Double or Nothing...

Dark Harbor, 1943, N. C. Wyeth

"Drop one, drop one"

They chanted 

In their outside voices

The leader held them back

With wings and words

"Fishermen always share

Learn patience"

For Magpie Tales

Shock and Awe

VISIT MAGPIE TALES

Starry Night by Alex Ruiz 

Mag 234

His brush dry

Standing small

Viewing Creation's glory

The canvas remained blank

The artist knew

He could never compete

I'm Totally Confused Now

Which door would you choose?

My concern is what the next person chooses

while I'm in there.

"What We Think...

we become".   Buddha

"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be." - Karen Ravn

Bonnie's New Toy

Having fun in the old cat tails 

Bonnie and Squiggs look for treasures.

Bonnie found it first.

I have no ideal what the turtle autopsy report was

but we know it died.

Bonnie had to work on carrying it correctly.

Finally figured out the best way to keep her treasure close.

Absolutely no way anyone is getting this prize.

Ki-Anne tried to convince her to give it up.

Nope, ain't gonna happen!

It's mine and I'm keeping it.

It smells really good.

Walking With Dogs...

A walk, a walk, a walk!!!!

I can hunt in the cat tails

I love chasing frogs .

I like the smell of rotten things.

Run, play!!!

Last one there's a rotten egg.

I'm winning!

Can't you smell that?

Mmmmm.

And then she shakes 

and morphs into the spring creek monster.

We all head home again

The home scene looks the same as it has for a hundred years.

Bonnie will sleep good tonight.

Hoping...

the dogs can read.

'Membering

has always been a custom but never called that except in the poignant scene in an old movie "Beyond Thunderdome".  This scene shows Mad Max being saved by a group of children, survivors of a plane crash living in a desert oasis.  The memories were kept by having a nightly "tell" of what they 'membered from their past and what was to come in the future.  The adults left to get help and never returned. Savannah said they must 'member and began the tradition of  "tells" each night so no one would forget how they came to be.

This scene stuck with me through the years, in my opinion, the only really memorable part of this movie.  I saw the similarities to the tales of elders of all nationalities and tribes who pass down stories and keep them alive by "tells" to the children.

Myths, legends and truths are passed down this way so we can 'member.  The past is important to help us with our future.  We must continue our "tells" to assure our children and their children know from whence they came...and in those grains of truth may they find what they need to secure a future in this ever changing world.

Reconnecting

With only a promise of rain the ground dries quickly in the summer temperatures we have now.  I hear thunder but only see drops of rain.  I know this is normal but the unusually cool temperatures have spoiled me.

Signs of fall are already showing with the lack of rain.  The ponds no longer run over and the creek moves slowly.

Leaving my shoes behind...why doesn't that surprise you?  I followed the dogs as they stirred up the creek.  I like to be barefooted.  I may sound crazy but it seems like I can feel the Earth's pulse through the soles of my feet.

I go where I always go in my mind when I view this valley.  I rewind at least two hundred years and maybe two thousand plus.  I view the gift of the valley with ancient eyes.

The Heal All is dried.  

I like to think even in death it can heal.

I feel the energy, the life of the valley.

My feet are refreshed as my body seems more balanced.

I like to see the valley like it once was and is now.   Elderberries grow along the creek teeming with crawdads, either would be an easy meal if I wanted.  I imagine natives gathering food and hear the laughter of children in the creek of summer.  

The Ironweed grows tall and is almost ready to harvest.  The natives used this plant as a pain killer.  I admire the beauty and wish I knew the purpose of all the plants. I'm positive the Creator made them all useful.

My feet tell me I am grounded

and centered

as I dig my toes deep into the sand.

I empty my pockets and leave chips I've found from past residents.  I put on my shoes but do not lose my connection with the land.  May I leave it better than I found it.  May the land always nourish and protect us. I turn toward home and glance at the sky holding sounds of distant thunder.  I begin to pray for rain.

Horses...

have a way of showing up

even when I'm cleaning brushes.

I'm guessing

they always will.

Footwear...

is as varied as my hats

My, oh, S**t, the valley's flooding boots

My Ariats going to build a tree stand with Hubby

Also known as my

"what the hell am I doing on the roof?" boots

My new boots testing the creek

My bare feet

after I gave up on these.

Socks and flip flops...I think it was winter

My long-lived boots with repairs

My retired boots

Extra new boots just in case

Fixing culvert boots

Snow boots.

My footwear varies job to job, not always appropriate for the job but they work as we continue to work At The Farm.

Looking For Direction

I am not a writer but I've love answering the challenge of prompts.  Maybe because they have structure and guidelines like a school assignment. I did love the structure of a class room.

At Poets United: I Wish I'd Written This I had an epiphany after reading a Charles Bukowski poem.  I realized sometimes I force my writing, rarely with good results but mostly I would write an uninspired jumble of words that sometimes made sense and sometimes rhymed.  Many were pieces I had thrown together for the guidelines and not something I felt from the heart. People left kind comments and encouraged me to continue to write by complimenting my deep messages there merely by accident.

I may simply be an example of an Insecure Writer but I don't think so. Unless my writing is like Bukowski said  "...when it is truly time, and if you have been chosen, it will do it by itself and it will keep on doing it until you die or it dies in you."  I have had those moments but not every time I write.

So I continue from here and see what happens.

Sweet Williams

grow along the fence.

One special sweet Williams grows in my heart.

Today is his 63rd birthday.

He's had three special dogs in his life

and

one wife.

Those who know me also know how close I came to losing this irritating, funny, lovable man.  I am thankful for not losing him most days.  The tractor has been a toy and a life saver since Hubby's abilities are limited.  

We still manage to laugh even in the worst of times.  Forty-two years of living hell joyous partnership have been the death of me my reward and my pleasure.

I hope I die first because I wouldn't know how to drive the tractor live without you.

Happy Birthday, honey, hope there's a hundred more!

You Only Thing You Can Count On

is things will change.

They were beauties and they served us well.  Sold them all, every one.  It is bittersweet.  Hubby's dream of raising cattle was born years ago.  He lived his dream and like my horses, that dream ends, too.

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

Shall I change my blog name since we officially are no longer "farming"?

The land will feed the wildlife.  We will continue to care for the land but hopefully at a more leisurely pace.

I imagine we will celebrate come winter but now it's bittersweet.