~Sam~
09-30-2004, 10:28 PM
Sitting on the stand, milking Ebony, I was thinking of all the changes that have occured in my life since last August. There have been quite a few small and large changes in my cage, and I wonder... have I rolled with them as well as I'd have liked?
My mom and my dog have crossed over, I have critters again after a 14 year break, I'm more active out-of-doors than I ever thought I'd be again with this illness, we're landlords, And... the season is changing... again. The season of darkness fast approachs, a time for remembering and being thankful for the bounty of the earth.
I thought that I was pretty good at rolling with the changes, calm about turning the page. But the changes in my immediate neighborhood had me foaming at the mouth for a while. Now, for some unknown reason, things don't seem to bother me like did and I can't figure out just where my head was at during those recent times.
Did I grow up? Or, did I simply grow a thicker skin?
Who knows. But one thing for sure, I'm feeling an inner peace unlike any I have felt before... and it feels damned good. It's one reason that I haven't been around here so often... I've been in contact with the Earth, Kenny, my surroundings, my critters... and myself.
This weekend Kenny and I planted those 20, 7 foot spruce trees. We had a plan, and it worked out well. Two years ago I bought Ken a 12 inch earth auger for his B'day. It's probably the best present I ever got him cause we've used that auger more than any farm tool we own.
So, we hooked the auger to the tractor and made our way down the road to the backyard part of our property. We had the Miss Utility folks come out and mark where the cable was a couple of days before we went to pick the trees up with a borrowed landscaping trailer, and had also measured the 11 foot spacing between the trees and staked where we were to dig.
Kenny figured that he'd have to dig three holes per tree with the auger so that the root balls wouldn't be crowded. But we ended up having to dig four holes per tree and then shovel and hoe the loose dirt out by hand. Then we hooked a chain around the root ball of each tree and dragged it to the hole with the tractor, where we both wrestled the tree into the hole. Next came the cutting off the baling string from the ball and the tree, back filling, then watering.
We wore our old selves ragged, but it was good fun and the trees look real nice. We planted them in a staggered kind of way... no straight lines, more naturalized. I'll take a pic some day and post it.
I've been spending more time with my critters these days. Sitting out on the hill with the goats, and riding both horses. I finally got the riding jones and saddled up Raven. I'm so glad that I did because I've been afraid to do just that.
He was so well behaved that very first ride around the neighborhood. I couldn't believe how much he knows. The day before yesterday, I rode him up Sam Hill Rd. We did alright, turned around to come back down the hill and I barely managed to get him off the road before the school bus tore on by us... Raven went to bucking, and I went to yelling "Yee Ha!" Whadda ya know? I still know how to ride! My skinny little behind never left the saddle, and I was jazzed at Raven being a real horse.
Precious needed a saddle and bridle and I remembered that a friend had a fine Australian Stock Saddle for sale. It's the kind of saddle that holds you to the seat and I thought it would be perfect for Kenny to ride in. He's been afraid to get on a horse, but Precious is a perfect little lady. She's the kind of horse that you can put anybody up on... and with the saddle, I think Ken will do OK. And, I'll have a riding buddy to saddle-up with and head off down the road.
Well, I just wanted to let you know what's been going on here in the Valley. It's been peaceful, restful and renewing lately and I've been taking advantage of this little break in the normal chaos. I haven't been thinking too deeply of late either. Matter of fact, I haven't been talking a lot to anyone but the Ole Man.
This truly is a turn of the page for me. I thought that I had more to say about it, but I don't. Not yet, but I'll get around to it.
And... I wanted to let you all know that I've been thinking of you even if I haven't been around to tell you so.
Love,
Sam
My mom and my dog have crossed over, I have critters again after a 14 year break, I'm more active out-of-doors than I ever thought I'd be again with this illness, we're landlords, And... the season is changing... again. The season of darkness fast approachs, a time for remembering and being thankful for the bounty of the earth.
I thought that I was pretty good at rolling with the changes, calm about turning the page. But the changes in my immediate neighborhood had me foaming at the mouth for a while. Now, for some unknown reason, things don't seem to bother me like did and I can't figure out just where my head was at during those recent times.
Did I grow up? Or, did I simply grow a thicker skin?
Who knows. But one thing for sure, I'm feeling an inner peace unlike any I have felt before... and it feels damned good. It's one reason that I haven't been around here so often... I've been in contact with the Earth, Kenny, my surroundings, my critters... and myself.
This weekend Kenny and I planted those 20, 7 foot spruce trees. We had a plan, and it worked out well. Two years ago I bought Ken a 12 inch earth auger for his B'day. It's probably the best present I ever got him cause we've used that auger more than any farm tool we own.
So, we hooked the auger to the tractor and made our way down the road to the backyard part of our property. We had the Miss Utility folks come out and mark where the cable was a couple of days before we went to pick the trees up with a borrowed landscaping trailer, and had also measured the 11 foot spacing between the trees and staked where we were to dig.
Kenny figured that he'd have to dig three holes per tree with the auger so that the root balls wouldn't be crowded. But we ended up having to dig four holes per tree and then shovel and hoe the loose dirt out by hand. Then we hooked a chain around the root ball of each tree and dragged it to the hole with the tractor, where we both wrestled the tree into the hole. Next came the cutting off the baling string from the ball and the tree, back filling, then watering.
We wore our old selves ragged, but it was good fun and the trees look real nice. We planted them in a staggered kind of way... no straight lines, more naturalized. I'll take a pic some day and post it.
I've been spending more time with my critters these days. Sitting out on the hill with the goats, and riding both horses. I finally got the riding jones and saddled up Raven. I'm so glad that I did because I've been afraid to do just that.
He was so well behaved that very first ride around the neighborhood. I couldn't believe how much he knows. The day before yesterday, I rode him up Sam Hill Rd. We did alright, turned around to come back down the hill and I barely managed to get him off the road before the school bus tore on by us... Raven went to bucking, and I went to yelling "Yee Ha!" Whadda ya know? I still know how to ride! My skinny little behind never left the saddle, and I was jazzed at Raven being a real horse.
Precious needed a saddle and bridle and I remembered that a friend had a fine Australian Stock Saddle for sale. It's the kind of saddle that holds you to the seat and I thought it would be perfect for Kenny to ride in. He's been afraid to get on a horse, but Precious is a perfect little lady. She's the kind of horse that you can put anybody up on... and with the saddle, I think Ken will do OK. And, I'll have a riding buddy to saddle-up with and head off down the road.
Well, I just wanted to let you know what's been going on here in the Valley. It's been peaceful, restful and renewing lately and I've been taking advantage of this little break in the normal chaos. I haven't been thinking too deeply of late either. Matter of fact, I haven't been talking a lot to anyone but the Ole Man.
This truly is a turn of the page for me. I thought that I had more to say about it, but I don't. Not yet, but I'll get around to it.
And... I wanted to let you all know that I've been thinking of you even if I haven't been around to tell you so.
Love,
Sam