The birds came back before we finished building

We stopped cutting the edge of the water. That was the first useful decision. The second was to wait. Reeds came back. Then frogs. Then the birds we had only heard from other people’s land.

There are seventy-four species on a quiet morning if you sit still and do not count twice. I do not promise the number. I promise they were not here when we poured the first floor.

Guests want a story of rescue. It is slower than that. We took less. The lake did the rest. Solar on the roof. Grey water into the garden. No speaker on the jetty.

If you come, walk the path at dusk. Do not bring a torch unless you need one. The lamps are enough.