The Buck Moon

Tonight's Buck moon rose to a chorus of coyote's out in the back pasture.  It couldn't have been a more perfect scenario.  As a matter of fact, I have never heard the coyotes so close, and so active before.  It was just as if they needed to make sure that the man in the moon felt welcome as he looked down over our hills.  In the background, the fireflies dashed to and fro lighting their little paths all over the sky and through some of the tall vegetation (including my garden).  It was picture perfect, really.  


The full moon goes by various names as it rises each month, and varies according to different peoples and traditions.  From what I have read, the Buck Moon dates back to the Native American peoples of the northern and eastern regions of North America.  It's reference it to the the new growth of velvety antlers poking out from the foreheads of the bucks this time of year.  We visited an animal sanctuary this past weekend which houses and cares for a small herd of reindeer.  I got to feel first hand what that wonderful velvet feels like and now have a better appreciation for the name of this month's full moon.  All I can say is that velvet is a wonderful texture to feel.  


It's nights like these that make me thankful that I live in the country and not the city.  I realize to each his own, but oh the wonderful sounds of nature.  It's peaceful.  And that's how it should be.  

We got home just as the sun was setting last night. It was the first time I left my chickens all alone and was anxious to make sure everyone was okay. It's not always easy to find someone to 'chicken sit' during the holidays, but I knew the cold weather was going to break, so I didn't have to worry about frozen water buckets in the morning. I stocked them up good with a huge head of lettuce, seed, plenty of water and food, and a nice clean coop the morning before we left to go north for Christmas. I knew they would be fine, but it was still nice to come home. And what a welcoming we had! We arrived to the sound of the coyotes howling off in the distance, the sky was gorgeous shades of pink, orange, blue and purple, and three eggs were waiting in the nest boxes! I was overjoyed! We haven't seen a 'real' egg since Thanksgiving!

One more week of relaxation and then back to the grind. How time flies when you want it to go slow. I think I will force myself to take this week and catch up on some of my crafting. I should be getting a spinning wheel sometime this week, and I can't wait to spin on it! Though I've sure developed some mad drop spindle skills! Perhaps I'll get around to posting some pictures of my creations this week as well. Until then, goodnight from the farm.