home is where the heart is

We just made it back from the upper-midwest, home of very deep, very black topsoil.  It just isn't as beautiful as Vermont.  I think it's mostly because of all the people- not that I think people are ugly.  There are an awful lot of shopping centers.  And as far as the wonderful deep soil with no stones--I transplanted one bush only in the last week and it was in a rock pile and I didn't have my spade. We saw several sandhill cranes which are one of my favorite birds