When I think of my life now, when I think of my farm, I always go back to the image of Maria and the animals, they are always gathered around her, she is always speaking to them, soothing them, wondering about them. And they respond to her, they quietly gather around her, wait patiently for words or grain or one of the many small treats she tucks into her pockets and carries around with her. We hardly ever throw food away, Maria says it is for this chicken, or that sheep, or Lulu or Fanny or Simon will love it. We save bread at restaurants and tuck them into bags or napkins, often Maria will reach into her big canvas bag for her wallet or cellphone and pull out some rock-hard piece of bread she meant to bring back from New York City for one of the donkeys or dogs or cats.

Maria loves these animals so much, they trust her and they talk to her in their own language and in their own way. This week I have been wondering how to get that piece of photographic equipment I really wanted and thought I had enough money to buy, I was going to get it Sunday in New York and there just wasn’t enough money for it, and I felt a brief disappointment and then brought myself back into focus. I got a lot of new equipment a couple of weeks ago in New York, I am lucky to have it all and am loving it.

I have so much in the way of wealth and riches, I love Maria and the farm and the animals and my life and blog and work and friends so much, riches are just pouring into my life. I don’t need the things I think I need, I have more wealth than I ever imagined. Tableaus are important, they tell us where we are. This one speaks to me of gratitude and connection, the old ways fight hard and die hard. I work every day of my life to shed them and bow my head in wonder at the joy, crisis and mystery of life.