One of the many reasons I love Maria so much is that she is, at the core, pure love.

Her love of the animals has touched me and has been a joy to watch and learn from. Every day, she brings some gourmet treats to the Imperious Hens, who come rushing up to eat out of her hand.  She does the same for the donkeys and the sheep. The trust and affection are visible, not to mention the donkeys and the sheep.

I never thought sheep could love and feel, but she has shown me that they do. The same goes for the chickens.

It’s Spring. We were delighted to find three eggs in the roost once again.

This rarely happens when the days get short and dark, but it is one of the joys of Spring. Maria congratulated them this morning and rushed into the house to bring me the good news; she was almost as excited as she was when she came across some worms mating in the backyard.

This empathy and love of living things infuses her art, her life, and our passion for one another. She has made me a much better human and how to live with the animals I live with; I will never stop loving her or thanking her for it.

Fresh farm eggs are remarkably delicious.