The email this morning from Kate was a blessing in the form of an amazing wondrous gift, in dark clouds boiling in a dark sky, where heavy rains fell.
I enjoy the walk back to the house from taking care of our two silly hens
The winter light seems to give a glow to our home
Even when the sun is not shining, with snow clouds brooding, the sky is filled with delightful winter birds
The dying day still has echos of warmth glowing from inside to out
Even after the biting wind and great gusts of pelting snowflakes leave the air brittle and full of ice; the calmness and quietude glimmers in the air.
From my very cold, (but not much snow) world, to your heart,
Linda
Held captive as a HUGE Heart
Terry freed it to become TWO hearts made of pine.
I have moved them to my Heart garden where their brilliance will burst forth; caressing the plants and our souls.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
Chapter Six
After my horrible scare.
And a long, long, long nap in the house.
I decided it was time to get busy on the farm.
I meowed at the door until Mom came and let me out.
Then I headed to the corrals.
Mice…Yum. I need to find mice.
So, I searched here and there and everywhere.
Shoot.
Nothing.
Hummm
But there ARE birds!
BIRDS!
I have to be careful because, if MOM FINDS OUT she will yell at me.
I have to be very, very, sneaky…
S.n.e.a.k.y—-
“Mindy! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Mom yelled at me.
When Mom yelled all the birds flew off.
Mom left and went into the house and left me outside. Well, to be honest, I didn’t want to go inside.
I — and it’s cold.
Oh. This feels nice. Sunshine on the garage door.
Purrrrrr I’ll hang out here for a while.
PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Just as I was about to slip into a deep, deep sleep
“MINDY! WAKE-UP!”
My eyes jerked awake, but my mind didn’t.
I saw a squirrel, no I saw TWO squirrels.
Once I realized I saw TWO squirrels my mind woke-up.
“Stewart, Stanley, what’s up?”
“Come to the woodpile and play with us,” Stewart exclaimed.
“Boomer isn’t here,
but you are –let’s go scamper all over the woodpile together. Don’t you think it’s time you had fun instead of always patrolling the farmyard?” Stanley asked me.
I pondered for a spell, a little spell.
“YES! Let’s go.” I replied.
Off we went, around the corner of the barn, passed the fenced off equipment, (to keep the cows from rubbing on them), and On to the WOOD PILE.
We ran, we jumped, we hid and then chased each other…up down, under around.
We were just getting a tad tired when DAD showed up.
Scram! The squirrel brothers were gone!
I also scrammed running toward Dad so I could get a pet or two.
Purrrr, roll in the dirt, purr, happiness.
The farm has a peaceful feeling. The cows calmly feeding
The early morning sky gradually drying the glistening frost
The only true sounds which MIGHT be cacophonous — the large winter birds in the sky
I, actually, love hearing them calling to each other — I always call to them myself, inviting them to stay with us. They would be safe here. The cows would protect them.
They are beams of brilliant color and sounds rippling through the air
Peaceful…the light dwindling into a dim afterglow
A secret formula of magic spoken to us from God
From my world to your heart,
Linda
I had just locked the gate —the one which keeps the cows on their side of the fence
Following Terry in the pick-up with our last load of cut firewood for the day,
When, I looked down, did a double-take, took out my camera
For I had found another, wee gift from the earth.
No, it was not an Elf Bolt, nor a snake stone,
Nor was it a wraith stone (The Wraith Stone is an ancient artifact that was discovered by Amanda Evert. It was used by her to save her life when she was trapped inside a tomb in Paraíso, .— Raiders of the Lost Ark)
Nor was it an Eagle Stone
My heart was beating fast…I flipped it over it stayed a heart.
A wonderful jolt of love from the Earth to me and to you.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
As we moved through the pile of logs, cutting, loading cutting, rolling the big ones out the way
So we could split them. I noticed (when I took off that Aspen log sitting on top of that HUGE pine stump)
That it was a HEART!
Terry said he would cut it into manageable pieces —-two for sure, maybe three
After which, I will load up and haul to my gardens where it will grace our yard through the long and bitterly cold winter, into the thick and lush Spring and Summer and its elegance will enhance the brilliant Autumn days.
A Heart Log!
A special gift!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Remember this?
Three times a day—once in the morning
Two times in the afternoon
We cut
Split
Stack
Cut
Haul from the pile to the pile
It’s starting to go down.
And we have help!
(2/3s to go. A little bit every day. Until done.)
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The day was sliding toward evening when I saw this amazing gift.
A hawk flying over-head its shadow gifted on the shed door!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Chapter Five
I am terrified of owls. Terrified! I don’t like hawks, I don’t like crows, or ravens, and the over-head fan in the house, when it comes on
OWLS I AM BEYOND SCARED.
Mom wonders if it is because I was attacked one — by an owl.
See my lip?
I wasn’t born this way. It is NOT a natural hair lip. Mom even asked the vet and she agreed that I have a huge hurt on my lip. And I wasn’t born with it.
I would tell them if I could, but of course, the people can’t understand cat.
Mom doesn’t know when it happened, or how old I was when it happened because by the time I decided to live with Mom and Dad I was between 4-5 years old and the hurt had long healed.
But I can tell you…. I was a young cat. Merrily going about my everyday life in the wilds, when I was almost snatched up by and Owl; dinner I was supposed to be.
As for how my lip was torn, I can’t say. The whole thing was terribly frightening and scary and it all hurt—-later, when I was back in my hidey-hole the pain was terrible.
I have scars on my back and on my tummy, which fit perfectly with claws. Yes, they do!
They are faded now, but there are little ridges when the scars healed; a reminder of GETTING AWAY!
Mom says it must have happened just as I was leaving my hidey-hole. Mom and Dad have to let me stand and stare and stare and stare outside before I feel safe to go outside.
I look this and then that, then up and I try to peer under everything BEFORE I step one foot outside.
Mom and Dad are RIGHT!
I dash back inside the same way…very carefully! Entrances are danger zones!
I went merrily out of my hidey-hole on my way to get a drink of water and maybe a mouse or two.
It was just starting to get grey outside, grey as in light, when very silently, very suddenly I was grabbed up, lifted high in the sky. I started screaming and clawing and wiggling with all my might.
I must have worked because I fell. Down, down, down (even today I don’t like being picked up and flung onto a shoulder).
I landed in the brush; in a world, I didn’t know. I hurt all over, my mouth was bleeding and the pain was unreal.
It took me a long time to drag myself into a safe spot. Then it took me a long time to get to the place I could go get water. After that, it took me an even longer time to get to the place where I could catch a mouse or two.
By the time I figured out the new area I lived in I figured out MOM and DAD lived close by.
Now you know why I am so afraid of OWLS.
So, I waited in the canal. I could still hear that Owl…” Hey, cat! Come on out. I just want to know about Boomer. I’m Ruth, I won’t hurt you. Just tell me about Boomer.”
NO WAY! If I talk to the owl she will know where I am.
“MINDY! KITTY-KITTY-KITTY.”
MOM! Mom is outside. I will with all my might for Mom to come over to the canal.
COME HERE, MOM! COME HERE! I don’t dare leave or make a sound because RUTH is in the old Willow tree.
“MINDY!”
I hear Mom’s footsteps getting closer.
Suddenly I see through the dry grass I’m hiding in, the big grey owls rise up off the branches of the old Willow tree and silently fly into the sky toward the Upper End.
MOM! I bound out of the canal
and run toward Mom.
Mom reaches down and picks me up for a wonderful safe cuddle.
Oh, Mom. I Love you. I purr. You are a lifesaver.
Then I squirm forcing Mom to put me down.
I’m so happy I give myself a big roll in the dirt.
Off I go…I have things to do and
A MOUSE to eat!
Life on a Colorado Farm 