Let Nature take its Course

Some lessons your father teaches you sticks with for a life time. I recall, as a youngster, combing the mountain side with my dad as we hunted for deer. After reaching a ridge where we could see far below us, we would find a log or rock to sit on and snack on apples as we kept our eye out for any movement in the brush. As big game manager for the DWR, dad provided his family a treasure trove of experiences in nature that most children only dream of. I knew how lucky I was!

As we sat there in silence I grew aware of the awesomeness and majesty of nature. The image still vivid in my mind as I reflect back to the expression on dad's face viewing the full splendor of mountain peaks and valleys and meadows... never having to speak the words. I saw it in his face, his eyes, and demeanor. I felt it in my heart. The message of awe and respect imprinted on my soul. Dad taught his family to love and respect nature. To marvel in its beauty and recognize God's hand in all things created in the sky above and the earth beneath. He taught us to observe nature with sensitivity and to allow nature to take its course. That was a necessary part of life. 

I had one such experience in June of 2012 when I watched, with awe, a bird build a nest.. a home for her eggs... day after day, straw upon straw, feather and twigs... in our bbq grill. Such an unlikely place I thought, but I was intrigued with the effort put into building the nest. I watched.

One day I lifted the lid carefully to observe its progress and was surprised to find a beautiful miniature blue egg. Additional eggs were added over the next 4 days bringing the total to 5. The mother bird sat on her eggs day after day, only leaving her nest for nourishment.

The days turned into weeks and I knew the time had passed for the eggs to hatch. Although the grill was the ideal place to build a nest and keep it protected from predators, the sun rays beating down on the metal lid made it too hot for survival. I felt sorrow for this mother that could not give life to her babies. Nature had taken its course. A necessary part of life.

                             Inspired by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop 

Beating the Heat!

As if it weren't hot enough in the low 100's, try 122 degrees! That's what we went to from northern Utah to Las Vegas Nevada last weekend. My warrior's Change of Command, June 30, 2013, just happened to fall on the hottest day of the year. 

How did we beat the heat? 

• Air conditioner
• IV fluids... yep, that's right! I became very sick on the 500 mile trip down, and spent the first 8 hours in the hospital getting re-hydrated. I layed in bed, soaking up the good stuff. What a way to start a trip!
• Stayed indoors
• Drank lots of water
• Kept drapes closed in hotel room. A trick to make us think it was cooler than it really was! 
• Watched a resident swan and gold fish swim in clear, cool, water. Another trick to make us think we were beating the heat!

The temperature may have been soarin' hot in Las Vegas, but something much hotter was in my forecast today... my soldier!  And I didn't need a glass of water to cool me off! I totally enjoyed the heat!

Nellis Air Force Base (Hanger) - After final inspection of his troops and last remarks, my warrior graciously accepted awards for a job well done.  He then passed the flag, relinquishing his command to the in-coming commander. A reception was held in his honor and, as part of the Change of Command Ceremony, a dozen red roses were presented to me, the commander's wife. 

 It was a bittersweet day, it being his last day as Brigade Commander. So proud of him!

Writing prompt #4: Share your best way to beat the summer heat.

Waking up to...

I never set my alarm clock. An empty nester has its benefits! I am also a farmer, or rather, a farmer's wife.  I wake up with the sun. Even though I don't get up to do the work in the orchard (I leave that to the expert.. farmer D), I enjoy lying in bed listening to the sounds of early morning life on the farm. I get up when I feel like it!

I love this time of year. The weather is perfect. Late Spring, before the heat of Summer, allows us to open up the windows in the house. The sounds, sights, feel, and smells of quiet country mornings conger up several emotions... peace, freedom, joy, contentment, security, gratitude. They also trigger pleasant and happy memories of days gone by. Days of my youth.

There's nothing better or exhilarating than to feel the cool gentle breeze of the morning air, smell the fresh turned dirt in the orchard and garden, hear the first sounds of country life, and see the sun rise from behind the Wasatch Mountains and watch as it slowly filters in through the East windows of my sitting room. 

The first thing I heard this morning... the start of the the diesel engine and hum of the tractor. Farmer D got up early to cultivate in between the rows of trees. He loves a well groomed, weed free orchard. I love the sound of the tractor at work. There's just something comforting in the sound.. maybe it's like the humming, vibrating sound of a vacuum cleaner to the baby sleeping in her crib.

This morning as the sun made its way over the peak of the large and looming Wasatch Mountains, birds began their early morning chatter. Every now and again, I got a glimpse of one flying by the open window, with an image in my mind, of a worm in its beak. Babies in the nest anxiously awaiting a morning meal. 

Fresh dirt... soil, is one of the best smells I have ever smelled. As the tings of the tractor tilled up the earth, the smell filtered though the air. It easily reached the second story window in my bedroom... bringing a fresh, slightly musty scent from watering. Its odd to describe a clean dirt smell, but it awakened my sense of smell it the most delightful way. Weird, I know! But those who love the feel and smell of soil and enjoy combing their fingers through it with bare hands, while planting flowers or vegetables, will totally understand my love of dirt! 

My master bedroom is an oasis... anyway, to me. The sitting room is an extension of the bedroom. An early 1900's sofa, recovered and that I absolutely love, sits at the far end of the room. The sitting room is the very first thing I see in the morning after I look at the time. I love the long room, the space, the cozy beautiful feel. It makes me happy to see that spot first thing in the morning. The soft purple colors on the walls and in the pillows, the textured white sofa, the vintage paining on the wall, and plants on either side, make the space look and feel elegant, yet earthy. It's an inviting and enjoyable part of my master suite. The sofa sits in between two East facing windows. The sun takes awhile making its way over the peak of the mountain, but when it does, it makes a spectacular entrance in through the windows. This morning the sun's rays shone through the blinds and on the bright green leaves of the plant sitting on the end table, making them appear more vibrant than ever. With my senses aroused and my spirit renewed, I was ready to greet the morning with sunshine in my soul! 

Mornings.. Time to listen, see, smell

Sitting room

sun shine through the East window

Farmer D cultivating the orchard

Writing prompt #5: Write down the first sight, sound, smell, and sensation you experienced on waking up today. Pick the one you're most drawn to.

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Explore

I've been snowed in for awhile, and was starting to get cabin fever. So, today I went outside to get some sunshine and take in some fresh air (or rather, inversion!). The snow was picture pretty. I decided to do some exploring. Even in the freezing winter months there is always something interesting to see. And, that I did!

Looking down the driveway, I am reminded of why I love where I live. It's beautiful in any season! I love the bare branches of the cherry trees against the white blanket of snow and gray covered sky.

The snow is up to the bottom edge of the landscape light. When dusk comes and the lights turn on, the glow from the bulb underneath the snow gives off a softly hidden cast of light. It looks magical. 

I wander down the driveway a little farther. What is this? Deer tracks. Lots of them. And, it looks like they have made some beds to lay in. 

I follow the the tracks around the house.

They have even come around to the front of the house!

I trace the tracks to the orchard. The deer have come off the foot hills and mountain above our home in search of food. They won't find much here. Although, they will eat the bark off of the new trees if we don't protect them with wire cages.

More tracks and beds found on the second tier of the yard.

A broader picture

What started out as 7 discovered beds in the yard have now expanded to 15. The word must have got out! The deer are gone before I get up in the morning, so I haven't seen them firsthand. Maybe I will surprise them tonight!

I haven't seen icicles in awhile. I was happy to see them hanging from the eaves of the house. When I was young, one of my favorite things to do in the winter was to break off the biggest icicle I could find under the eaves of the house, and lick it like a popsicle. Knocking the icicles down and hearing them clang against each other as they came crashing to the ground, gave me thrill. 

After all my winter exploring, I came in the house to a warm fire and started thinking about all the exploring that awaited me in the Spring. I can't wait!

If you have ever visited southern Utah, you know you are in God's country. There are red rocks, huge canyons and gorges, rivers, caves and crevices to explore, and never ending trails to take you to places you never thought imaginable. It is home to National Parks, including Zions National Park, Bryce Canyon, the Great Escalante Staircase, the Grand Canyon, Arches, and much more. Spring Canyon, located a few miles southeast of Cedar City provides plenty of exploring opportunities. While going to school in Cedar City, my youngest daughter and her husband made the weekends into exploring trips. I went as often as I could. Exploring southern Utah is nothing short of exhilarating! 

Spring Canyon

writing prompt: Choose  a word and let it inspire a blog post. I chose #1 Explore.

Butterfly

..."one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower". 

Love the quote by Hans Christian Andersen. I know my life would be dull without color, flowers, sunshine, and freedom to create, explore and discover! I knew when we put the landscaping in, I had to have something to attract butterflies!  I love the bright purple flowers that bloom on the butterfly bush from late Spring to early Fall.