It was a small thing; it was a huge thing. It’s been about six months at least since I went out to the pasture at 3 p.m. to bring hay out to the donkeys and the sheep.

It’s not a difficult task, but I couldn’t do it for much of the year. I was either bouncing back from catheter surgeries or foot issues. I couldn’t get out there and help Maria.

Maria loves farm chores; she especially loves feeding the animals; she can see them up close and talk to them. It is just something she loves doing, so I deferred to that and gradually stopped doing it.

Today, she was on the phone with a friend, and I had my boots out.

I thought of going out to take some photos, and then it hit me. I can do this again, I can give Maria a break today and many other days, and I can reconnect to the heart and soul of the farm.

The year has been good for me, health-wise. I am stronger, clearer and healthier than I have been in a long time. I feel like a vintage car that mechanics has gone through and made ready to drive.

My heart lifted when I got outside, Zinnia caught the mood and came charging out with me. I went into the barn, gathered two or three leaves of hay, and went out into the pasture.

Everything was where I last saw it, and it took me no time to get into the hang of things. I tipped over the dirty water bucket for cleaning and dug a small run-off ditch for water.

I spread out the hay just the way the donkeys like it, and did the same for the sheep.

The animals crowded at the gate and followed me just as they did Maria. Maria got off the phone with her friend and came out, surprised and delighted to see me up in the pasture, spreading out the hay, up to my ankle in mud in my new boots.

I love my new boots, I’m embarrassed at how long it took me to get them.

This is why I moved up here; this is why I love the farm and my life, and the animals here, today. I got to see them up close and talk to them.

I think Biddie was happy to see me. I was very happy to get nose to nose with her.

Photo by Maria  Wulf