All ya’ll know I like to be as positive as possible about this place and how much I love it. I do. Really. But you have to be committed — and probably have a trust fund — to maintain an old house.

Last month, it was an $800 plumbing bill. This month, what’s failing (except for this old body) is outside.

Two of my three beloved birches are dead from the bronze birch borer infestation and the third is half dead.

Arborist will be here tomorrow. If he recommends taking them all down, I’m going to try to convince him that the smallest redwood out back can be transplanted here.

And John will be over tomorrow too to shore up my failing alley fence.

And the ancient raised beds.

Elizabeth sent seeds from her last summer garden in Montana and I am eager to plant beets, sunflowers, and squashes in the former asparagus bed. Good soil, enriched with homemade compost.