“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
― Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind
Another Day of Heavy Fog
The weather has been quite a topic of conversation lately .. most people sick of the cold and snow. And while I’m ready for spring myself, today there were just some incredibly beautiful scenes to be soaked up.
Gracie
Blanketed in Frost
Another frigid day on the plains of South Dakota brought a return of the Sun Dogs.
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We had only started to drive away from the house this morning on our way to school, when I started searching for my sunglasses. While I hate to ever complain about the sun, it was incredibly bright. It took me a moment to realize why.
Turning onto our dirt road, I glanced toward the sky and startled our 11 year old when I shouted, “The Sun Dogs are back!”
Incredible Morning Sky
While admiring the glow and the beautiful drive into town, I called the Cowboy and asked him to grab the camera and snap a few shots back at the ranch. He claims to not really know what he’s doing with the lens, but I love this image from today in particular.
Cowboy’s shot
You never know what Mother Nature is going to dish up, despite what the forecast calls for. But this weekend’s storm seemed about as certain as a forecast can get. Rain turning into sleet turning into snow with high winds to follow.
Yet, in the middle of the day Saturday, it was about as beautiful and calm as early February can get.
While the Cowboy moved up a few appointments he had scheduled for Sunday/Monday .. I cleaned up around our place. Put things away the kids had gotten out. Made room once again in our workshop for the four wheeler. And looked for a way to take care of the burn pile that had once again been stacking up before it was buried in snow.
Most of it being boxes that had until now, held all of my boots off-season.
As we continue to look for creative ways to fit all of our collective belongings into a very small ranch home with little storage .. the Cowboy asked me the other week, why I was keeping them. I, of course, let him know why adding that if I ever decide to put a pair on eBay, then I have the original packaging to send them in.
“You don’t need to keep those,” he encouraged me to give them up in the name of more space for other things. He’s was right.
Instead of heading off to do other chores or back inside, I grabbed a glass of wine and sat awhile on a log next to the fire-pit. It felt cathartic in some ways. Watching. Taking a deep breath. Seeing more clutter disappear out of the house and our lives. And as I watched the pile burn ..
I was enjoying the time I had to just be still and appreciating how quiet it was, that the only sounds around me were that of the crackling fire and a gentle wind. They were some pretty simple moments, moments we don’t often take.
But they were moments yesterday, that allowed me to reflect back on the trip I took to Austin, TX. A pivotal point in my life in recent years. Where I bought the most awesome pair of boots that had been in the last box to burn. (the boots weren’t in the burning box, to clarify.)
And I couldn’t help but smile to think of the decisions in my life to come out of that trip, and the path those boots have been on since.
Dogs appear to be the theme of the week.
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For as far back as I can remember, I have always brought home stray animals. Cats, rabbits, dogs, rats .. whatever I knew had been abandoned or injured made its way home with me as a child.
My dad would always try and console me when I would get home from school and they would be gone, “Oh honey, I don’t know where they went. They must have gotten out.”
My affection for animals, any/all/lost/hurt/stray/whatever comes my way, continues as an adult ..
Much to the amusement and dismay of those closest to me.
Lost
For instance ..
As I was driving to an appointment yesterday in a very remote area, I saw cars swerving ahead of me. Deer, I figured. I slowed as I approached the area. Sure enough, I thought as I saw something small and tan alongside the road.
But as I got closer I saw it was actually a dog.
‘Darn dog,’ I thought to myself. ‘Get off the highway, you’re going to get hit.’
Then a second appeared. They didn’t seem to care they were wandering out into whatever traffic happened to be coming along. They were just wandering. Checking things out. Not seeming to have a care in the world, even if it did have 18 wheels on it and was headed for them.
I looked around quickly, no ranches, no homes, we were miles from any town. Nothing seemed to be within wandering off distance for the two. And still they wandered down the middle of the two lane highway.
Now, I’m pretty sure what I did next is something most rural folks don’t do very often.
Long overdue nap.
I pulled over. Backed up. And got out to see if they were ok.
Tails wagging, tongues flapping about and seeming overall healthy, into the back seat they went. I drove about 4 miles to the nearest town. It was early and in that town of about 800 I saw no one around. The two businesses I could find weren’t yet open.
I had to get to my appointment. They went with and crashed in the backseat as though they hadn’t slept in days. I called everyone I could think to call, the Sheriff’s Office and filed a report, area Shelters, businesses, residents. No one seemed to know of or be looking for this pair.
Hours later, I came back through that small town, made a couple more stops into the only places the locals could think they might belong. Other shelters in surrounding counties weren’t answering calls or were at capacity with no room to take them. Our local Veterinary Clinic said they would add to the list of dogs they already had that had been abandoned in case anyone called.
“Be prepared for a couple overnight visitors,” I told the Cowboy as I got closer to home. Not exactly what he wanted to hear, especially after the conversation from the day about our own dogs.
Why Can’t We Be Friends
But they were sweet and stuck close and seemed to appreciate the help.
I hope someone out there is missing them and searching. I’m trying to make it as easy as possible for them to be found. But I cried today as I dropped them off at the only shelter that would take them. Had they been able to get along with our two labs, we would have continued to foster until home or a new home was found.
Or. I might have kept them. Had everyone been cool with it.
“Four dogs, on top of everything else we have is just too much,” says the Cowboy.
I’m not sure we’ll ever see eye to eye on that one. Regardless, I am quite certain there will be others someday finding shelter in the backseat of my car. If only temporary.
Wishing our girls good luck. Hope hope home finds its way back to you again, soon.
Dinner had been done for over an hour. I love that we were still tonight, seated around the kitchen table ..
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As a child .. almost every night was spent at the dining room table, together. Family meals were our norm. Most often, my dad would be at the stove already hard at work on some never measured out concoction that would taste fantastic when all was said and done, before our mother would ever get home.
We would all then sit down to eat. And talk.
In our various family forms since my daughter came along, we have done the same. But the time I currently have at the ranch has allowed me a lot more time to cook, think about meal planning and to stay seated at the table well past dinner being done to hang out, talk, enjoy each others company.
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Tonight, it was a dish dad used to make all the time. My first attempt.
Pork chops, potatoes and sauerkraut. Dad would usually throw it all in the pressure cooker. (“Don’t touch it, it can explode,” dad would say of the pressure cooker. I have been afraid of them since.) I threw tonight’s meal in the oven.
An hour and a half later .. it was done. The Cowboy had just come back in from working with one of the horses. Our 11 year old was shortly behind him after spending time on her favorite horse as well, despite the frigid temperatures.
They both were cold.
The food was hot.
“That was really good,” said the Cowboy.
My daughter simply cleaned her plate (minus most of her sauerkraut) and then asked for more.
I’ve driven a hybrid car .. oh, probably 6 years now.
It takes regular unleaded, like every other car I’ve ever driven. While it gets great mileage and has been a wonderful car for us, the Prius doesn’t do all that great on ice. And the warmer temperatures, melting snow, sleet and heavy fog recently have made for some slick rural roads.
So I’ve been taking the truck.
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“Hey,” I said to the Cowboy over the phone .. “Diesel 1 or Diesel 2. I can’t remember.”
“Make sure you’re not at the pumps for farm fuel!” said the Cowboy, somewhat in a panic I was at the wrong pump and may have already started putting gas in the truck.
“Don’t worry, I’m not,” I replied to him over the phone, not knowing what difference that would make. (I filed the question in the back of my mind for later)
I had called to ask again, which Diesel for the Dodge. Usually the Cowboy makes sure there is enough gas in it. But as I have been the one to use the truck versus my Prius the past couple of days, I wanted to be sure to return the favor and fill it up. Only the second time doing so on my own, I knew there was a method as to what went into the tank and why, I just couldn’t remember what it was.
What’s the weather supposed to be like, he said to himself out loud.
“I think it’s supposed to be nice,” the Cowboy continued. “I guess you can go with Diesel 2 for now. It’s not all that cold out so you shouldn’t need number one.”
Diesel 2, he explains to me as I sit down to write for the first time in a very long time, apparently gels up if it gets too cold. He let me know, I would most likely get stranded alongside the road if the wrong diesel is in the tank and the temperatures plummet.
Sincerely good to know.
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Also good to know why it mattered if I was at the Farm Diesel pump:
– Farm fuel is good for tractors and other farm related equipment.
– It is the same diesel, it just isn’t taxed.
– The Cowboy says there is about a $ .50 tax on every gallon of gas we buy. I ask, are you sure it’s $ .50 and he says, pretty close. (May differ by state.) I don’t feel like fact checking this morning so I’m going with it.
– There is a dye in farm fuel and if you get picked up, police can check your tank. If you have farm fuel in your truck, it is at the very least, a $1000 fine.
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The things we’re learning .. living on a dirt road.
Every year now, a couple times a year when special events roll around, for quite some time .. I have received an invitation to help out at a dear friends vineyard.
Sunday was one of those days …
Botham Vineyards hosts a Classic Car Show, a day and a hobby near and dear to the hearts and families of the beautiful couple who own and operate the vineyard.
The morning was crisp for a drive in a classic convertible, but made for some beautiful moments.
Cars were enjoyed. Wine was shared. Moments were had.
And fun memories were made. Many of which I witnessed, made me miss the Cowboy even more than I usually do the days we are unable to be together. But overall, a beautiful day in a serene setting over fine wine and with good friends. Blessed.
Amazing what new discoveries are out there .. when you take time to walk. And simply look around.
This past Saturday took an hour and walked the Farmer’s Market and upper end of State Street in Madison.
Little window shopping proved an appetizer for return trip soon with the kids. New niche candy shop and bakery just a few doors from each other.
There’s been boom in niche chocolatiers, cupcakeries ..
A big fan of breads and as communities look to shop and support local business, I wonder if this is something we’ll start to see more of. Apparently the case in some parts of the world.
Get out and enjoy …
… a lifetime of conversations.
Much has changed since the last post.
The Cowboy and I .. along with our children .. married in July 2012.
“It’s not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life that counts.” – J.M Laurence.
Last walk up with a friend ..
It has been one of the hottest June’s on record here in Wisconsin and this week at camp, the girls .. most of them anyway .. didn’t seem to mind. Other than one day. They rode in the morning and went to the pool in the afternoon.
“Well,” my daughter tells me on the way home as she is reliving some of the fun that went on this week outside learning better horsemanship .. “some of the girls got really crabby the last couple days. I think it was just too hot.”
We laughed a little about it, especially since we were at that point, sitting in the air conditioned car. I looked at the temperature gauge. 99 degrees. According to the car.
Hugs, introducing parents and taking last day pics ..
Our 11-year-old absolutely loves this camp ..
Showing families all they’ve learned ..
This is only our second year of overnight .. but she’s been fortunate to come for years to the day camp. There is something about it. The place. The people. The other girls. Learning something new. Being close to home but not too close to start to really learn to feel more comfortable in her independence. Perhaps most importantly, it’s just camp. Late night chats. Secret stories. Running around like crazy. Freedom of being a kid in a cool place and confidence building in life and social skills. That experience she’ll remember for a lifetime. That she’ll perhaps tell her own daughter about.
One last ride for this year anyway, on Quincy ..
She gave a few hugs. Said many thank you’s. Bought the standard camp sweatshirt. Grabbed a Gatorade and we hit the road. Ran errands. Then having had enough of the heat all week, grabbed the dog and headed for the River to cool off.
What a beautiful day.
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While she has a few other camps coming up yet this summer, ones that I know she will love in very different ways ..
As we were watching early 4th of July Fireworks from a friends pier on the lake last night and she is leaning on my chest with her arms around me, she says, “Mom, I really miss camp. I’m worried I won’t be able to go back next year.”
“We’ll see,” I told her. “If you love it that much and it is important to you, that might be one of the things we’ll make sure you’re able to do.”
She hugged me tighter and said thanks.
Conversations With a Cowboy 