May. Memories of the Farm.

[zon14]

Okay, sad news. My father died three and half weeks ago, April 14. We all knew it was coming but...it's hard to say what I'm going through. I've been even crankier than usual for the most part, though work's certainly not helping in the mood department. Last time out I can count on one hand the number of stops that went according to expectations. And this time isn't showing much improvement. One had one pick up so far, but spent three hours at the dock...for two pallets?! Seriously?

I've also been tasked with writing a poem about the farm before the memorial on July 14th. I know there's several themes that have been going through my mind about the place at least.

• In the winter, the clouds and mist rolling across the hillsides.


• In the summer, how one could imagine the hills covered in golden wheat stalks might stretch on forever. Also Jefferson Airplane's "Coming Back to Me" playing. Such an appropriate song for that season.


• Peppermint Pit. I dubbed it that. A space down by East Creek where Peppermint grew and grew and grew wild. Boy did it ever. Where I found two dead beavers one day, probably from eating dead crayfish in the creek.


• Dogs, mainly Leala the Border Collie. I named her that, though I imagined the spelling as Leela, after the Doctor Who companion of that name in the mid 1970's.


• Chickens. Gathering eggs. Also egg hunting while my Brother in Law George was still alive, and my two nieces were much smaller than they are now.


• Gathering up sheep for shearing.


• Milking goats