Respite

Sitting in our little nook. Outside three deer are grazing on the verdant field. One wanders over to the edge and grazes on the new leaves from the chokecherry (Indian Plum). The birds feed and flit from feeder to limb to other limb. The sun is just above the hills and the light is being filtered through the moss and raindrop diamonds. The bare oaks have yet to leaf out, so the sunlight easily penetrates the limbs and onto the sitting spot of mine. The fire burns strong and takes the edge off the chill, slowly warming the house. Our creek runs strongly and the Mourning Dove calls with its haunting tune.

It has been raining a LOT this past week and it has been cool. Wind has been hammering the Coast and snow has been falling in the mountains. The closest pass through the mountains to the east side is over Tombstone Pass and the Trip Cam shows the deep snow and a single track of tires.

I have come home very tired and glad that I can relax without having to plan for anything else or to plant anything. This time last year I had a bunch of plant starts growing and getting ready to put them in the ground. I planted them on April 29 and that night we had a frost that killed them all. This year I have limited energy to plant the seeds... maybe a little later. For tonight it is great to just sit here in the window box and watch the sun settle and the colors turn more muted.

This life of computers, office work, facilitation, coaching, training... in many ways it is so much more exhausting than the days when I used to carry 70 pound packs in the mountains. My energy system just gets taxed and it takes too much additional effort to pursue other efforts. We don't have cable, broadcast tv or a satellite hook-up. I think mass media has isolated so many people, but on nights like this I wouldn't mind being entertained... but then there is so much on the internet that it is just like having access to broadcast entertainment.

A piece of mail came the other day and my college (Huxley College at Western Washington University) is having its 40th Anniversary celebration this year... and this is my 30th year from graduation. Huxley College focuses on studies around the environment. It was founded the year of the first Earth Day. I remember having these dreams of having a property in the country and taking care of it. Living on the land as much as I could and leaving a minimal footprint. I guess that dream has come to fruition... just many more years than I'd planned.

As I sit here, another deer has come out and is eating the new leaves. This one has mange It isn't a pretty sight, but the hair seems to be growing back. We've seen a deer around here that has had it for a year... glad to see that the hair is coming back.

The fire, a cup of tea, three deer grazing the meadow, the sound of a creek, the doves call their last few notes, anticipating the call of the Great Horn Owl and Screech Owls that we've had around of late. It is a healing place to be.

Good night.