4th May 25
No Olive Branch from Me
It seems like the work on our patio has been going on for forever. It is really coming together now though, and it’s not long until completion.
Most of the tiles are down, the water feature is in and all the trees have been planted. I especially have loved the trees. We must have at least eight trees of different varieties, three of which are olive trees. It has given a real Mediterranean feel to the garden now.
Yesterday someone noticed that one of the olive trees had been pruned and at least half of the branches were on the floor. We went to investigate, baffled at how this happened to only realise that it was the dog.
We have never seen her climb trees before but we eventually figured out that she was trying to catch a bird.
I have to admit that I was really upset seeing the contents of the tree on the floor. I think the dog was too as she was definitely in the dog house.
As I stood there looking at those scattered branches all I could feel was loss, loss of how it was, how it was meant to be.
I eventually realised it wasn’t gone – it’s just changed. Life does that. It surprises us, messes with our plans, knocks things off course.
And yet, in the mess, there’s always a chance to begin again to grow again, to tend to what’s been damaged, to nurture what remains, and to trust that growth often happens in the most unexpected ways. I think the broken branches are just part of the story – not the end of it.
I’m sure one day we will laugh about it, but for now there is no olive branch given to the dog even though we literally have lots to give her!
