Maria and I went for a walk on my walking hill this afternoon, and when I came home, I sat down at my computer to write. She went outside. After an hour or two, I wondered where Maria was and I went outside to look for her.

I often wander outside shouting “Maria!” and eventually, she hears me. She is usually planting or digging up a garden, moving a bush or young tree, or out in the pasture hugging a donkey or talking to a sheep.

I heard her voice calling back to me, it was out in the pasture, but I couldn’t see her. I opened the pasture gate. I noticed that the apple tree had dead limbs and cuttings all over the ground.

I looked up and there was Maria halfway up the tree with her clippers, trimming the tree and getting it into shape. I’ve never had a wife who climbed up in trees before, it takes getting used to.

She is as agile as a monkey and fearless about climbing. She never fails to surprise or amaze me. She’d been up there for an hour or two.