On the first day of September I was determined to go outside and just sit. Sit in the sunshine and welcome this sublime month that transitions us from summer to autumn. I didn’t get that done in the intentional way I meant to, but there have been moments. And now September is slipping away.
I got a sturdy bench to put by my flowers that grow in colorful lines in the vegetable garden. I watch dragonflies and butterflies visit the blooms – and of course bees of all kinds. Several times I sat there with a grandkid and watched for pollinators. Lou is all about bees and makes circles with his tiny fist while he makes a buzzing sound. When Emma sat with me we saw three painted lady butterflies flitting about the cosmos, larkspur and zinnias.
Then there was the evening I sat alone. It was cool, no pollinators to be seen. The wind was moving through the cottonwood trees in a mellow and comforting way that filled me up as well. We need comfort. Life is hard.
We got the cattle moved to a new pasture and the calves vaccinated. Mark sleeps better now. The temperature swings of autumn put stress on the calves and make them susceptible to infectious diseases. Watching them close and increasing their immunity with vaccine is a good practice.
On the day of the big herd move, I was riding one of our best horses, Sis. She’s lively and walks right out, responding to the slightest cues. What a joy to ride. But even so, after 6 hours I was all done. My legs were screaming at me to call it a day. In defeat I rode back to the pickup, got a cold drink of water, ate one of Leah’s cookies and took a nap. It was glorious.
I knew it would happen. I’m 64 and more interested in tending Lou while Anna rides than staying in riding shape myself. This has been our pattern this spring and summer. Still, it made me so sad to ride away from the herd. Even though there was plenty of help and the cattle were going fine, it still stung. It was the first time I had left my family before the work was done.
September is a month of transitions and my change of roles is just another one on a long list that we must accept. Beautiful and sad, these events mark our lives and the passage of time that weighs on us all.
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| painted lady |
