About This Blog

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I have loved things Country and Western all of my life. I have loved the ranches and farms, the work, the fields, the barns, livestock, and the food. I was born and raised in Kentucky where I learned to ride and care for horses. Most of my family lived on farms and/or were livestock producers. I have raised various livestock and poultry over the years.I have sold livestock feed and minerals in two states. My big hats and boots are only an outward manifestation of the country life I hold dear to my heart. With the help of rhyme or short story, in recipes or photos, I make an effort in this blog to put into words my day to day observations of all things rural; the things that I see and hear, from under my hat. All poems and short stories, unless noted otherwise, are authored by me. I hope you enjoy following along.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Steady Rain and Dancing Flames



The mud clings to my boots like taffy, as I swat the cloud of gnats surrounding me, and trudge through the pen. The chickens are huddled in the hen house to escape the smothering death that comes from the swarming, biting insects. I consider myself lucky to have lost only one hen so far; one year the stinging critters killed eleven.

The sky has opened again and a deluge of water pours off the shed roofs. The water bounces off the brim of my cowboy hat like a town square fountain, then down the back of my slicker. The outside of the water proof garment is as wet as the air around me. At least the downpour has chased away the gnats for a spell. “Rain, rain, go away…”

It is hard to believe that one year ago we were begging for moisture. Today, we are water logged from weeks of rain, and we can barely get one full day of honest sunlight a week. One extreme often follows another it is said. Two days of sun in a row would be cause for festive celebration. That being said, we have been fortunate thus far to escape the severe and often deadly weather other Midwest states have suffered .




The garden has sprung forth, and transplanted tomatoes, squash, peppers, and more, never wilted one iota after putting them in the ground. Trees I planted are doing well in the soggy soil. So, there is some benefit from this over-hydrated season.

Today though, I have decided to spend the remaining rainy hours on the back porch, listening to the cadence of the drops rat-a-tatting on the metal roof. I have built a fire in the fire pit to balance the chill and temper my mood. The glowing warmth of the fire soon produces a comfort against the damp chill that crawls across my neck. The spirit dance of flames in the creek rock cavern of the fire pit, are a visual comfort to me. The hot cup of coffee wrapped in my hands warms me inside.




I watch as the rain falls upon the fat green leaves of the hosta plants. The water cascades down leaf and stem like a parade of tiny dancers, as each drop pirouettes down to the pine bark on the ground below. Birds flit into the spice bushes, shaking the moisture from their feathers before hurrying off again. The limbs of the Japanese Maple are heavy and shiny with wetness, the branches bent with the weight of the endless drenching. The purple, yellow, and white Lillie's have all bowed in submission along the glistening old brick sidewalk.

The waterfall is oblivious to the added liquid falling upon it, and rolls steadily on down the rocks, and crashes into the rain pocked pool of water below. A drum roll of sound occurs as the wind picks up, and the trees shudder a shower of off cast droplets to the porch roof. Tree frogs are singing in the rain. One has positioned himself in the downspout at the edge of the porch. As he sings, the song echoes through the metal of the gutters, and adds reverberation to his music.

Yes it is a rain-soaked day here at the Chicken Ranch for sure, but there is plenty of activity if you sit still and look and listen for it. I sip my coffee from my steaming cup, and listen to the pop and crackle of the cheery fire. It's soaking wet out there beyond the porch rail and into the flower gardens, but here, I am happy, contented, and dry. 

I am contented, watching the steady rain and dancing flames, and the plants and animals playing their wet weather games.