"I like to see a man
proud of the place
in which he lives.
I like to see a
man live so that
his place will
be proud of him."
-Abraham Lincoln
Those words are written on a little plaque that I found antiquing one day and I knew I had to take it home to my husband Hack. The farm that we bought from our German neighbors in 1979 has been lovingly taken care of by this man who devotes most waking hours to improving its beauty.
We do not farm, but the land with its meadows, springs, pond, creeks and forests are a source of deep fulfillment. Land can not remain pristine without a lot of trimming, picking up branches and cutting wood for burning in the winter.
All these things keep Hack busy throughout the year. Our lawn, which once was a field for crops and then an overgrown meadow, is now the view out our front window. This lawn is irrigated and is five plus acres. It is a reminder of the green hillsides in Switzerland, Austria, southern Germany and Norway and it would be easy to picture sheep grazing there.
I see the land as Hack's legacy to his grandchildren and future great grandchildren. The grandchildren who live on the "farm" have a deep attachment to the land. Avery knows where there is a good climbing tree. Carter and Jay go to the sandy areas where they find rocks for their collections. All of them know where the best blackberries grow and the dog, just added to their family, has room to run.
We have seen many beautiful landscapes in the world, but there is something about our land in Michigan that is irreplaceable. We know we are lucky to have found a spot that rewards us with Hack's hard work and pride of place. Abraham Lincoln was right. I believe the land is as proud of the man who takes care of it, as he is of it.
proud of the place
in which he lives.
I like to see a
man live so that
his place will
be proud of him."
-Abraham Lincoln
Those words are written on a little plaque that I found antiquing one day and I knew I had to take it home to my husband Hack. The farm that we bought from our German neighbors in 1979 has been lovingly taken care of by this man who devotes most waking hours to improving its beauty.
We do not farm, but the land with its meadows, springs, pond, creeks and forests are a source of deep fulfillment. Land can not remain pristine without a lot of trimming, picking up branches and cutting wood for burning in the winter.
All these things keep Hack busy throughout the year. Our lawn, which once was a field for crops and then an overgrown meadow, is now the view out our front window. This lawn is irrigated and is five plus acres. It is a reminder of the green hillsides in Switzerland, Austria, southern Germany and Norway and it would be easy to picture sheep grazing there.
I see the land as Hack's legacy to his grandchildren and future great grandchildren. The grandchildren who live on the "farm" have a deep attachment to the land. Avery knows where there is a good climbing tree. Carter and Jay go to the sandy areas where they find rocks for their collections. All of them know where the best blackberries grow and the dog, just added to their family, has room to run.
We have seen many beautiful landscapes in the world, but there is something about our land in Michigan that is irreplaceable. We know we are lucky to have found a spot that rewards us with Hack's hard work and pride of place. Abraham Lincoln was right. I believe the land is as proud of the man who takes care of it, as he is of it.
 |
| Granddaughter Bella in the barnyard meadow under the apple blossoms this past spring. |
Granddaughter Adrianna
wading in the spring
and other scenes
around our land.
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