Foggy sunset on the Prairie

Now don't get me wrong, I will always be a little mountain girl. I grew up in the beautiful rolling hills of the Ozarks surrounded by giant trees and abundant water. That will always be my vision of what heaven must look like. The lush greenery of forest and field there brings joy to my soul, but the sunsets just can't match those of the prairie.

Here the sky is huge and unobstructed. Almost every night it seems ablaze as the sun creeps below the horizon for its' nightly rest. Vivid pinks and peaches burst forth and cast a rosy hue on all that they touch. It seems like each evening is a masterpiece waiting to be born. It is especially beautiful when the fog is rolling in. A hush seems to fall upon the world as it slips into a restful slumber. I marvel anew at God's handiwork.

I encourage you to make time today to recognize the beauty in your midst wherever it may be.

Blessings to you.

A Year in the Life of the Prairie

It appears that my husband may actually be living with me again. Yesterday he signed a contract with his employer stating that they intend to keep him at their nearby facility for awhile now. That means we will remain out on the prairie for the time being. If I was a betting person, I would wager we won't be here any longer than another year though, because the company is preparing to open a new, huge facility in another part of the United States within the next 12 months.

I am going to try to enjoy the time I have left on the prairie as much as possible though. Today I thought I would show you some more of what we have experienced living here in the last year.

Autumn will come to the prairie again soon. The nights will grow longer and the daytime shorter. The fields will turn golden. Then the harvest will begin.

Winter will arrive suddenly with the howl of a prairie blizzard rattling the windows and pounding on the doors. Then silence will follow in the stillness of the snow covered fields.

Spring is so very slow to arrive on the prairie. The skies open up and gray, dreary rain replaces the snow. The fields turn into acres of black, muddy, muck. Just when you think you can't take the drabness anymore, tiny hints of green appear in the yards and along the roadside. Then one day a gentle breeze blows in the new season and the flowers return. Planting begins.

Summer is my favorite season on the prairie. It is spectacular. Everything is alive again. The land is green as far as the eye can see. The corn grows tall and strong. The breeze blows, and the birds sing their sweetest songs.

A year on the prairie is filled with extremes. There is sweltering heat in summer and frigid cold in winter. There is unceasing rain in the spring and golden sunshine in the fall. Life is ever changing here, yet every season is beautiful in its' own way. You just have to stop for a moment and enjoy what surrounds you. Blessings to you.

Prairie Sunrise

I thought you might enjoy seeing what awakens me each morning. This is the view from my backyard. These photos were taken within a 7 minute time span on a cloudy summer morning. It's enough to make anyone want to get out of bed early. I hope you like the view as much as I do.

Glimpses of a Prairie Summer

Summer is glorious here.

We have lived a full year out on the prairie now, and what an interesting year it has been. There were definitely four distinct seasons here. Fall was short but stunning, bringing us golden fields of waving grain ready for harvest. Winter was long and treacherous, but breathtakingly beautiful in it's pure white silence. Spring, which seemed to take forever to arrive, didn't stay long and brought us only rain and dreariness. Finally though, the earth has warmed and summer has come to the prairie.

The sun awakens me early each morning now as if beckoning me to enjoy the new day.

The windows are open now most of the time, bringing the prairie indoors. The songs of a variety of birds including the meadowlark, doves and bob whites echo through the house all through the day. Occasionally, I catch a hint of sweet clover blowing in on the breeze. Sometimes I can hear a train whistle echoing in the distance, and I stop and wonder where it is headed. In the evening the crickets serenade us. Everyone and everything just seems more relaxed. Life on the prairie is slower, simpler, and purer in the summer.

Sometimes I wish it could be summer here year round, but then I remember that it is the hardness of winter which makes the summer so sweet.

Whatever season of life you are in right now, I hope you are experiencing peace and rest. Blessings to you.

Prairie Neighbors

These are our neighbors on the prairie. Aren't they cute! Even though they are already fat, these guys are always sticking their heads through the fence and looking for a handout. Who could say no to such adorable faces?

I hope you are having a beautiful spring in your "neighborhood."

Blessings to you.