..."other long-clawed words find their way into my skin. "
Man, I love a good turn of phraseand this one's a beaut.
As for your heart wanting less, I can't speak for you but when we started our nomadic lives, I was surprised to discover not that my heart wanted less but that it wanted more. Not more things or prestige. But to see more places I'd never heard of or imagined existed. To meet people I didn't know existed. To hear more stories and take take more pictures.
To want more of an actual lived life, not one manufacture by Google and Facebook and all of the rest.
Not telling you to do yours different, truly. Mad respect for how you must care for those cats to train them to harnesses. I want tell about the Great and Glorious Slate, our city cat that has taken to rural life with gusto. We too started him and his sister Mango on leashes. They graduated to a zip line. Mango died (preexisting heart condition). Slate took on the chore of hunting voles in our baby orchard, still on his tether. We'd tie him down to a 25 lb weigh he'd drag and twist around the tree trunks. He kept telling us, despite the skunks, raccoons, owls, coyotes, and likely lurking mountain lions, that he could look out for himself. We finally gave in, reluctantly, after a couple escapes where he dragged his tether through places that were made more dangerous by the restraints. He killed all the voles on our 3 acres homestead. He rode shotgun down the block and a half as I hauled water twice a day to the second orchard we couldn't irrigate properly at first. Watering and voling (voles can kill young apple trees) became his jobs. Sometimes he walked back home alone, mostly he waited in the truck. His territory expanded to at least 50 acres across 5 neighboring properties. We'd see him walking down irrigation pipes, hunting. We'd see him strolling through the neighbors' llama pen. Never in the road, he hates cars. Then like a ghost he'd be home. We got him dogs. He did not want dogs. He likes the dog door though. He grazes with the chickens if they get goodies. He's 14 now, and will still occasionally walk with us and the dogs to the second orchard, but he's not as far ranging as he once was. We are still terrified for him, but when we see him striding across the pasture, jumping through fences and knowing what he is all about, the fear is worth it. He's our best cat, won't be the same when he's gone. Pets should live forever, that's all there is.
This was beautiful! I’m more of a city dweller myself but love to hike and get away from the busyness sometimes! I enjoy vacations and day trips out of the city and in nature. Also, the picture of the cats with the mountains, stunning!!!!!!
❤️A piece on peace (a cheap pun). In juxtaposition with your last piece, which left me agonizingly far away and unable to hug you—maybe for my own comfort as well as yours. So lovely to see your evolution. Thank you.
Thank you! Such beautiful words. After 36 years of Rocky Mountain living and raising my kids, I traded those rugged peaks for a smoother version called the Smoky Mountains. They both have their unique beauty.
My favorite line…” being hustled at a lemonade stand “! My neighbor recently informed me he paid $2 for a cup of lemonade from my 8 yo in the front yard😁. Inflation I guess.
I live vicariously through your blog! Please keep them coming….
..."other long-clawed words find their way into my skin. "
Man, I love a good turn of phraseand this one's a beaut.
As for your heart wanting less, I can't speak for you but when we started our nomadic lives, I was surprised to discover not that my heart wanted less but that it wanted more. Not more things or prestige. But to see more places I'd never heard of or imagined existed. To meet people I didn't know existed. To hear more stories and take take more pictures.
To want more of an actual lived life, not one manufacture by Google and Facebook and all of the rest.
Well I really love that. And I'm sure I'll feel it when I've ran every trail here haha!
Not telling you to do yours different, truly. Mad respect for how you must care for those cats to train them to harnesses. I want tell about the Great and Glorious Slate, our city cat that has taken to rural life with gusto. We too started him and his sister Mango on leashes. They graduated to a zip line. Mango died (preexisting heart condition). Slate took on the chore of hunting voles in our baby orchard, still on his tether. We'd tie him down to a 25 lb weigh he'd drag and twist around the tree trunks. He kept telling us, despite the skunks, raccoons, owls, coyotes, and likely lurking mountain lions, that he could look out for himself. We finally gave in, reluctantly, after a couple escapes where he dragged his tether through places that were made more dangerous by the restraints. He killed all the voles on our 3 acres homestead. He rode shotgun down the block and a half as I hauled water twice a day to the second orchard we couldn't irrigate properly at first. Watering and voling (voles can kill young apple trees) became his jobs. Sometimes he walked back home alone, mostly he waited in the truck. His territory expanded to at least 50 acres across 5 neighboring properties. We'd see him walking down irrigation pipes, hunting. We'd see him strolling through the neighbors' llama pen. Never in the road, he hates cars. Then like a ghost he'd be home. We got him dogs. He did not want dogs. He likes the dog door though. He grazes with the chickens if they get goodies. He's 14 now, and will still occasionally walk with us and the dogs to the second orchard, but he's not as far ranging as he once was. We are still terrified for him, but when we see him striding across the pasture, jumping through fences and knowing what he is all about, the fear is worth it. He's our best cat, won't be the same when he's gone. Pets should live forever, that's all there is.
I love this cat. Thank you for sharing that story with me.
Wonderful meditation on the importance of place in our lives!
Such wonderful discoveries....so well expressed.
Sounds right! We love it there!
It'll really ring the anxiety right of ya
This was perfect. There was a musicality and rhythm to your words that I so enjoyed.
My favorite kind of compliment is when someone can hear the music behind the words <3
This resonates so deeply - I just read most of it out loud to my husband. Happy 1 year!
I love that!! Thank you!
This was beautiful! I’m more of a city dweller myself but love to hike and get away from the busyness sometimes! I enjoy vacations and day trips out of the city and in nature. Also, the picture of the cats with the mountains, stunning!!!!!!
They're such posers. My love and respect for all city dwellers and lovers — takes a different breed than me, but one I'll always admire.
❤️A piece on peace (a cheap pun). In juxtaposition with your last piece, which left me agonizingly far away and unable to hug you—maybe for my own comfort as well as yours. So lovely to see your evolution. Thank you.
The hug is felt and reciprocated!
Thank you! Such beautiful words. After 36 years of Rocky Mountain living and raising my kids, I traded those rugged peaks for a smoother version called the Smoky Mountains. They both have their unique beauty.
The Smoky Mountains have all the romance!
Thank you. Many of us yearn for a simpler life. Reading about your rich life is a cool drink.
Love hearing that. Hope it continues to be so!
My favorite line…” being hustled at a lemonade stand “! My neighbor recently informed me he paid $2 for a cup of lemonade from my 8 yo in the front yard😁. Inflation I guess.
I live vicariously through your blog! Please keep them coming….
They tried to sell me a stone painted like the French flag the other day for $40. Reached my limit.
Bravo. There’s a genius to it.
<3 thank you - appreciate you reading as always!