10/17/2026
Today, we had to say goodbye to a very special piece of history here at the farm. 🌳
One of the oldest trees on our property, a magnificent old elm, had to come down.
Over the summer, we noticed it beginning to shed leaves and limbs, and sadly, it had developed Dutch elm disease. With the tree standing quite close to the building that houses our feral cats, it was becoming a serious safety concern. As much as we hated making the decision, we knew it was time.
And what a tree it was! Nearly SIX FEET in diameter! Our farmhouse was built in 1890, and it's believed this beautiful old giant was standing here long before that.
Just think about that for a moment.
The history this tree witnessed. The generations of people who passed beneath its branches. The storms it weathered, the seasons it endured, and all the changes that took place around it.
If only trees could talk.
There's something incredibly sad about losing something that has stood so tall and strong for so long. It's more than just a tree. It's a living piece of history, and today, a little piece of that history disappeared.
We are going to keep the enormous stump and hopefully find a way to turn it into something special, a little tribute to this beautiful old giant.
And you know, I couldn't help but think about something else.
This tree stood all by itself, away from the other trees on the property. And while that certainly wasn't the cause of its disease, I found myself thinking that even trees can benefit from having neighbors.
After all, isn't that what we always say around here?
Life is better with a friend. ❤️
And even the mightiest among us can't stand forever, so today we said goodbye.
We also want to give a huge shout-out to the incredible tree service that tackled this monumental job today. Watching these individuals work was absolutely amazing! The tree was practically touching our cat building, yet they brought it down with such skill, precision, and confidence that they made an incredibly difficult job look effortless. What a talent that takes, and what bravery!
Most importantly, everyone is safe, including all of our furry residents. 🐾
So today, we're feeling a little sentimental, sad & very grateful.
Grateful for the beauty this tree gave us for so many years, grateful for the history it represented, and grateful that we were able to say goodbye before it could cause any harm.
Goodbye, beautiful old elm. 🌳
Thank you for standing watch over this little piece of the world for well over a century.
You may be gone, but your story will always be part of ours. ❤️
