about those sticks? poles? at the lower left. And old fenceline? No-longer-producing fruit trees that have been strangely pruned? Very interesting. As for that litter of stories -- isn't it just the truth? I can just see you making your way down the road with your tote sack and picker-upper, thinking, "I don't have a clue what this means, but I'll pick it up, take it home and sort it out later." The sticks are indeed lopped-off trees. Tart cherry trees reach the end of their productive lives at about 25 years. Cherry farmers regularly replace whole blocks of trees with new ones, and then wait five years for the new trees to get established, and another 5-7 years for them to grow to peak production. After 10-12 years of peak production the decline begins, and they start all over again. Farmers have to take a long view. The trees in the cherry orchard next to the house are nowhere near as old as the house is. But there has quite possibly been an orchard there for 100 years. Another thing I should find out. Freedom: Verse I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.