Time well spent

     In my last post I shared with you our glorious fall weather down at our cottage by the sea.  Back here on the farm  I've been walking our little trail system with the dogs almost daily.  The sweet scent of fallen  decaying leaves is just as intoxicating up here.  ( jeez, you just can't use that word "decay" in any way that it doesn't sound like death.)   Anyway! ...  The trail may not be a super long one, but it has monster hills - a good workout indeed.  This weekend my kids were around - My daughter to ride the horses and my son worked on his lot up over the hill where he will some day build his home.  When they were done with their "stuff", they came to sit by the fire with mom and dad and the dogs, and then we went for a woods walk to work off those grilled smoked Gruyere cheese, tomato and thin sliced deli ham sandwiches.  We had calories to burn (damn it) ! 

 

This is a very large tree down at the edge of  my son's lot - it's twisted and split,

and depending on a much thinner tree to remain standing. 

  Bailey doesn't come on my long walks, as she's older and would have a hard time keeping up. I warned my son that this was the case, but he wanted her along (she was his dog from the start, and they still adore each other all these years later)  and so he ended up  carrying her a third of the time. At one point she belly flopped right into the stream, that's when we knew she needed a rest.

 Now... 

and 

Many moons ago... 

     There is a thin stream running through the little valley at the back of our property, where the old spring is located. The farmers who lived here before used to  bring water up to the house and barn from this stream and spring.  The water runs cold and clear, and we do find the occasional fish, although it's a rare occurrence. The stream dries out if we have a very dry summer.

Today I watered and fertilized the houseplants. This isn't exciting, of course, but  tucked among my christmas cactus (beginning to bloom) and the too-big-for-it's-pot Violet,  sits the lone geranium I brought home from Stella by the Sea.  This little gem isn't aware the seasons have turned and she should be brown and shriveled. Pink pedals stretch and leafy stems reach out to touch the warm rays of the sun through the windows.  She's content enough to bloom where she's planted. 

  

      Instead of discussing the election (Voters showed up in record numbers to the polls!  More than 100 women elected to congress!  The House brings back some balance... woohooooo!) and  instead of regurgitating the most recent false news rants and diplomatic failures of the twitterer in chief, I'm going to share this simple image. It caught my eye for my age old love of the characters  and the action depicted.... and it's powerful message  in these simplest words. 

    Till soon, friends......