it was very evident how dry this Earth has been. by mid day all the pools of standing water were gone. just layers of sticky mud
i cleaned for Old Cowboy today. then visited Alz B and fed her lunch. one of the other residents, Marilyn who used to be in the Alzheimer's Unit with B and got "voted off the island" too, was doing something odd. my guess was that she was having very low grade seizure activity...in an on going way. all through lunch, she was at the table across the way from us and i could watch her. so after lunch, i pulled up a chair to her wheel chair. she only looked at me once, when i first appeared and said her name. but then remained involved in the Internal activity. i very lightly stroked her shoulders, her neck. running my hand down the back of her head. she liked that. i can't tell you how exactly i knew, but she did and i knew. and i asked one of the nurses when they passed and yes. a very mild seizure activity. Unless you are family or otherwise authorized person, they cant give any information. so i didn't ask. But for whatever reason, i want to say it here. Document.
Marilyn was having a difficult time today. her body was doing things that she didn't understand and had no control over. it was worrying her in some way, i'm not sure how. All i know about Marilyn is that she lived alone west of here. she had dogs and horses. she has never had a visitor that i have seen in a year.
then, i got more Goat pellets from the one feed store. i'd left a whole new bag in the truck bed Monday and it swelled twice its size from the rain. i'll see if the guy down the road might be able to feed it to his pig. at the other feed store i got 2 bales of straw.
managed to pop open that little fence gate with a hammer and a "wonder bar" (it swells tight with moisture) and unload while the Goats were preoccupied with their pellets. spread it. for this moment it will provide a barrier from the mud.
Jude's Magic was the only one that watched.
Arctica knew i was doing something. but she continued to work at the dead Russian Olive. with horses, they call it "cribbing". a kind of compulsive gnawing on whatever there is to gnaw on. the Goats work away at this tree when there is some anxiety. they also "crib" the back door. sometimes during the night.
and then...there was maybe 4 very small raindrops
and here they came. Surprised and interested to find the straw. soon, they were all there.
according to the National Weather Service, there is supposed to be more storm tonight.
When i was at the second feed store, there was a Navajo woman there. she bought a wire "dog crate" the medium size. she said to the store guy, for their lambs. so, being me, at the counter, when she was paying, i asked her....do you worry about them? the sheep? when it's like this? and she turned her head somewhat in my direction, but not entirely. ( never look into someone's face) and laughed that oh so singular soft Navajo laugh sound, and her head tilted sideways. she didn't really answer me. i know they raise sheep. have for generations. some are kept for wool. the little ones sold for whatever and that includes meat. they understand things. it is simply inside them. it was simply inside her. i know that when her ewes birth, she is there. i know she watches over her herd like she is the Mother herself. and i also know that they go so further than i know how in understanding How It Is. her laugh was soft. the turning of her head, kind. she knew very well what this old hippy was asking. she did not answer. and that in itself is my answer.
Find Out For Yourself.
so.
now, this day is ending and the Crickets have begun. i saw today several very small lizards born last month probably. THEY are in a world that is Perfect to them. could not be more perfect. and i put some black beans in the copper pot to sit tonight, catching Rain. i look at this face and try to see, really, like, Very Really, how truly beautiful it is that Cloth Making tells me things. How when i first drew that face and placed the Karma Hat on it...i had no idea. i just DID it. and how since, it has continued of its own accord. and how as i go through my days i think of the "look" and try to make my own face like that....how it feels. how it loosens things. how it lets things Be.
