Wednesday is  Belly Dancing Night, a time Maria and I both savor. She loves her belly dancing class and the people in it, and I admit to enjoying an hour or two alone on the farm.

Being alone can be peaceful, loneliness cannot.

I spent much of my life alone, including six years on the first Bedlam Farm, and am rarely alone since I got married. Maria and I spent almost every day apart, but we are rarely too far from each other, and I never feel alone with her in my life.

I get melancholic and settle; it is such a familiar feeling for me that I doubt I will ever completely shed it.

There is also a sweetness to it; I sit in a big chair, read a book, embrace the silence, dogs at my feet.

But you are never really alone if you have dogs.

I felt the urge to spend some time with Zinnia in one pasture and then Fate in another. To give each of them something that they love, a dog thing.

I also love being alone with the sheep and the dogs; out in the pasture it feels so natural to me now.

I went over to Orson’s tombstone in our garden and nodded, and then out to Red’s burial spot in the pasture. I’ve had some wonderful moments on my farms with my dogs.

It was nice to recall that tonight.

Bud tracked and killed a big garter snake today, Maria was upset with him, but he was just a dog. And he is exhausted, snoring like a garbage truck.

I took Zinnia out to the South Pasture and tossed a ball for her until she was wheezing. She doesn’t have Fate’s stamina, especially in the summer. But she loves to run and it’s good for her.

We came into the house; she stuck her head in a water bowl and went to sleep.

Fate and I went out to the North pasture, where she ran around the flock until her tongue was dragging on the ground.

Both dogs are sleeping now, Zinnia in my study as I write this, Fate just by the door. Both dogs were very happy, the farm looks beautiful, the clouds majestic.

It’s a nice feeling to see two dogs running and tired and at rest. I feel like I’m a good steward.

Maria called; she picked up a pizza and is on the way home. I’m going to go out and close up the pasture gate; I turned the oven on and switched on the sensor lights outside.

I don’t miss her when she goes to class, but I’m very happy when she comes home.

It’s starting to get dark. I loved my two hours along this afternoon with these two great dogs, and I am happy that my wife is coming home to me.

I am fortunate to have things I miss and things I love all around me. I said a few words of gratitude for my life and then put these photos up. I am thankful for every good thing that I have and I have learned to think of the good and not the bad.