020: Summer Work

It was clear nobody had lived there for a while. The paint hadn't started to peel off the walls of the house yet, but it was greying here and there, worn by the eastern wind, rain, and snow. Some of the wooden boards on the barn had fallen off, and one supporting beam had rotten and twisted during a particularly bad storm. The roof still held, but it desperately needed to be lifted and repaired. The boat house had collapsed into a pile of grey wood and moss long ago. At least the boat lay outside it. Only the chicken pen still stood, as sturdy as it had ever been.

Around, the grass lay long, flat, and brown, and in the ditches snow still piled. The strawberry field had long since been reclaimed by caraway plants, nettles, and small bushes, and the potato field was little better. Even the beds in the kitchen garden were only vague outlines.

"Seems we got our work cut out." He scratched the back of his neck, surveying the property.

I sighed and readjusted my working gloves. "Well, we have the whole summer." I offered him a small smile. "Where do you want to start?"

Written by: Katrine H.