Getting the Stumps Out of the Yard

One defining feature of our property would have to be the tree stumps. Not just one or two here and there, but over 40. And the majority of them can be found smack dab in the middle of the yard.

We have no idea why so many trees were cut down. Storm damage cleanup, a need for firewood, a general dislike of shade, who knows? Even more of a mystery is why anyone would leave the stumps there, and take the time to mow around them like treasured lawn ornaments.

Anyway, our game plan is to remove them as time allows, and eventually smooth it all out. Other projects are much closer to the top of the priority list, so it’s slow going. (I think the current count is up to 6 after a couple months.)

When we first moved here, Calvin was super gung-ho about dealing with all the stumps. I thought it could be nice someday, down the road, but honestly didn’t care that much. After a few weeks, I barely even noticed them. But when Calvin actually started digging them out, I changed my mind. It made such a positive difference in the look and feel of the yard.

I feel like that’s a dynamic that’s always been present in our marriage. I’m the one who’s more willing to adapt to a situation and accept things as they are. Calvin, on the other hand, sees a bigger picture, and shows me how something good could be great. He did it when we renovated our last house- I would have only painted instead of tearing down plaster and moving walls. Then he encouraged me to start blogging- I didn’t think I could ever do it. And of course he did it when we moved our family to Tennessee– we could have just stayed in New York, but he showed me how much better things would be if we didn’t choose the easier option.

I hope you can find someone in your life who will do the same for you. Someone who will show you what your yard could look like without the stumps.

And if the process of change is as slow and muddy as pulling stumps, I hope you can have fun playing in the dirt in the meantime.

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