A dozen years ago today, Ed turned 55. I did not know it then. It was our first time together and I knew very little about him, and all that I learned lead me to think that he and I came from different planets. Perhaps galaxies. But, we spent an afternoon in each others company and it felt right. And so we have continued to stay in each others company, committed to this idea of being together forever, or a day -- so long as our hearts are in the right place and we hold on to that essential respect for who the other person is.
Oh, we sampled each others passions over the years. He traveled with me many times and I did some wild hiking, camping and canoeing. He tried the neat and tidy look and I tried a more casual approach to housekeeping. But not for long. I went back to neurotic tidiness and he went back to a life that rarely takes him away from the farmette (now that I live here too). Some things did stick (his love of my family, my love of the farmette land), but mostly, Ed is Ed and I suppose Nina is still Nina.
So today is our anniversary: a dozen years. Ed doesn't celebrate stuff, but he knows I do and so we have a sweet breakfast, with flowers from our neighbor's field and cards written just so...
It is the first morning of our newly added hens and so I hurry to the barn to see what Apple and Peach are up to.
I throw some old bread crumbs down for the whole lot of them and to my astonishment, Apple takes the lead, giving a nudge to chase sweet, gentle Java away. Aren't the newbies supposed to take on subservient positions??
Of course, Java and Henny do have the upper hand. They know the lay of the land and they know our habits. The other two are just learning.
(Java is like Ed: never perturbed by the bullies in life, always calm, moving through the day at her own sweet gentle pace.)
Alright: so far so good.
In the afternoon, I pick up Snowdrop at school. She hasn't napped, but still, she is excited at what this day holds for her: a promised adventure with grandma and mommy.
Are we going to the playground? -- she asks.
No, we're going to pick up mommy at work and then we're all going on a hike to Indian Lake.
She is on board! This way!
The sun is warm, the breeze is gentle. You want to take off your sweater, Snowdrop? This is likely to be the last day when we can all hang out in short sleeves!
A passerby takes a generational photo...
Snowdrop climbs in and out of a tree...
... and snuggles in her mommy's lap.
The forest hues are stunning...
The lake -- probably the loveliest I have ever seen it (and I have been here a huge number of times!)...
Snowdrop makes up the best stories!
...and reminds us of how easy it is to find beauty at every turn...
Later, much later, I say to Ed -- we really don't have to go out for dinner. I know you're worried about the cheepers...
Let's see where they are tonight...
We walk tot he barn and lo! Henny is perched in a tree, but the other three are all snuggled together in a tight little coop spot. We put her in with the rest and head out for a "mussels and fries" dinner at our favorite place -- Brasserie V.
A selfie:
... and a wish for a good night: to you and to all, today and always. With love.
Oh, we sampled each others passions over the years. He traveled with me many times and I did some wild hiking, camping and canoeing. He tried the neat and tidy look and I tried a more casual approach to housekeeping. But not for long. I went back to neurotic tidiness and he went back to a life that rarely takes him away from the farmette (now that I live here too). Some things did stick (his love of my family, my love of the farmette land), but mostly, Ed is Ed and I suppose Nina is still Nina.
So today is our anniversary: a dozen years. Ed doesn't celebrate stuff, but he knows I do and so we have a sweet breakfast, with flowers from our neighbor's field and cards written just so...
It is the first morning of our newly added hens and so I hurry to the barn to see what Apple and Peach are up to.
I throw some old bread crumbs down for the whole lot of them and to my astonishment, Apple takes the lead, giving a nudge to chase sweet, gentle Java away. Aren't the newbies supposed to take on subservient positions??
Of course, Java and Henny do have the upper hand. They know the lay of the land and they know our habits. The other two are just learning.
(Java is like Ed: never perturbed by the bullies in life, always calm, moving through the day at her own sweet gentle pace.)
Alright: so far so good.
In the afternoon, I pick up Snowdrop at school. She hasn't napped, but still, she is excited at what this day holds for her: a promised adventure with grandma and mommy.
Are we going to the playground? -- she asks.
No, we're going to pick up mommy at work and then we're all going on a hike to Indian Lake.
She is on board! This way!
The sun is warm, the breeze is gentle. You want to take off your sweater, Snowdrop? This is likely to be the last day when we can all hang out in short sleeves!
A passerby takes a generational photo...
Snowdrop climbs in and out of a tree...
... and snuggles in her mommy's lap.
The forest hues are stunning...
The lake -- probably the loveliest I have ever seen it (and I have been here a huge number of times!)...
Snowdrop makes up the best stories!
...and reminds us of how easy it is to find beauty at every turn...
Later, much later, I say to Ed -- we really don't have to go out for dinner. I know you're worried about the cheepers...
Let's see where they are tonight...
We walk tot he barn and lo! Henny is perched in a tree, but the other three are all snuggled together in a tight little coop spot. We put her in with the rest and head out for a "mussels and fries" dinner at our favorite place -- Brasserie V.
A selfie:
... and a wish for a good night: to you and to all, today and always. With love.
