Fruit of the Earth

Saturdays are generally best when we get up, eat breakfast, then leave the house.  Last Saturday, we headed out to Alvin, TX to buy a Satsuma tree from a local tree place.  We also brought along a clipping from the tree in our yard that we call "the lime tree” to see if it could be identified, as it has never actually produced any limes.  Apparently it’s a grapefruit tree, which is awesome, although identifying it doesn’t change the fact that it has yet to even blossom.

After picking out a tree and a yellow rose bush, we went to Froberg’s Farm for vegetables, tomato and basil plants, a strawberry pie, fresh roasted peanuts, and this conversation as we’re driving through the fields on the way to the store:

Me:  Here we are guys!  We’re at the farm!

Rush and Tate:  A tractor!

Rush:  What is it doing?

Me:  It’s watering the plants.

Trent:  Nooo-

Me:  Ooh, okay, roll up the windows.

It’s a great place to eat lunch: grab some fruit and peanuts, a sandwich from the smokehouse to share, and let the boys wear themselves out on the swings.

I had a spiritual moment on Sunday, planting the Satsuma in the yard.  Trent’s shoulder is still healing from his recent surgery and he was cooking borracho beans for the Super Bowl.  I grabbed a shovel to work in the yard and Trent started hovering around me in his work-in-the-yard pants, when I kindly informed him that he was physically incapable of using a shovel and he couldn’t leave a boiling pot on the stove while the boys were napping.  For once, I got to be the dad, working outside on a beautiful day, with Trent inside cooking and minding the children.  It was so refreshing that I worked in the yard for four hours:  pruning, messing around with the compost, weeding.  By myself, digging a big hole and getting muddy, I felt like I was checking off “Plant A Tree” from a list of 100 Things To Do Before You Die.  Planting a tree on your own is an experience I do recommend. 

Just in case it sounds like I want to live in the country, I assure you, I do not.  But I did enjoy planting that tree…and eating the strawberry pie.