When Horses Raced the Aisle

We designed the fencing so that there was access to multiple pastures from the barnyard. The summer pasture was accessed down a long isle. The ponies would gallop down the isle to the barn when I’d call them in for their supper. I loved the sight of them flying in, the dust flying and the sound of pounding hooves filling the air. They were so beautiful.

On the way back out to their pasture they’d graze along the sides of the aisle.

Now the isle is overgrown with grasses and wild flowers. You’d be hard pressed to even walk down it. Nature never leaves a void (except the one in my heart left by the horses when then moved to their new homes).

Travelling Basket

Remember that book I talked about the other day – the one that I couldn’t get into after 22 pages… well… I gave it a go for another few pages and wouldn’t you know it I’ve been up late for two nights reading! The entire book takes place on 9/11 except for the last chapter which is the morning after, the characters are from New York city. “A Day at the Beach” by Helen Schulman was good read after all.

Reading the book brought to mind so many memories of my own from that day. We knew no one who lost their lives or or any that lost a loved one, but I was still shaken. Carm was out of town on business, as were my parents. I felt so alone at a time when gathering loved ones close was the overwhelming need. The suffering and loss…

What have my pleasures been? Some day’s they are harder to come by. Here’s one – reading on the swing Thursday afternoon. There haven’t been many day’s when I’ve actually had a chance to have an hour on the swing (that darn book dragged me out ;

• Eating a great sandwich from a little Italian shop in the city – I also bought a dozen buns to go along with our tomato salads – yum ;
• Using my new basket! It carried our (unused) bathing suits and towels just perfectly and looked pretty to boot! Today it will take another trip! I feel so European with shopping basket in hand – so much more elegant than a plastic bag.

• Visiting with family – thanks to my aunt and uncle for hosting such a great meal by their new pool. At night the pool was lit by with funky lights.

• Another pleasure - having the dogs sleeping in a jumble on the floor beside me – they look so peaceful and sweet curled up together – they are good friends to me and each other – I couldn’t get a proper photo though as they got up as soon as I moved, we might be going outside don’t you know! ;

• Thursday we had some fresh corn-on-the-cob. It was sweet and juicy.

 

A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine.
Anne Bronte

Long Vistas and Faraway Views

Today’s word of the day from Merriam Webster is coruscate (\KOR-uh-skayt\ verb - 1 : to give off or reflect light in bright beams or flashes : sparkle ; 2 : to be brilliant or showy in technique or style). The coruscating water at Presqu’ile reflected our happiness at being there. There are some places where you just feel at home and this is one of those places for us. Perhaps it is the friendly little town of Brighton, or maybe it’s the wild spaces in the park. I think though that it is great expanse of water that draws us there.

I notice that when we are driving somewhere my eye seeks out the long vistas and faraway views. Perhaps this is because I spent my formative years in the prairie where the eye could see forever. Forests and mountains make me feel choked and claustrophobic while wide open spaces with big skies and far horizons allow my soul to soar.

The prairie is my spiritual home and I miss it. I sometimes wonder if the darkness that I experience is really just my soul aching for it’s true home.

 

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
Khalil Gibran