As I walked out the back door, I took in the day. I had already walked the dogs, visited with the neighboring cows, and watered the flowers. I sat at the top of the three wooden steps that lead down to the walkway, and set my iced coffee-filled mason jar beside me. The humidity was low and the house faces northeast, so the sun was currently warming the front porch.
It was a beautiful morning to sit outside.
I could have chosen to sit at the patio table, but there is something about the rustic feeling of sitting on a piece of wood — it just feels right. Besides, there is a bird’s nest resting on the pergola just above the patio, and the expectant parents aren’t too happy when I hang out there.
As I sat, I took notice of the fact that my mind was completely quiet. What a gift! To be able to sit and look around, allowing my senses to enjoy the moment without the interference of my thoughts. It was then that I realized the cows were directly in front of me. They had been in the far field when I was out earlier, but now they were hanging out in the tall grasses behind the house, just beyond the barely visible wire fence. They do follow me sometimes — me and the dogs. They especially take a liking to Charlie, for whatever reason. They will touch nose-to-nose, if Charlie allows.
Mixed in with the tall grasses in that field are whimsical weeds and wildflowers — purple, white, and gold. Together, they were doing a dance in the wind, swaying side to side, side to side. Birds, butterflies, and bees joined in, flying in and out, in and out. The recently mowed grass between the house and the field was looking more brown than green, due to the drier than normal summer. Down the fence line, however, just before the gravel road, my favorite tree was standing lush and green. The birds love that tree. Its large leaves and perfectly sized branches provide shelter from the heat and from the rain. On hot days when I walk the dogs, I usually pause in front of it, looking and listening, and appreciating the only shady spot there is.
As I sat, every so often a large shadow would appear across the earth, drawing my attention toward the sky. Up above, a large vulture or hawk could be spotted gliding on a breeze, surveying the landscape below. Closer in, at the edge of the garden, I noticed the pile of rocks — six, of which I had collected from various spots in the yard. Slightly different sizes, shapes and colors, for whatever reason they were chosen to hang out together. Every day, I walk past that pile of rocks , on my way to somewhere else. Today, however, I wasn’t going anywhere. And for some reason, the composition of those rocks, the way they were resting upon and sitting next to one other, the rough edges along with the smooth, the flat colors and the translucent — it all just made me happy.
My gaze looked up again, and as I breathed in the pleasant breeze, and listened to the sounds of the birds, I noticed I could no longer see the cows. I stood up and saw they had gone back to the pasture further away. They must have gotten bored with me and moved on to something else. And, behind me were two hopeful and impatient dogs, staring back at me through the nose and tongue rubbed glass window panes in the door.
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