I Like

I like the sounds of a piano as it drifts out the open door into late afternoon sunlight.

I like bunches of peonies, wild flowers and roses crammed into gorgeous bunches all about a house.

I like the smell of bacon in the morning and I like to share it with people; be they family or the random traveler. Food always taste better when shared.

I like the sound the horses in the wrangle pen make at night, and how it just touches my subconscious as I’m sleeping. I always smile before I drift off again.

I like men who have integrity and women with confidence.

I like the way a dog just knows.

I like the way my saddle feels tucked under my arm when I go to saddle my horse. The upwards swing, the comfortable settling of blankets, wood and leather on my horses back.

I like the way dirt changes colors and smell when you water a garden.

I like the business and energy of a NY city street and the stillness and (different) energy found in the wilderness and mountains. 

I like the gathering of fishing gear the night before and the excitement of heading out to land a big one in the early morning smell and mist.

I like the cold feeling of cotton sheets when you first get into bed at night.

I like sweaters that are too big for me all year round.

I like the sound of my horse playing with the cricket in his bit,

and most of all,

I like being me

with you. 

Second Chances and Bonds On My Feet

Second chances are amazing gifts. I've posted this before, but I have a tendency to be horribly mean to the person who inspired it. I have a chance to be their friend again, and I'm so glad they're back in my life. Please forgive me my rambling, but if you have a chance to right a wrong that you made, do it now without waiting another minute! I wish I hadn't let my pride and the fear of NOT being forgiven hold me back for as long as it did. 

BONDS AND CHANEL #5

Tan hands and sunburnt cheeks

Two pairs of Bonds leaning by the door

Work jeans cuffed, bare feet tiptoeing off the freshly scrubbed floor

It’s shivering cold at night and baby please hold me warm

70’s shag carpets and lights that don’t work

It’s finally learning to shape a shoe just right

It’s the first job in town

Coming home late and tired at night

It’s breakfast at 3am

And crying in the shower

It’s new Tip’s saddles and soft

“I ordered this silver for you”

Axe body wash and vanilla spice spray

It’s ham and cheese grilled sandwiches

And branding

And calving

And fighting

And crying

And growing….

It’s life

xo xo Liz

Cherry Creek

 The family was headed for a weekend of visiting friends

Eating casino food and reata roping in Reno town

But she opted

To help a friend doctor yearlings instead

Bedroll, check,

Saddle, snaffle, blanket, chinks, warmest coat you’ve got

Happy little gal

Brown hair covered up with a red winter cap

Bounced her way into a bitter spring camp

And spent

A very happy 4 days

Necking her first steer

Doctoring with fingers frozen stiff

Greasy breakfast mornings

And watching the boys puff cigars to help stay warm

Meander along,

Step down

Cinch up

Build to him, poor little sick fella

Yeller’s feet feel awfully slick on this icy, frozen tundra that used to be a pivot

Oh God I feel like an idiot

Boys keeping pace, offering good-humored advice, like swing harder!

Swing

ONE TWO THREE times and throw

Loop sailing, sailing, why does it feel so heavy and slow?

Finally settles clumsily around the neck

And dear lord I think we’re falling,

I’d rather not watch if you don’t mind, so I’ll just squeeze my eyes tight shut

But no, it’s just nerves and cold

Slide a little rope

And hold your dallies like the boys do

A pretty pink cross on this yellow calf’s head to say that’s he’s been done

All right, who’s next?!

Replay and Repeat

And how about a lazy lunch

And waste some time in the machine barn

Roping a dummy

Perfecting that shot till you’re warm with exertion and shoulder is sore

And the days pass and fill up with memories of

Generators and Mel Brooks quotes

Broken in ropes and where it feels right to throw

Before she knows it

It’s time for her to head back

To family and chores and school

But first a nap in the saddle shop parking lot

While she waits for them to open up

An hour there and our little brown haired, red-capped miss

Leaves $100 lighter

And with silver rings glinting in her ears

xo xo Liz 

Just Another Lord's Day

Sleep for 4 hours, dash the tiredness from blue-grey eyes

Stoke up the fire without properly waking up

Make coffee

Rouse the sister that you still think about with fierce, protective thoughts, 

Despite her 21 years

Get ready….laughing, pushing, playing, talking, dreaming 

While long, blonde hair is brushed, 

Shimmy into starched jeans and 

 Stamp into town boots

Start the car and let it warm up,

Bump down the pot-holed road,

Little dogs panting all the while

Elk, pigs, turkeys, 2 baby deer….small gifts opened and treasured on the way to Mass

Worship with others, raise your song high

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

Scrape part of a hide

Shoot until the ammo is gone

Rope the dummy

Listen to the stories they’re trying to tell you, 

That’s printed into your DNA

Get them all down before it’s too late

Cry for the time that’s been wasted,

The mistakes that have been made

Pick yourself up and realize

Tomorrow’s a new day

Realize that His timing is the right timing,

That everything that has happened

To you,

For you,

In spite of you,

Was just setting you up for the

NOW

It’s just right

Smile, tired arms flung out in a bed of

Red flannel and levi quilts

Protecting you until the dawn

Of a beautiful

New day

xo xo Liz 

Photo Credit: Junk Gypsy