About This Blog

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I have loved things Country and Western all of my life. I have loved the ranches and farms. the fields, the barns, livestock, and the food. I was born and raised in Kentucky where I learned to love and appreciate the beauty, hard work, and value of country living, Most of my family lived on farms and/or were livestock producers. I have raised various livestock and poultry over the years. I have sold livestock feed and minerals in two states. My big hats and boots are only an outward manifestation of the country life I hold dear to my heart. With the help of rhyme or short story, in recipes or photos, I make an effort in this blog to put into words my day to day observations of all things rural; the things that I see and hear, from under my hat. All poems and short stories, unless noted otherwise, are authored by me. I hope you enjoy following along.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Slumberless Night




It’s three in the morning and I awaken to the sounds of my wife’s peaceful breathing, and the oscillating fan purring back and forth. I look at the red numbers of the clock, and then roll over to try to get back to sleep. My mind, however, begins to mull over all this past weeks events, and things I have ahead of me to do . After some time, I realize that slumber isn’t coming back soon, so I ease out of bed. I pull on my jeans and t-shirt and walk barefoot to the kitchen. I quietly open the fridge, pour myself a glass of milk, and walk through the dining room into the living room.

The large windows in the room reveal a blue-sequined sky of shimmering black velvet. The twinkling stars in the dark of this night are reminders to me of a vast universe, of how small Man is, and just how great God is. Countless men, over thousands of years, have gazed into these same heavens; have looked upon the same moon, and wondered at the vast expanse before them that is hidden by the light of day. The stars have fascinated us all, and stretched our imaginations. They have put us in our place, and put life in the proper perspective.

We are but finite creatures made of, and living on a planet of, rock, water, and soil. Our earthly body is not long here, but we have a soul that lives forever, and staring into the endless heavens on a clear summers night, helps us better understand what the words eternal and infinite must mean. If we can see and believe in a never ending universe, well it's not hard to believe in a never ending life with the Creator; the creator of all things great and small, simple and wondrous.

The breeze is gentle. The tree limbs sway softly, delicately, and the flag waves lightly; the red and white stripes shrinking and lengthening in the wind. I raise the window to catch the breeze, and as the fresh night air surrounds my face, my ears catch the haunting songs of the night birds. The birds are in several trees within a hundred yards of the house. One calls a sweet melody to my left, and another joins in straight ahead, then another on my right, and yet another, until a chorus spreads through the cool night stillness. There is a pause and then, sweetly, they begin all over again. I listen enchanted, and I am in awe of Mother Natures ability to soothe the soul in sight and sound, in beauty and simplicity.

After an hour of breathing the night air, and soaking up the music of wind and song, I realize that I am relaxed; that I've lost the burden of fretting, and that my eyes are weighting. I slowly close the window , latch the sash, and head back to the kitchen. As I wash out my milk glass, I see a raccoon amble across the yard on his nocturnal jaunt. He is nearing the end of his shift, I think, and in an hour or so I'll be beginning mine.

So, I return to my place for slumbering, and settle back in bed with the music of the night birds fresh in my head. I play the beautiful haunting melody over in my mind again, until I fold deep into my pillow, and blessed rest is mine once more.

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