Trees Buried With Ease

I have bragged on Zack before. I love the kid. What other teenager will hang out with two old people and their four children for hours on end? Usually seniors in high school think they're too cool for school. Not our Zack. He will come for a visit, help Max around the ranch, go out to eat with us--heck, one time he even went with us to watch the kids at swimming lessons.


After my mother so graciously donated many cottonwood trees to GG (and then we bought many extra), we needed to get them planted. We all know Max wasn't going to do it. That guy sure knows how to milk the whole "I had open heart surgery" excuse for all it's worth! We needed a Mr. Plant It guy, so I dialed up Zack. Knowing how sweet Zack is, he probably would have done the job if we simply had asked. We decided that planting 50 trees wasn't something we could expect someone to do for free. We offered him a set amount and he jumped at it. I know the first day he had to be kicking himself for agreeing to such back breaking work. Zack was lucky though. He wasn't alone. Grant ambled upon the scene. He thought planting trees looked like something that just might be a whole lot of fun. He dug right in. You know Zack had to be relieved to have such a good helper. But the help didn't stop there--Coulter and Cashton came over to assess the work load. Yep, they could help as well.

Made me smile seeing these little men enjoying hard work.

Coulter was the muscles while Cashton supervised. Brilliant in its simplicity. Zack, Max and I got to thinking about something. With all that help you got planting those trees,

We might have over paid you!

Geez, teenagers today!

Thankful Thursday

It's that time again to express a little gratitude. I think I'll take a break from the pumpkin talk. But don't you worry--I'll get back to it soon. Can you "stand" to wait? Hee hee.

Max stopped by Purple Sage Garden Center in Rio Rancho to see if they had any plants or trees that they would be willing to donate to Galloping Grace. He was told to check back. The manager, Jack, told Max that they were in the middle of doing inventory and needed to see what they could spare.
When Max talked to Jack again, Jack asked Max how many trees he wanted. "As many as you're willing to give." Was Max ever surprised when he found out the amount!

This amazing company generously donated 85 fruit trees!!! This, of course, was more than we ever imagined. Thank you Jack, Eric, and the rest of you wonderful Purple Sage People!

We know we'll be enjoying your gift for years to come.

Once again, help us in saying thanks. If you stop in at Purple Sage for any of your gardening needs, give them a big hug from Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.