Daily observations of my simple life.

Christmas Day

I woke to a wonderful blue sky day. This day was mine as the day before I had done all the family things. Went to my daughters had lots of food and gave the colorful bags to the grands.

I woke to the morning ponderings of the days ahead and what 2005 will bring and what are my goals. I had coffee and fruit cake and wandered outside. There my own manger scene greeted me. No Christchild, only in my heart.

I hugged Sage and carried water, then I went in Cheriki's pen. Quietly walking up to her I slowly reached out  my hand and finally touched her cheek, then her neck. Now I was able to stand and pet her for a long time, just communing.

There was a little girl who every year asked for a horse, who saved her pennies to buy a horse, and never was able to have that dream fulfilled. That little girl was me. Somewhere deep down that needed to be healed.

When I first thought about moving to Arizona I went to see some land that had a big sign by the road. It was a land development thing. The realtor took us , my daughter was with me, out all around and showed us 40 acre parcels. The mountain parcels were pretty much taken and what he really wanted to sell was in the flats, real desert.  Later I returned and did a search, finally finding a small parcel in the mountain area for under $3000. Lovely mountain high desert. I would go camp there from time to time and it was so isolated that it was almost spooky. Yet I loved having all this space to myself, walking about without a soul around. Feeling a bit spooked at night with no one around, wondering what was out there. There were a few abandoned properties where some long ago person had put up some kind of little structure then moved on. That was 5 years ago. About 2 years ago I drove up and found a small trailer parked on a lot down my block at the end of the road. They created walk ways into the desert and had a firepit in the yard. It was kind of charming and it gave me a since of security to know someone was fairly close by. The following year they had fenced a small area and built a cute little southwestern enclosure around their trailer and another mobile had been moved in across from them. Last year a couple had moved on the other end of my block in a couple of old motorhomes and there was a very small trailer parked directly behind my property. I learned it was a single man who was wintering there. Now this so very isolated, quiet, lovely area is slowly growing. There is another trailer down the street from me and two more in various locations by the couple with two motorhomes. Behind the little trailer with the southwestern front is another trailer with a little shed. I now have more neighbors in my little mountain property than I have here on my block  in a community. Several places are now fenced. Still I went there and enjoyed it's beauty on Christmas day.  I  hiked off in more isolated areas and made my Christmas Day special by hiking in the mountains with my dog. 

After hiking and resting we pulled up stakes and I decided to do my explorer thing and see where a certain road led. Off we went on this beautiful day traveling on dirt roads through unknown terrain. My kind of thing but one of these times I am going to get caught doing this type of exploring. Roads were a little rough but I saw some beautiful country. I came winding down into a little town about 50 miles from my home. I got home just after dark to feed and then went to my neighbors for a few minutes.

My neighbor had invited me over to commune with the many people she had invited. I felt a bit sad for her as she had gone all out. Her home was all decorated, with tables of food, smoked turkey, regular turkey, ham, many side dishes, and no one had showed up except her mother and finally me. There was sadness there so even though I had had a glorious day doing the things I love I went home feeling sorrow for her.

Yesterday I began cleaning, my daughter came by and we both went out and petted Cheriki, then I went into town for the rest of the day.  Today it is raining and I have a week ahead before the new year begins and I must practice my resolves, my new goals.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 15:42 | link | comments (4)

Comments:

#1  27 December 2004 - 15:53

 

Sounds like a good day. Best of luck with your new goals.

Anonymous

#2  27 December 2004 - 15:54

 

Oops...sorry, didn't mean to be mysterious...I didn't know I was logged off.

InMyLife

#3  27 December 2004 - 16:25

 

Umm, I love a little mystery. You should have kept me guessing. Hope your Christmas was special. I'm about to go over to your place and see what you're up to.

cactusandquail

#4  27 December 2004 - 18:32

 

sounds nice. Nope, not superior, but it sounded good when I wrote it ;-)

Anonymous

Comments: