The Walnut Tree

When we moved into this house over 7 years ago, there was a big walnut tree in the front yard.  There was never any real concern over it since it was alive and thriving, but over time, it just continued to get bigger ... and closer to the house.  And we loathed picking up the messy walnuts that fell to the ground every year.  They're squishy when you step on them, make a mess with the lawnmower and kill any surrounding grass if left on it for too long.

Ultimately, we decided to have the tree cut down about three years ago.  All of the wood was cut up and the stump was ground out.  But one lone sprig started to grow in place of the tree.  Steve continued to mow around it and went so far as to put a small tomato cage around the little twig to help it survive.

And it has. 

Today, it serves as a special place where Samantha loves to sit and draw.  If I can't find her, it is the first place that I look. 

She is forever doodling/coloring/designing and I love that about her.  She has an artistic side that complements her logical, straightforward mathematical side.  It's a delicate balance and I hope that she continues to use both.

I've also noticed her reading outside under this tree and that makes me smile.  She is a voracious reader, like her mother, and that is something else that I hope carries her through life.  She has found a few book series that she enjoys and is working on reading through those.  Her vocabulary is pretty large now because of her reading and her spelling tests are nearly perfect every week.  I am so proud of the person that she is becoming.