As we are taking in turn a tiny axe to a handsome pine tree that threatens to mess up our view from the terrace, she chuckles to herself: “Contact with nature.”

Addendum (November 29, 2018)

Felling that pine tree just below my garden wall was an amazing feat, indeed. And my beloved and I wielded that axe with surprising skill. Tiny as it was, it was also quite sharp. It took us about an hour to finish the job. We took some care to ensure that the tree would fall to a spot where it could be sawed into pieces and carted away with ease. Zvonko Tarandek’s sons, who took care of my garden at the time, completed the job a few days later (“Two Cypresses,” December 16, 2004). The view from the terrace was free from obstructions at last. Returning to my beloved and I, the memory of the felling is still dear to both of us. In spite of our almost ridiculous tool, we performed very well. The pine tree was on the thick side, but it had no chance with us two. And we were no less than jubilant when it finally came down. Contact with nature for true.