the gnomes were lonely in summer

A while back I got Luciya a plastic swing, which we hung from the large branch of our apple tree in the back yard. Child loved it.

Then, one day a few weeks ago, we came home from a quick afternoon trip. And the whole branch had fallen down. There was no warning - no creaking in the boughs, no crazy raccoon family gnawing away for days... John had actually swung like a monkey from this branch to make sure Luciya's little swing would hold.

And then it was gone.

So, naturally, we looked to the wisdom of the ancients to help us in our next step. I believe it was Confucius who said, "When life gives you fallen tree branches, make little gnome fortresses."

So, we did.