Thursday...

The waters recede and even in that is beauty.  The roaring water has left a debris trail along the path of the creek.  The water begins to clear and the spring water crest is peeking through the crystal clear spring water.

This branch lies below our first spring that we do not use except to fill the creek for livestock.  This also carries the over flow from the "New" pond which is now over forty years old and the drainage from the surrounding hills.

The dogs join me...always.  They find things I can't see and share their discoveries with me.  The water is never too cold for Lil to wade.  Squiggs jumps the water if he can.

 Junior

and Ki-Anne jump wide.

Lizzy assesses the situation and find a reasonable crossing and daintily tip-toes through the shallowest water she can find.

It remains a quiet Thursday At The Farm.  I have a leak on the screen porch to repair, chimney flashing to caulk, branches to pile and washes to fill but today this moment I enjoy the abundance of water hoping it stays with us through the growing times when it's needed the most.

My crock pot croaked today while I cooked deer stew.  I finished a Greg Iles thriller. This guy's mind and talent amaze me.  As I ramble I begin to understand retirement.  It is the time you can test the water, smell the roses, read the thrillers while helping family when you are needed.  

I write down appointments for doctors on calendars for Hubby and Marcy and dental for Andrew and ignore my teeth and eyes.  The right time will come when I can do that.  Now is the time to help others who would do the same for me. Between the appointments and obligations I draw my strength from the land around me.

...and write really boring posts to share with you.

Why I'm Never Bored...

At lunch time today I watched some ants take apart a caterpillar and haul him off to their nest.  Amazing how strong and industrious these little guys are.  I wish I had a crew At The Farm that worked as hard as ants do.

That is the way my sisters and I were raised...to work hard.  I only told Mom one time, I had nothing to do.  She broke me from ever saying that again.  I was given enough chores besides my regular chores I needed an army of ants to help me.  I did learn my lesson and I am never bored. No matter where I am or what I'm doing boredom never hits me.  Because I see things a little differently.  I notice what's around me and enjoy the beauty of all of it.  If they put me in a padded room I would know the thread count by evening.

Why am I talking about boredom?  I filed my retirement papers today or rather mailed them today.  People ask me, What will you do?  That question always amazes me because I will have time, maybe, to look at fossils rocks and ants.

I will take the time to look at the birds

instead of scurrying off to work.

Maybe I will have time to paint, read, write, build fences, clear brush, clean house like it should be, play with the dogs, count the cows, catch fish and just look at all the things around.  I may even make some time for real fun like going to the lake or the river. 

Going to work gets in my way of being able to see the beauty, small and large, that is around me.  Maybe I can find time to sit on the porch with my iced tea just for a minute or two.

Now, if I can just win the lotto I will be sitting pretty!