Phil and I finished transplanting the stone fruit orchard today. Isaiah helped dig holes on the first eleven, and then, after a brief break, Phil and I tackled the last eight. Joe was with us, and he clambered up on the backhoe, pushed the levers to put down the outriggers (or stabilizers, which keep the backhoe steady as it digs). He climbed down, Phil climbed up, dug, and then, when finished, Joe climbed back up and put up the outriggers.
Then he hung on tight to drive to the next spot and put the outriggers down again.
To say that he was proud of himself is hardly enough. He was thrilled, eager, focused.
To see his enormous grin over and over was incredibly precious.
So if you happen to see Joe in the near future, you might comment on his outrigger abilities. You might get that same big grin.
I had a big, if tired, grin, too. I started the final flat of bulbs. Nineteen trees transplanted, 400 bulbs planted, and several new swales cut (along with food procured, animals tended, Calvin and Hobbes read, and our every six-week laundry trip undertaken): it's been a great day.
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