We have a game called “The Farming Game” that’s meant to demonstrate the vagaries of farming. You use your money to buy equipment and invest in different types of crops: hay, grain, livestock and fruit. The fruit trees cost the most and have the fewest spots on the board, but yield the biggest profit if the dice rolls in your favor. It’s always a bit of a risk, though. You draw “Farmer’s Fate” cards as you go around the board, which can be good, but most of the time bring setbacks to your farming operation.
On our tiny little “farm” with our wee orchard of two apple trees, we just drew a severe Farmer’s Fate card: “Your Honeycrisp tree has contracted fire blight. Cut it down right away and pray it doesn’t infect your Zestar tree.” And just like that, chop-chop! It’s gone. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
So now we have to figure out what to do with that space surrounded by a lovely circle of hostas.
Bloggers fate: “Your post has contracted blog blight and will be deleted in the morning.”
Lynniebeemuseoday 
Build the commemorative “Tomb of the Unknown Apple Tree” in the middle of the hostas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The idea has merit.
LikeLike
Yikes! The dastardly “fire blight”!
Actually, I had to look it up to get the scoop on what that is. I must admit that I was relieved that it had nothing to do with fire – or fireflies, for that matter. A farmer’s life can be tough – even with a wee apple orchard. My condolences. We are planning to take down a long-dying pine tree in our front yard….always unfortunate to lose a tree. I am thinking of replacing it with a flagpole – a patriotic and low maintenance option for sure (but probably not inexpensive..).
Thought for the day:
Just like that “Farmer’s” game, there should be a “Homeowner’s” game; not sure how much fun that would be, though..!😇
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is quite dastardly! I’d never heard of it. We have a friend who runs an apple orchard and told us what it was based on the photos we showed him. I appreciate your condolences. I’m sorry to hear about your pine tree, too. A flagpole seems like a worthy replacement! The “Homeowners Game” is one we’ve been playing for almost 35 years now – mostly satisfying, but with plenty of “Homeowner’s Fate” cards being drawn over the years.
LikeLike
Oh that’s so sad about your Honeycrisp. It has served you well. I’ve never heard of fire blight. Lots of weird things going on with gardens and orchards, etc this year. Our lilac tree in the back yard has something going on. A bunch of the branches have leaves that are drying up and dying. It’s venerable done that before. I don’t think things like all this rain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d never heard of the dreaded fire blight either, but Kris had. Maybe some of these things are due to the excessive rain – could it make some plants and trees more vulnerable? Hard to know!
LikeLike
I’ve been wondering about that, too. I know the excessive rain has taken a toll on crab apple trees. After they bloomed this year their leaves shriveled up and fell off. I did read an article about that, that it was from too much moisture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing that. It makes sense that excesses in any direction will have a negative effect.
LikeLike
I’m so sorry about your tree! It’s hard to lose trees.
On a brighter note, I love The Farming Game! Hours of fun right there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always astonished when I find others who have played The Farming Game. Glad to hear your family enjoyed it as much as ours did. One of our sons ended up having a job at an apple orchard in Washington State (where the game is located) one summer while he was in college – like playing the game for real!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t run across many who play that game that I know of either. And that’s so neat about your son!
LikeLiked by 1 person