January, the End~

The snow that drifted along the shelter belts and what blew deeply into the road ditches from barren fields are all that remain of the snow that fell in December and early January. The snow has turned into running water, either flowing down on to the Republican or collecting down into dams and lagoons. The winter earth …

Mud~

"I like mud!" I said as 4-wheel drive slipped around the turn in the driveway. "Really!" four voices astonishingly replied in unison. OK, I was being a little facetious. I don't truly like mud. I don't like muddy shoes being tracked into the house. I don't like muddy paws left on my jeans. I don't enjoy driving mud caked …

January Dawn~

The brightmorning orb yawns, stretches, and sprawls her limbs acrossthe mauve colored sky.Shoving the Januarymoon precariously overthe edge of dawn. XO Megan

A Crossroads~

I left tracks in the sand,but the wind drifted them in.No trace, erased. Did they ever exist? Here I am. But where is that?I'm a second-class citizen now.Land identities are foolish to trust. The dust blinds my eyes now,clogging my throat and lungs.Thick loamy mud clings to my boots making me slip in the muck. …

Cold Weather Effects~

An enshrouding dreary fog covered the landscape with a depressing heavy coat. Suffocating the eyes and making those in its midst feel isolated and alone, it instilled a heavy damper on any chance of a good mood for the day. As I stepped out before light to start the tractor, the thick fog made the corrals …

No Wasted Time

I wish I had something pithy to say. Something to warm up your guts. Words to stir your soul. But I don't.  Time is all I had. So, that's what I gave. Two hours I sat. Waiting. For the hose to thaw the frozen drain pipe. Bale against my back. Hay, a warm blanket to the ground. The …

How I Really Think About It (January)~

The day has made me feel a tad bipolar. The sun tried to shine through the thick layer of periwinkle cloud cover in the morning. For a few minutes, a fuchsia-colored cloud spot shone brightly as if the sun would soon burst through. But to no avail. The periwinkle clouds stood firm and darkened in …

Cowgirl Chronicles~ January 16, 2024

How is it the middle of January already? Not that I am complaining about that. It's just January's normally a drag. I suppose it is because I feel as if I have lived in a twilight zone since Christmas. The week and a half after Christmas are already a twilight zones. Then, the next week, the girls started …

Ag-Update~ Running on Fumes, or How Long the Ibuprofen Lasts

Winter weather has been the blaring headline for the past week for much of Nebraska. After missing the bulk of the snow from Monday's blizzard that dumped over ten inches of snow in parts of eastern Nebraska, blowing shut county roads and closing the interstate, the southwest corner had two days of mild weather. I had …

Savage Arctic Tundra~

Published in "The Hayes Center Times-Republican" January 18, 2024 My eyes strained to look for him as the snow malevolently swirled across the flattened landscape. In the fading light of the day the weather gave off a foreboding and dangerous atmosphere.  With the wind, the windchill was well below zero and he was still out on …