves, flowering trees to forsythia, the earliest of the blooming plants. It was as if the weather also recognized state borders.

By the time I arrived back in Pittsburgh I had mentally reconciled to the local climate. I unpacked my shorts and put my sweatshirt back on.

I've been home for 2 weeks now. God has been good to me. Spring is here. The weatherman still offers the threat of snow, but if we get any it turns out to be 15 minutes of flurries followed by rain. Oh yes. Lots of rain. But we have enjoyed some wonderful spring days as well. Last weekend the sun came out and warmed us up. By Monday the forsythia and daffodils had popped.

Spring is fickle. Two weeks ago we had snow. One week later I was mowing the yard. But it is spring. A time of transition. And I'm glad it is here.