TheBanyanTree: Magnolia Tree

[NancyIee at aol.com]

I bought a tree today.  Among a lot of other things happening. 

It started out at dawn:There was no water this morning. No coffee. Not even a 
drop or two for the birds. I check things out and find a broken water pipe 
that runs underground from the well/pump to the barn. A geyser, in fact. I 
quickly shut off the water pump and plant a shovel in the soggy mess where the 
water gushed, to mark the spot.

"We'll go out for breakfast," I said, getting a happy nod from my housemate.

On the way to the restaurant, she made a call or two and finally reached 
someone who can come and have a look at our problem, but not until late afternoon. 
We breakfast at one of those little places that has a gift shop attached.

"I hate coming here," I say, as she gathers up an armload of little gee-gaws.

"I'm getting early birthday shopping for people on my list this month and 
next." Our breakfast finally costs us $98.50, including "gifts."

We need dog food, and there's only one place nearby to get it. So, since it's 
on the way, we stop at the farm supply store and come away with ten dollars 
worth of dog food  and twenty-five dollars more of things we couldn't live 
without.

"Why do you need an apron to carry your gardening tools?" I ask. "You don't 
even garden."

"I might," she replied. "Then, I'll be glad I bought this."  She put it on, 
to show me how much she needed it for the trip home.

On the way we go past a nursery we meant to investigate but never did.

"Oh, I think they have Magnolia trees," she said.

Of course we turn around and go back. They did, indeed, have Magnolis trees. 
Nice full ones loaded with budding blooms.

"It will look so nice in the back," she said,  "where we can sit and look out 
at it."

They will have to deliver the tree, of course, since we brought the mini van 
and have no room to cart it home ourselves.

They came and delivered and planted the Magnolia. But, the water man had not 
yet come, so we hauled buckets of pond water from the pasture to water the new 
tree. We were told the bucketing is good enough for the moment, but as soon 
as the water is back on, we will need to soak the new tree down well.

The water man came and, in twenty minutes, had the broken pipe cut and 
mended. He charged me six dollars. I was still standing with my mouth open as he 
drove away. I went into the house and we stood to admire the new tree from the 
back French doors. She was still wearing the gardening apron, filled with the 
tools.

Never a dull moment.