Farm Elementals

                                                           FARM  ELEMENTS

                                                        Fire, Water, Earth and Sky

                                                                     WATER

Every now and then nature reminds us 'who's in charge'.  She re~schools us in the concept of  'balance'. All things in proportion are best.  She nudges us (or if you know NCIS? she gives us a Gibbs/DiNozzo head slap, lol)  Lest we forget, that no matter how clever we are, no matter what science or tech at our disposal, SHE controls the deciding vote, the 51% ownership. SHE is the one who calls the shots. SHE gives life SHE denies life. SHE is the one who must be obeyed.  Killing snow in April, Killing frost in May, Killing drought in June and July.  She's reduced me to turning the water off while brushing my teeth ~ a farm water well survival skill.  She's prodded me into using dish pans (one to wash, one to rinse) which in turn allows for more water for laundry (a task carefully thought out and planned in drought, lol).  Happily this farm has a small creek that flows all year, even in harsh drought. Not helpful for drinking and cooking, but sustaining for plants, animals. Hand carrying/distributing water for any need is (I suspect) how Advil came to be invented, roflmao.  Rain barrels also are a marvel of 'found' extra water (tho only if it rains!)

* If ever you seek a farm strive for good source(s) of all manner of water ~ for people plant & animal*

It seems that today, for whatever reason, SHE decided we'd been sufficiently reminded and gave us rain - it began in the night and has lasted thus far all day - rain, glorious & wet, ever disappearing into the land as fast as it falls.  I may throw caution to the wind and run the water the entire time I brush my teeth and wash my hair tonite  :-)  Even as I considered such behaviors I do believe I heard HER say, "remember who's got the power here"!  and then she laughed and added 'just sayin'...

What Matters Most Is The Attempt ~ Success Is A Bonus



Along The Edge Of The Original Cattle Pasture 

"It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how a strong man stumbled, or the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

“He stood breathing, and the more he breathed the land in, the more he was filled up with all the details of the land. He was not empty. There was more than enough here to fill him.

There would always be more than enough.” 

Ray Bradbury 

July Speaks

January brings the promise of a clean slate
February asks for patience and strength

March mocks

April sends hope

May sings

June lights the fields with fireflies

July

July speaks with the full authority of Summer

July is the steady rumble of the tractor in the fields and pastures.
July hums with clanking of equipment following behind the old gray Ford
whirring  behind the power take-off, gathering the first of the season.

July is strength, power. Sun which dries the laundry even as I pin it to the line.

July is the author of  beloved cicada song.

July is the undeniable force which sends me to the porch (often)

for a moment of respite from the sun, the heat.
July sees all life great and small, pausing for a bit of rest amid her stunning power.

July, almost haughty in her intensity, speaks boldly and will not stand down for anyone.

She is the Summer month one must obey....

I both respect and admire her power.

Image and text copyright FIDF 2012



You Never Know

What will stroll by at the farmhouse! lol

I was out weeding when I caught movement
on my little road from the corner of my eye.

Out came the camera to capture

and share with you my not-very-old

out for a stroll (and a bit of fresh grass munching)

visitor

He/she was not the least bit bothered by me
or my camera. I just missed a great shot of her

looking at my pile of weeds as tho she were

asking

"if you're not going to eat those my I have them"? lol

I think with a bit of a coax she would have come over

to much on the freshly pulled pile of weeds and deadheaded bits.
Tho truth be told I wouldn't want her to become
to human friendly. That would be bad for

him/her come hunt season and I suspect bad

for me and my flowers/garden all season roflmao

This weekend is long ~  overflowing with opportunities to enjoy the simple contentments
of life...

Perhaps a stroll down a quiet lane?

It may be you prefer a concert in the open?
Or a PARADE!

Or a visit with family or friends in their home or yours?

Endless possibilities to create memories....

~ ~ ~

Whatever you do, wherever you go

setting the politics of war aside
take a moment to respect and honor
the service and sacrifice 

of those past and present in the military who serve
combat, medic, ancillary support, news core

Each and every serving in great danger

all serving away from family, friends, home

all serving while we enjoy this long weekend

Take a moment to honor
those who will return home heart heavy

from what they have seen

those who have and will return injured, bodies broken

Most of all spend a moment to honor those who

will never

return at all

Never

Much there is to celebrate, enjoy, honor, ponder
On MEMORIAL DAY weekend

Magic

Oh!

Can you hear them?!

My croaking minstrels of the pond & stream

have begun their twilight concert

Look at the picture above,
look down one of the roads of my beloved farm

close your eyes and imagine you are here with me
on the long porch, rocking gently in a tired

but lovingly repainted chair

Feel the cool glass, ice quietly melting, in your hand
Breathe deeply as the gentle nearly-night-breeze moves by us

Smile, as one by one the water minstrels

Sing their magical melodies

To you
To me

To each other

To anyone who pauses to listen

Sometimes
the world is calm
Sometimes life

IS

perfect

 

One of the things I've been working on.....

Only a tease of a hint of just one of many things

happening this week!
I know, I know, mean eh? lol

Snippets Of The Days....

Some Random Pictures

I honestly don't know how I survived
(or how many beautiful moments I missed)

before digital photography!

I began taking pictures seriously when:
tripods & high speed film (no 'action' setting lol) prevented blurs.
When light meters were essential
When bad photos on printed paper elicited a a sad sigh of 'oh well'.

When there was no such thing as 'overnight/while you wait' developing.
No personal photo editing - that was for professional photographers
(and how I envied them - limited by todays standards - but still....)

I remember the absolute magic of Polaroid
(raise your hand if you remember the swinger camera?!)

I fell in love with 'freezing time' in photos back when new cameras

had flashbars bars of flashbulbs - and oh gosh, remember flash CUBES?

I confess, I fell under the magical spell of photography long ago. 

So I am giddy at the volume and beauty, the quality and quantity of pictures
I can now capture without having to sell blood to pay for the film & processing.

You can easily imagine, I have far too many photos, gleefully capturing

images by the thousands. Weeks of time disappear to editing and such.

I do my best to resist over-exposing (hey a photography pun, lol) you
to my obsession with pictures, really, I do

But these moments, views, memories~captured are a significant part of me
so they weave their way into posts and at times are the post itself...
I hope you enjoy them!