Bonfires

When we cut down 7 trees around the cottage we also had to pull out the stumps around the house. Our contractor that put on the porch is also a farmer. He brought his big backhoe over and pulled them out and loaded them on his big loader truck and trailer. He then took them to his farm to rot at the edge of the woods. However one was so gigantic with a mass of twisted roots that intertwined with dirt it could not be loaded. So in the middle of our yard is a big stump. Not just big, but huge. Needless to say we have had many bonfires this past year to try to burn up that stump. We have burned all the scraps that we're building with around it. We have burned all the fallen down branches from the yard on it. We have brought in a trailer load of dry scrap wood and had such a tall flaming fire it singed the tree that was nearby. It's been a year and still the stump remains a fixture in our yard. The neighbors have taken bets on how long it will be there. Some say we may as well put Christmas lights on it this winter! But... I know one thing each time that stump gets lit all the neighbors come with their lawn chairs and visit. Each talking about the stump and their day. So me, I'm thankful for that old stump as it has brought shade to the old cottage for many, many years with its green branches and its just not quiet ready to leave the old property. So it has stayed already an extra year still making conversation and memories with all the neighbors at the little cottage.