The dogs hate being left alone in the house when we work outdoors. When I have a stationary project, I bring them along to lounge in the shade. Croc, my big boy, tries to put his leash on by himself if I’m a little slow.

This ragged stump is all that remains of a stately pine. When we moved here forty years ago, it was part of a thick stand. We cleared quite a few out for a lawn and garden but I was partial to this one.

I hung one end of my hammock on it. My children played in its shade, It survived tornado damage but was eventually done in by lightning. We planned to fell it but before we could, red-headed woodpeckers set up housekeeping in it.

The time was never right to remove it as they built nests all up and down its length. We loved the woodpeckers so we left it.

Finally, the wind blew it down before the nesting season. About thirty woodpecker nests lined with white dog hair stretched along its length. The woodpeckers abandoned their wrecked home to set up housekeeping in a neighbor’s snag across the road. We hear but never see them.

We built the flagstone patio and incorporated the stump into the landscaping. Last year, ants made it their home. I couldn’t tolerate the ants, so that’s another story. This sad bit is all that’s left.

Today, I drilled numerous holes in my old friend, filled them with earth and flower seeds. I’m in hopes we will enjoy another season together.