This morning on the farm was exceptionally beautiful; it captured the joy, love, and work that goes into having a farm, an organic, living thing that needs care and attention. Maria approaches cleaning up manure the way healthy people embrace their lives. She loves doing it and does it well. These photos are devoted to her and her fantastic job here: cheerful, grateful, and diligent.

You will know manure if you have a farm with animals like donkeys and sheep. It is useful; it nourishes our gardens and the gardens of friends. It’s a testament to life. Some people complain about manure, but Maria accepts it as a small price to pay for our lives. Yes, I do know how fortunate I am. Sometimes, the job falls to me. I accept it as well. It means we are living our lives here.

There was also Zip, my new alter ego, always waiting for our morning meeting on the garden bed, all closed up for the winter. I love my life and give thanks for it every day.

This is now one of my favorite Maria portraits. It just captures the essence of her.

Manure is shoveled out of the Pole Barn every day. Zinnia grabs some of it to eat; there is no stopping her—life on a farm.

I was shoveling the manure into a pile.

Zip waits for me every morning; he sits on the raised garden bed and waits for some patting scratching. It’s a beautiful day. I have my Zoom meeting with blog readers (and now, good friends).

We will bring some Christmas decorations to the Farm Market people this morning so they can set it up on their Christmas tree. We’re getting it from the great people at the Senior Citizens Center Thrift Shop; they have all kinds of great Christmas stuff to sell for pennies. I like the season, except for the barrage of sales online.