Where's the song ~~ "Don't let your daughters grow up to marry a Cowboy" ?

​​​​​​​Life is tough! Requires hard physical work, long, long days of pain, dirt, and broken fingernails.​
​Days of frigid cold & scorching heat; through the dust & mud; daybreak into the darkness of nite~~​
​the heart & body becomes toughened & weathered replicating leather!​
​A forever constant factor for a real Cowboy's Wife is tons of sweat, oceans of tears and a constant 'drought' in the wallet!​
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​​​​​​​​​IF​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ she wants to spend anytime at all with her Cowboy, she must do as he does, you become partners!​
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​​​​​​Kick off your boots, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and envision yourself in my life!​
​... It really isn't that bad! There are many rewards to be had to make it a great lifestyle! ...​ ​​​​​​​


Monday, September 15, 2008

The Dog Days of Summer...

...are winding down!


The chill of this morning’s air, a mere 33 degrees, fills my nostrils with a cool reflection of the days ahead. I am sitting on the front porch wrapped in my blanket (“Hydro” promises the robe is in the mail TODAY!) sipping my first cup of coffee and I see two deer heading towards the creek for their morning drink. They trod down the same dusty path that has been worn over the seasons,
they know their way.
* * *
I trampled the same paths every day for the past 3 months. I know my way.
But today, with the last of the tomatoes turned to sauce and the final Jalapeno’s thickened into jelly last evening, I can embark on a different route.
I’ve packed away the canners, the jars and the tongs; the kettles, the knives & the clean kitchen towels. What remains growing in the garden will garnish the chicken’s plates for a few weeks to come.
In a different time, in a different home, this time of year, the deer would come for their desserts of summer. I would watch them tenderly climb through my maze of tomatoes and vines, selecting only the finest at first. My garden beckoned them when I was through, and somehow they knew.
The deer here, in this place and time, seem to prefer the wheat stubble where the splattering of wheat kernels from the harvest now complete, will fatten them up for the long winter ahead.
I am grateful for this bounty that’s filled the freezers and lined my pantry shelves. We will reap the labors of my summer in the months to come.
When the killing frost arrives, I will pull the wilted remains tossing them on my newest compost pile. I then will do one last weeding, and fill my wheelbarrow over and over with compost from the 1st pile (I maintain 3, of different stages) dumping them into my raised rows, turning it into the soil lightly for winters rest period.
BUT… after this year? I may not plant another!
I say that every Fall!

I’m ready to enjoy the changing season.
With little time left before the cold Northerns begin to hover, I need to take the time to enjoy the warmth and colors of a lingering fall.



Today~ I will begin to breathe the sweet fragrance of the rose as it warms with the morning sun, and inhale the pungent Sage dripping in dew.



While Purple Verbena creep tenderly across the dampened soil,








a Yellow Rose will glisten under the
new blue morning.

Tea Roses will quietly open in a cool display,
as the “Flame Pot”warms with the breezy air.










My Crimson Roses will splash with color and profusely spread its perfume.
I love the mornings when they are living and vivacious!





The fresh cut grass lazily shakes its blades sending the bouquet of greetings to my senses, now renewed.

Even the spice of Marigold is welcomed this day as things awaken.



I am nauseous from the garden flavors,
their aromas drenching my walls.
So...
Today, I begin a new journey.
A new season awaits me.
I know there are more chores that await my attention, but for the moment, I plan to savor these mornings in their complete splendor.

Cowboy has been patient over the summer as he knows my passion for gardening, and he loves the rewards it brings, to his senses and his palette.
He does love to eat!
His labors are more intense without my help yet he never complains.
Secretly, as I stashed and stored my processing supplies for winter, I know he was grinning. Within a few days he can count on my shoulders to help him with summer’s neglected duties.

And I’ll be ready and eager for something “new”.
It will be a treat of sorts to get out in the barnyard, get a new kind of dirty!



Even back to the good old mucking!



26 comments:

Amanda said...

Girl you and I spent our mornings doing the same thing and thinking the same thoughts. I am leaving for Montana Wednesday for a week and wondering what season of clothing to pack. I will be happy to get the chilly mornings here in my neck of the sand and rocks. I miss the colors of changing leaves. I am hoping our time here in the desert will be short.

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

What a lovely first time visit I have had by your blog!
I too feel the changing seasons and open my arms to each one and all it brings...
Take Care,I will be back!

Anonymous said...

I'm not there jet but getting closer! A bunch of egg-plants can't wait to get in the freezer together with some beens, tomatoes and leaks. Cabbage is still growing and even some lettuce is trying hard to become big! The climate is generally mild here and first nightly frost comes at the end of november. I envy your writing talent and your almost endless vocabulary ... I know, English is not my native language but I do wish I could have some of your writers talent! It's so much fun to read your posts!
See ya!

Anonymous said...

Lovely flowers!

I cracked up when I saw the last photo. Do you know-- I MISS mucking stalls???

I miss my horses horribly. It is the most difficult part of being married to the military but Josh reassures me that I will get one at our next house. Thank goodness! I don't know how long I could go without one!

Blessings!
Lacy

wordmama said...

What a lovely summer wind-down post W.O.W.! I too am very grateful for the bounty my garden has provided me. And this being my first one, I was thrilled to get anything at all! I'll be canning my salsa this Friday using your recipe - Wish me luck!

Mrs. Mom said...

I'm here WOW-- I'm here.... Something here in the Southland jumped up and bit me square in the head I think.... I have been sick as a dog for two and a half days. There will be new material up today, I promise you!

So,.... the knives packed away-- does this mean that pinkie of yours gets a chance to take a breather there, and heal up? ;)

Love this blog. You have such a fantastic way with words WOW!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

I thought I would die laughing at the last pic ! Your not right girl ! HA !

Linda said...

You do have a wonderful way with words! I'm getting ready to put my garden to bed for the winter too but somehow my cowboy keeps getting in the road of that.

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

Jalapeno jelly...oh man, that makes me hungry!

Enjoy the fall :)

terri said...

Those descriptions and those beautiful pictures make me want to trade lives even more.

Ok... maybe not the mucking part. That I could do without! :-)

DesertHen said...

What beautiful shots of your flowers. I want to come sit on your porch with you and saver the last dog days of summer.......

Those fishing photos are posted now.....=)

LL said...

Only you WOWie... only you...

Jeannelle said...

Very lovely post! (until the last photo!)

You are very ambitious with your canning.....good for you!

Your flower photos are beautiful!

The W.O.W. factor! said...

Ok...sorry about the last picture (not really...*wink*).
But you all know what I'm asking Santa for? for Christmas? a CAMERA! I want better better pictures!! I want you to "SMELL" my pix....yep! inlcuding the last one!
Thank you for claiming to enjoy them, no matter how hideous they are here, they truly are pretty from where I sit and you are all invited to sit & join me!
Coffee? Tea? Water? Wine? You name it! It's break time here for me!

Dawn said...

You have a wonderful way with words... nice to read.

Wish I was your neighbor - I'd give blatant hints until you finally relented and gave me a jar of that jalepano jelly! Ha!

Blessings!
Dawn

Anonymous said...

Your flowers are stunning. this time of year, i love to go out in the back yard in the morning with my coffee and paper. The sunshine is warm, but doesnt bake me and it is a peaceful feeling that is probably going to be interrupted by a couple of puppies at any minute.

Anonymous said...

I'm SO glad you found my blog and dropped by so I could find yours! What a wonderful blog. I spent a delightful time reading your story background and browsing your blog.

Summer is winding down here in the midwest. The days are warm but the nights are cooling off. Soon it will be sweater weather and the leaves will change.

Jenn said...

And I came online to see a pile of horse shit? WOW... I could see that in the back yard!

Train Wreck said...

FRIEND! Seriously, I got a chill just reading your post! A cool fall is on it's way I was sitting right next to you chill! If you don't write a book I am going to find you and do all your chores so you can have the time to write! DOn't make me!
I want a garden! I can grow anything, and everything.Yet I have never planted a garden,..next year! There is something about being outside, working at something, and having it flourish! I love it. I love all your roses! Mine are just starting to really bloom!
I can cook too! So don't worry about your Cowboy! I will keep his belly content, while you are writing your book!!

Egghead said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I came here originally a few nights ago and was going to leave a note but then I got all caught up reading about you and then ran out of time. You write beautifully and so descriptively. I hope you don't mind that I read back in time of your adventures.

Vonda

Sarah said...

Here's what I'm proposing: I'll take you to the beach next summer and you can teach me to can.

Deal?

And I'll take coffee and wine please! :)

Farmchick said...

Just blog hopping and wanted to say hello. I enjoyed reading your blog....stop over sometime!

Dawn said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am enjoying reading yours and will be back again!

Greyhound Girl said...

I feel most invigorated with this time of year and change of season. It leaves me feeling full and anew- odd for fall, but I'm a winter baby and this is when I come alive. i understand the need to the change of seasons.

Beautiful post and lovely pictures.

Janice Thomson said...

What a beautiful post!
I'm with you on the gardening -I love every little bit of it from the weeding to the drinking coffee in the morning and watching each and every new little bud grow and blossom. I hate to see it end yet I know too they need their winter rest as surely as I do each night. Lovely photos of your flowers.

Renie Burghardt said...

Such a lovely post, and beautiful flowers. Well, and the horse dung might be useful in the garden, no? LOL. (I'm a little more delicate here than Jenny Lou! lol) Wish I had horses to clean up after.

I still have tons of green tomatoes that are taking long to ripen now, although we are still very mild here in the Ozarks. Oh, well, guess I can make tomato relish, and fried green tomatoes.

Hugs,

Renie