old homesteads

Many years ago when we first moved to our place in the country there were still many old overgrown homesteads scattered across the countryside. On weekends we would hike to them and hunt for old bottles or other evidence of the former residents. One of these places was the "Rout Place", and the walk there seemed rather long because it was through fields and woods, and there were gates to open and close. The old pear tree stood witness to the old site. In our youthful enthusiasm we carried bags of green pears home only to find they were as hard as rocks and therefore too difficult to peel.
While walking this week I looked up to see the old pear tree in full bloom glowing across acres of pasture. The woods have been cut down, and suddenly the pear tree doesn't seem so far away. People have come and gone--houses rotted away--perimeters of pastures and places have moved back and forth--but the pear tree is still there stirring memories of long ago times and happy rambles through the woods and fields.