On the way to do the early morning chores,
The soothing, serene, and eternal
Waking of the sun lifts hearts, minds, and souls; leaving me feeling light-headed and possibly able to float in the glided gossamer air.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
Cranes lifting up, flying high into that glorious sunlight of a winter sky
While snow clouds hover over Grand Mesa, lighthearted sunbeams light up our fence line
Then clouds, thick and heavy settle down, suddenly pushing through a ragged-edged cloud a burst of merry sunshine — with Mindy Cat on top of the woodpile
The evening sun bounced and stuttered between the buildings…seeping, carefully and sparkling onto the woodpile and the fence beyond.
Everything suspended in a Moment of Magic.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
During the night, one-day last week, the snow arrived
Not lots and lots of snow,
But enough snow, the ground was frozen
And pleasant to take a wild run about.
Fun!
Perfect!
The gifts of clean air, fresh snow, who could ask for more?
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
(The Bridge into our farmyard)
It’s there, a wee tiny hint of Spring
The sunlight breaking through the trees, the ground starting to dry more and more
Coyote hunters walking on soil instead of mud
Then a wee slide back to small and light snow
Where the earth is blessed with moisture
Then warmth, creating mud again
Still cold enough I wear socks with my flip-flops
Winter on the bridge to our farm
After a chilly, but drying wind, on a day of sunshine
From this
To this
To this.
Spring is coming.
Yes, it is.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
LOOK!
There in the crowded little bird cafe…enjoying a tiny little feast
Twisting this way and that on the treat feeder….a darling little woodpecker!
I think it is a Downy Woodpecker.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Chapter Twelve
There is a sadness Mom and I feel,
each and every day.
Sometimes one of us thinks we see
Boomer Beaglie Brown, but alas he is not there.
Although, I know something Mom really doesn’t know.
Boomer isn’t very far away.
Mom said she wonders if we animals live with the gift of ‘seeing’ and ‘knowing’ the other side.
Because of that knowing it isn’t so very hard for us to slip on over,
although, having to leave our furry bodies can be a tad rough.
Outside, where I truly like to live, it is still winter.
Some days the sun warms everything up nicely, somedays the heavy snow takes the joy from the warm.
Mice are still abundant. Mice are my favorite food. They never really seem to become sparse, although I do work at keeping them thinned out.
The coyotes are terribly brave. They come yipping and yapping in the yard, running down the farm road, they know our farm is just air and darkness, at night.
They know we are dog-less.
I weary of the coyotes, as does Mom.
Still, Life Goes On, the wind continues to blow, sometimes soft, sometimes a gale.
The moonlight filters through the tree branches, making the shadows look like cobwebs.
I feel and know that Boomer is here. Maybe not all the time, maybe not as much as he once was, for sure not like he was before he passed over the Rainbow Bridge, but still here.
Boomer, Mom, and I love you. We really do. Thank you for coming to help me. Your rare gifts of protection have been proof that you are here.
Thank you, my beagle dog-friend.
Thank you.
(Shamelessly stolen off the internet)
Mindy Min-Min Brown
February 4, 2021
There is often more gifts in nature than we realize
Shooting stars are a gift…a flash of light, with a shower of sparks
So is the dim winter sun lighting up the beauty of a little collared-dove
Or to watch the flight of a bird being lit up by bright snowy clouds
Suddenly seeing a hawk flying low over the woodpile
Or to hear the call of the Sandhill Cranes as they wing over the farmyard
Or that flash of red on a Red-winged Blackbird
Lending brightness to a grey sort of day
Hearing an enchanting song
Even in the snow, there is a delight
Full of light, wonder, and song
No matter what is going on in your life…there are always moments of awe.
What a gift.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
We have been clearing the pasture of old and dead tree stumps and branches.
Where we saw a sundog in the early, early morning sky
Shared the farm with the masses and masses of Sandhill Cranes (YAY)
Quail, a large Jack Rabbit (of whom I didn’t get a photo), and mice.
But, one of the neat things the fire gave us
Was a Heart Rock. So hot I had to lift it carefully, with the rake, and place it in a snowbank to cool down.
A heart from the fire!
How neat is that?!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm
Linda
Even in the middle of winter
There is always so much to do.
Just ask T’Ata and Glory B…
Scattering Sandhill Cranes is just ONE of those fun things to do. 🙂
Your friend on western Colorado farm,
Linda
There, just over-head…
Those marvelous pieces of vapor
Breaking up the melancholy feel
Of a bleak winter’s day.
Clouds…just a joyous as a sky full of birds!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
