Plant Payment

I lost heart with our little cottage in the country. The raids, the sabotage, the robbery were too much. But just at the same time, others became enthusiastic about the place. Recently I gave a niece (pictured) the use of a small cabin by the river on a mound. Informally, we have said that payment for the use of the cottage or the (two) cabins is planting a tree -- or donating one. Son M suggested that we make this "the deal": if you stay there, bring a tree, and plant it. Here, my niece and friend have just been with son M to buy a pecan nut tree, and a macadamia tree. Until now, the plot has been full of poplar trees and blackwood trees. OBSERVATION: We discovered that there are "veins" under the plot, so even in the baking summer heat, the ground is moist beneath.