Farm Life, Vol. 1

When farm life is overwhelming, the practice of taking photos helps me to notice beauty and fight back against the urge to throw my hands up in defeat.  Here are a few of the good ones.





Popular posts from this blog

A Season of Grief and Loss

Image
A savage storm blew through and left the cottonwood tree upside down, uprooted, and now it lies in a tangled heap. Our minds cannot comprehend the scale of this loss,  how it can happen - something so strong, sturdy and lovely is now simply - gone? This object of contemplation, perch for innumerable birds and critters -     those that make it a home and       those just passing through, companion for morning coffee and       Sunday afternoon strolls,     landmark and compass, And now - gone? The storm of cancer blew through and left its own devastation, lives turned upside down, now lying in a tangled heap. Our minds cannot comprehend the scale of the loss, how it can happen - someone so beautiful, kind and open-hearted is now simply - gone? This wife, mother, daughter, and  friend to so many -     who loved shared laugher and     the warmth of family, of home, companion for midmorning tea and ...
Read more

Summer Memories

My daughter is running, skirt and hair flying, arms pumping, bursting in the door to proclaim the good news: Mom! A zucchini! I follow her outside, unable to resist her joy. She picks up a stick and gently, reverently, moves the giant leaves aside to point at her discovery. There it is: a smooth, green, baby zucchini, beautiful and full of potential, quietly astonishing. We admire together, and share the delight of noticing this good fruit.
Read more

Winter Weary

Image
Proof that there is beauty here, too. In the last week or so, I have felt it... the prickle of the beginning of a yearning for spring. It varies, year-to-year, when this hits. Sometimes, I can make it all the way through to February, especially if the sun shines on sparkly snow and I regularly go out snowshoeing and I have lots of good books to read.  But, this year, so far, it has often been gray and cold and windy, and we were sick through Christmas, and I slipped on the ice this morning. So when that first seed catalog hit my mailbox, my optimistic "enjoy every season" discipline slipped, and for a moment, I allowed myself to imagine the summertime garden and warm sun on my shoulders. Big Mistake. Each year, regardless of when it starts, the longing slowly increases. My mind wanders to green things growing, barn swallows returning, and goats munching on weeds. I start to think of the shovel in my hands, the smell of spring dirt, the taste of snap peas. The wish for spring ...
Read more