The Land in August

The Land
is
so
beautiful
in
August.

The purple
season
bows
to
yellow.

A simple

walk

through the

grasses...

Brings

me
face
to
face...

with
the beauty
of
summer.

The flowers
are
beautiful,
yes...

But then,
so are
the
thistles...

the colors
of the
pokeweed
are
stunning...

Even the
lowly ragweed
throws elegant
arches
up into the
August
sky.

The yellow
flowers
bring
sunbright
to the
land...

and
the soft
grasses
flow
with
the wind.

My chest
thrums
with the
masses of bees
working
the prairie.













I enjoy
the
swallowtails

and
painted
ladies...

while scanning
the skies
for the
monarch
migration.

My
milkweeds
are
ready.

The pines
shine
with
streaks of silver

reminding
me
of the
silver shining
in my own
hair.

We are aging
together
the
summer
and
me.

and
we
look
forward...

to
the
beauty...

of
a
new
season...





yet
to
come

To Chile

Flying
alone
to
Chile...

My
little
girl

A
one
way
ticket!

And
no farm
yet commited
to taking on
my
organic farmer.

Yes,
I'm interrupting
my St Louis
adventure
for another good-bye.

Does it
seem
like we
good-bye
a lot?

It's part
of this
launching-
the-kids
process.

photo by My Fifth Quarter

Although
sometimes
it feels like
less of a
launch...

and
more
of a
dribble.

This is
our life
now...

Suitcases...

and
airports...

Preparations...

and 

the lack

thereof...

the 

last day 

home?

She 

develops

Peroneal

Tendinitis...

Ouch!

Last
minute
shoe
shopping...

No, Al.

:(

The
next
morning...

Al,
are you
ready
to go?

.

Am I
packing
too many
dresses?

You'll
be
farming,
Al!

But
I love
this
skirt!

Get in
the
car
now!

Small talk
on the way
to the
airport.

Is she
ready
to
go?

So far?

For so long?

Am I
ready
for her
to go?

We
don't know
when
she'll
return.

There
she
goes...

to
see
the
world -




my
little
girl...