Corona Cabin Fever struck. Huddled in our home, screens checked for the umpteenth time, and TP tallied, the walls began to close in and feelings of frustration arose. Yesterday the power went out too, to add to the apocalyptic atmosphere. I found myself pacing more, and patient-less. It becomes necessary to take a break. I needed to go outside!
This morning it snowed… Another “winter’s-never-going-to-end” kind of day. While waiting for the ground in the garden to thaw, my favorite March go-to place is the Orchard.
Being brisk, we bundled the babies into their jackets and boots, Dad grabbed the tractor, and we opened the gate to the orchard. It is always a hopeful place for me during the tail end of winter. My mail-order trees and berry bushes arrived, and by Harry I was going to get them in the ground!
Two pear trees died last year. Two of my originals. They survived the attack of the voles in 2018, only to die to subterranean assault – gophers. My husband has decreed that from hence forth, no tree is going into our soil without a gopher basket! It really makes sense. It costs only a few dollars, and a little more digging, to protect a $30+ tree, not to mention all the years of growth! You can make your own basket out of hardware cloth with just a pair of snippers. This 50’x2′ roll will make 4-5 baskets – a great investment.
The 16 year old manned the backhoe, the 2 year old moved the rocks, while Mom and Dad supervised and raked and shoveled. Ann wandered about with her Goldens checking and setting traps. A Huisan Asian pear and a Moonglow pear were installed in the 2020 orchard! Then we prayed the Lord’s blessing over these tender plants – for without Him nothing prospers.
Looking over the orchard history this time of year is always a special blessing to me. I see trees planted in faith and hope. I see some thriving, some lost, some needing help. I am reminded of the little acts of faithfulness needed to bring forth fruit as I write out my orchard “to do” list:
-Make and apply dormant oil spray
-Mulch and fertilize,
-Prune (but NOT the apricots!),
-Paint the trunks,
-Set and check the gopher traps,
-Learn to graft plums and apples
-Fill the 2 remaining holes
-Train the grapes to trellis
There’s nothing like spending the afternoon outside with the family enjoying God’s creation and care to cure Coronavirus Craziness. We are reminded that He clothes the lilies, and feeds the birds, and He cares all the more for us! (Luke 12) In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. (Psalm 100) How good is His creation and His plan. He makes all things beautiful in His time. (Ecclesiastes 3) I felt my frustration melt away, and the joy of the Lord return as I took my eyes off the cares of the world and remembered the promises of God.
Rosehaven Homestead 
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