A great day

The Sasquatch-like creature is me, doing what I do at the fruit-tree sale - lumber about, wrapping and hefting trees to the waiting cars of customers. Sunday's sales were steady but modest, which suited me fine, as I had many chances to talk with people. I met some lovely folk. During the morning, a woman asked me, 'Who made the paper Yoda?'. I was flummoxed, as I'd never have picked her as a follower of my blog, but yes, she said, she's a regular reader, a 'lurker' even. I was more than a little proud to hear that such a fine woman was reading my witterings here. You just never know, I said to myself. Shortly after this revelation, I was entertained, hugely, by the arrival of an elderly man, 97 years of age and sharp as a tack, who declared that he would take 6 apple trees please, and he would plant them in the middle of the lawn at the rest home he stayed at! His daughter did all she could to dampen his enthusiasm (We haven't asked the rest-home owners! They like rhododendrons!) He was not deterred, and pushed his walking frame around the interior of the shop, declaring that he'd like a bag of these apples please and another of mandarins if I wouldn't mind choosing them for me. He was a riot and I decided there and then to be just like him when I hit my nineties - irrepressible! He and she left with a couple of trees, destined for I'm not sure where, but I expect he'll be back next year. I'll have his trees pre-packed and waiting for him. Later, I was called out to a rural property where the young couple were planting their first apple trees and wanted help with the placing and pruning. I'd taught the young man when he was a 10 year-old and the change in his world-view was a pleasure to see. Everyone, it seems, is putting in an orchard these days. I'm really happy to be part of that movement. Near the end of the day, my friend Norman arrived to harvest willow withies from the basket willows I have planted in the community orchard behind the fire-station. We talked greenmen and the day was complete. A great day with the prospect of another one tomorrow! Yay!