Hoof-falls, Crickets and Jingle-bells

I don't know if you've noticed a trend, but I Love the night!  I'm absolutely terrified of Mountain Lions, but other than the things that go bump in the night I love it.  There's something especially magical about summer nights.  The heat of the day is gone, most people are at home, the world is quiet and somehow softer.

Lately my big sorrel mare has been somewhat crazy.  But tonight I put an English saddle on her and she became a totally different horse.  Jax and I headed out into the fading light.  Head down on a loose rein we trotted off to my parents.  Unlike most of our rides I didn't have to fight her to keep her at a trot.  I had a nice little visit in the yard with my papa before heading back home.

 There was no moon tonight and all I could see was the pale path of the road and the silhouette of my horse.  As the tree canopy closed over us, we became totally engulfed in the darkness.  At that point I had total trust in my horse.  When the road opened up, I let my mare lope.  It was amazing.  I haven't ridden in the dark in a long time.  Loping down the road, without having the advantage of sight is a totally liberating experience.  For those few seconds I was completely free. 

It was just me and my horse.  The sound of my mares hoof-falls, crickets and jingle-bells.  And whatever creatures that happened to be lurking in the night.

Xoxo Loves,


Me

Nightbirds are Singin...

I LOVE the dark, and night time. I mean don't get me wrong, the things I know the skulk around in the dark do make me uneasy, but that's why I have good dogs ;)   But sleeping out under the stars on a cool summer night, is simply bliss... 

Crickets are supposed to be good luck. And they say if you have one in your house and you kill it, you will then have bad luck. So watch out for those little guys!   But it seems like they are always chirping.  ANd you can actually figure out the temperature by how many times they chirp in a minute.

I've lived in the high desert for several years, but honestly, I've never been able to see as many stars as I do when I'm back home in our little canyon. We don't have a huge expanse of sky to look at, but the shear numbers are extraordinary...  On a good night you can see the Milky Way, and I know that's not something everyone can say.  It's so dark, and quiet and peaceful here, that it actually scares some people when they come for a visit. But to me, it's home.  It's humbling as well, because how else can you truly appreciate the Lord than by reveling in the beauty he created?

At the edge of our front lawn, we have a large boulder that my dad picked up along the road during the '97 flood.  Starting at the age of 10 I've often gone out there to sit and just 'be' at night.  Not meditating as such, but relaxing and letting the peacefulness around me engulf me, and clear my mind. It's truly a Great way to let everything go... 

I love the sounds of night.  A light breeze, crickets chirping, the far off clink of a bell, the russel of leaves, toads hopping about looking for food, the all time serenity of the flowing creek...  

I love my home and the sounds that come with it ;)


XO loves

Me