Greetings all, how did you spend your day?
I went for a long walk yesterday around the fence line of the ranch. Noted 3 toms under one of my feeders and a hen scratching under a oak not 100' from my house. Ber. Rabbit was chewing grass beside the horse fence and the squirrels were digging nut in the front yard. The birds were singing a beautiful song.
As I turned off the sand road into the rye grass field I noted at least a dozen squirrels on the ground and in the oaks in the shaded lane where the boar hog usually crosses, guess I missed him today. But the dove are there in the old pea stubble on the backside of this pasture. So are the cows, my what a good calf crop were having. New calves everywhere. I see the new bulls have been busy, there's black calves scattered among the others showing their work.
At the end of the rye grass field, I turn down the fence toward our property boundary with the wildlife management area. As I drift along in the shade of the hickory trees I spot a fawn in the trail. His mother standing in the deep grass just inside the tree line. I stand motionless trying for a photo with my cell phone but knowing its too far. The doe steps into the trail and the fawn follows her down the trail crossing the fence about 100' away and moving into the cypress swamp.
I follow continuing my walk across this place I call home again after so long a absence. Down the fence line & up the grade to my friends feeder and up to his house. The dog wakes my friend and we visit in the yard under the oaks for a while. He invites my to go fishing later for a mess of catfish but I have plans to take my granddaughter to town for lunch & shopping so my friend & I part and I continue my walk home.
A hour later we pull into the Golden Corral for a wonderful lunch. Myself, the wife, & granddaughter. And then to Wallmart to shop & enjoy our time together. After all her 2 months with us will go by faster that you think. Then we will follow her back to Alaska to spend the hottest part of the year out of the Florida sun.
As I sit this morning reflecting on the freedoms we enjoy. The news is all bad but my life is good. Yes I've endured lost loved ones and buried family & friends but I live where I want and travel across this great land. Have lived in different cultures & grown to love them all. All because we are a free people.
A GGGG uncle fought with washington for this freedom. My dad fought in WW1. In WW11 my uncles ship was sunk and the germans fired on them in the water. And different ones have fought to preserve those freedoms it seems all my life we have been at war.
As we drove by the VFW hall yesterday and observed the flags, my wife said she wished we could stand up and salute our fallen brothers. Of course driving prevented that but even though things are changing in America and we have a president that will not salute our flag, I believe the stars & stripes still flies over this great land. And I for one am greatful for the sacrifice so many have made so I can live free. As we saluted our flag & sang America the beautiful. I was proud and thankful to live in this great land.
