Traveling The Dirt Roads

Almost a week of visiting with Hubby's four sisters had ended as they all returned to their homes. Lots of laughter and good food.  We are tired but contented.

One day we traveled the back roads, Hubby and I, in the Gator to the local sister's house where we gathered.  You can tell we need rain badly.  The last slides are a creek that usually fills the road we crossed but not this day.

Here's a slide show of curves, hills and countryside I could barely take as Hubby flew through ten miles of back roads.

My Winter Walk

At The Farm you can't really see the lay of the land unless there is the contrast of snow with the trees.  After viewing the hills around me in the valley I know why it was chosen through the years as a Native American campsite.

Fresh running water and

flat lands with rolling hills on all sides 

made this valley perfect for anyone's home.

I wandered to Rock Hollow.

It was not a safe day to climb.

The snow showed me how hidden

the valley and the people here would be.

It was an Ariat day.

No, still haven't found that new pair of rubber boots.

I'm grateful the foresight of my ancestors

allows me to call this peaceful valley My Home.

Trekking...

Monday I walked into the snow and mud.  I wanted to remember the last day I explored in 2012.  I needed to reconnect with the land.

I saw beauty in  frozen sand as the rain washed a path through snow.

I captured diamonds in the cedars

and rejoiced that my Lizzy was happy At The Farm.

I visited a frozen pond hidden among the pines.

I reached the highest point on our acreage and enjoyed the view while it gently rained melting much of the remaining snow.  I heard the high-pitched yip that Junior voices when he's on the trail of a rabbit. 

The Bald Eagles weren't around or they had flown away with the first sound of our approach.  A Blue Heron took flight from the pond too fast for my camera or me to see well.  The crows cawed telling the world I and the dogs were here.  

Bird song filled the air but the dog pack had them uneasy so they stayed high and safe from the marauding bunch that traveled with me.

I had lost track of time.  I headed down  to the valley that has cradled our family for five generations.  It felt good to be home again.