He planted trees

 Years before he had any idea that he would be pushing his grand daughter in the swing hanging from sturdy branches, long before my children were around to climb high, watch the birds that nested there, use it as home base, years before his whole family enjoyed it's shade on a hot 4th of July, (those he was there for and those he wasn't),
he planted trees. Lots of them. I have a feeling he delighted in it. Yet, he never enjoyed them as we do now. I wonder if he had that in mind.
This old photo is new to me. (though I need to tell you- I photoshopped it. I cropped it and removed a fellow that I didn't know.) But this is my mother in law, and our yard, years ago. We got such a kick out of the beginnings of our landscaping. I love our yard. I try to garden, but I cant keep up with it. So the weeds have taken over all my gardens and there are toys and bikes scattered everywhere, but that doesn't much matter on a warm summer day when we head out to have a picnic under the shade of my favorite maple tree.


                                                                                                               Forth of July Picnic 2007


                                                                       Joseph and Grace 2008

                                      Joshua and a greatly missed Papa, 2009