Overall the beauty of the land and the structure of the old place had lots of timeless character, but without some badly needed repairs it would all fall apart. The grass had been mowed, occasionally, but everything else had been neglected due to a lack of resources. Care of the landscaping had been let go, allowing the plants to overgrow and overshadow what was important. Some of the bushes had grown too close to the house and garage, hiding the need for paint. He wondered if… maybe these chores were deemed “men’s work” and since there did not seem to be one around for awhile… he decided to mind his own business and sort out his own problems.

Since it was the beginning of summer and while the weather was good, it was agreed that he would focus on the exterior problems. James started with the overgrown bushes and trees. The hours spent weeding the flowerbeds, reshaping bushes and trees gave his mind a chance to unwind a little and let go of some mental overgrowth.

One once prominent bush was sick and dying. The mother said “Just tear it out” but he argued that “It could have a lot of life ahead if given some immediate help and nurturing”. Being a fan of the underdog, he Insisted on trying to save it and stubbornly began to do so.