It was just afternoon, and I was restless. I took Red and Fate and we went out and opened the gate to the rear pasture, through Lulu’s crossing and up onto the hill. The donkeys and sheep and pony came rushing through, they were  desperate to graze.The curious winter weather – very cold, then warm – had melted the ice and snow, the ground was hard but the sun very bright and warming.

Red took up his position a ways off from the sheep, close enough to keep an eye on things, not close enough to rattle them. Lulu and Fanny came up right alongside of him and Red, as usual, paid them no mind. I loved the look of the pasture, the barn in the background, Maria’s small studio, the house.

It all seemed timeless to me, I came  here to live as simply and fully and meaningfully as I can. i sat down on the still cold ground and let the sun caress my face, I closed my eyes, I trusted Red to keep everything in order and I sat still. I feel so small here, so insignificant. The troubles of the world are not large here, and I am too humble to be important.

The farm opens me up, quiets me. I have come home.