___________

Life on the farm is all about change, life and death, winter and Spring, the new and the old. This winter was serious, causing significant damage. The Winter Pasture isn’t all about beauty.

A winter like this one changes things – me, the animals, the pastures, the woods. Lots of broken and dead deer, starved animals, a winter like that changes and challenges, especially for someone my age, but for all living things and a lot of nature. It makes us humble. We lost half a tree.

I was out there in the pasture every sub-zero morning, and I still feel it. My legs, especially, and my hands. I loved the photos tho, worth every chill.

The winter took a toll on my garden beds as well, with so much wind, snow, rain, and bitter cold. The Amish are great builders, but even their wood can succumb to nature.

Still, three years is a lot for outdoor things up here, especially in a winter like that.

________

Bud, Portrait

_______

Last week, we shoveled the dirt out, hauled the damaged beds to the front of the house, and people came by within hours to take them home and try to repair them themselves.

We put a “free” sign on them, and we know someone will take them and can put them to good use. It will take a lot of work and time. People have very little money.

You see the toll of rising prices everywhere here, and these are people who are happy to repair broken things; they have the tools. I hate it when the politicians poo-oo these struggles as just a minor matter. I see the truth at the Food Pantry. People are hurting.

The beds were too far gone for us. I kept the one to use on the porch with different flowers, and I’m re-imagining how to take my pictures in the summer.

Some news: My camera is in need of some repairs – the winter took its toll there also, and I may have to ship it off to Leica in Boston for repairs. If so, it will be gone for a week or so, assuming they can fix it. I’m sure they can. I hate giving up my camera, but Maria says she will loan me her new Canon and I have my Iphone.

I’ll survive. Some mornings, the camera was frozen solid. Me too.

I’ve written about this several times, but our President seems to be soaking up all the time and space in the world, and people miss it. I’m flattered that so many people noticed, thank you.

I’m not sure how I’ll deal with this, but I can assure everyone that I will be taking flower photos this Spring, summer, and beyond. Pastoral pictures, too.

Wish me luck. I won’t let you down. I won’t let me down either.