The air was dreary and drizzly, family was visiting from out of town, and we sat inside talking, wishing for the weather to clear. Then, instinctively, because something out of order darted by, Jim jumped from the couch and bolted out the door while blurting he had seen a giant bird. Well, maybe not so … Continue reading Home Again
The space looked like it did once before while looking like it never did. Gone is the agave, the “Green Giant,” attentively watched for months as the leaf, stalk, and flower put on their respective performances. The leaf, once standing tall and sturdy and razor sharp, flopped to the dirt in decline until stiff and … Continue reading Cry, Heart, But Never Break: Part 2
In March, I asked readers to walk through a ranch project with me. The first part of the project followed a progression of sedums from sprout to bloom. The project concluded by transplanting sedums to a spot on the ranch — Dad’s Cactus Ridge — where no sedums grow. This post shares the transplanting story and … Continue reading Feeding Chickens
We started to watch sedum plants at the Lost Madrone Ranch beginning March 4th. I will be honest, I did not realize it would take this many Saturdays to reach the peak blooming period for this little succulent. Thank you for watching the sedums with me! I arrived at the ranch yesterday happy with the … Continue reading Saturday Sedum Watch: The Final Week
My favorite place to sit at the ranch is in my egg chair swing — hanging from a tree where the edge of our small patch of lawn meets the ungroomed expanse of the natural landscape. It is not the traditional swing from my childhood playground, where I would pump my legs propelling the swing … Continue reading Mom, It is Well With Your Soul
My typical walk at the ranch is more like an inquisitive meander. Picture this: I may start toward the lake until following the flight of an unfamiliar bird turns my heading into a thicket of cedar, where I traverse until the thicket is impenetrable, and I must turn and cross a canyon wall, where maiden ferns clinging … Continue reading Walking With Mom as She Forgets How to Walk
“Talk About the Day… It began like any other day, although, any other day at the ranch is a rather extraordinary day. However, this day was truly a ranch day to remember.” My first ranch story started with the above words. A detailing of the day’s events followed: a fire out of control a battle … Continue reading Take Comfort: My Blog Introduction