On days without ice on the ground, Maria and I go out to do the chores together. On days like today, I am forbidden to go out with her. It makes sense. The yard and pasture are on a solid sheet of ice. If I fell down and broke something, we’d have a mess.

I’ve gone two years without falling – at the first farm; I fell several times a week in the winter. Too many concussions.

Maria is a fierce individualist. She does not look like any other person around here doing farm chores, male or female.

She puts her unique stamp on everything she does. In the summer, she often went out to do her wedding dress and British boots chores.

This time of year, she’s apt to go out there wearing anything – pajamas, old skirts, various colored leggings.

Now she has red French Thrift Shop boots ($6). It’s eclectic and unique. Mary loves doing the daily farm chores – clean up, water, feeding

–  and anything that brings her into contact with the animals. I love seeing her move around out there; she is full of joy and meaning.