An Everyday Evening

Outside, the sun rolled into his western bed, pulling his vermilion covers with him. The air is mellow and cool, a welcome change from the lingering August heat. The sound of my brothers playing wiffle ball carries in the clear atmosphere. Basket in hand, I step into the old sleepy barn. Hens from their roost scold as I collect their days' work. Eleven. The rooster mildly watches in the semi-dark. G' night, Randall. I lock them safely in for the night. Lungs fill with clean blue calm, stars uncover slowly in the big sky overhead, gravel crunches underfoot. The evening makes my big flannel shirt feel just right. Home lights beckon invitingly, boys laugh in the backyard, Hannah's fiddle sings a song.

For everyday evenings, thank You, Lord.


-ak

Autumn Gold

October twenty-first. Mom, my youngest brothers and I walked the Billings zoo park.

The sky stretched bold and blue overhead. Rustle. The strong fingers of late Autumn's sun touched our welcoming faces. Rustle. Columns of cottonwoods, steady years etched into their bark, passed serenely by, faithfully holding up the vaulted cobalt ceiling. Their topmost branches were cathedrals painted with rich yellows, mellowing greens, brilliant scarlets; the leaves danced to the earth, and grandeur infused us with a sense of the fleeting glory of the changing season. Rustle. We kicked the fallen leaves back into the air, and I remembered being 6 years old in Pennsylvania's Autumn, where falling leaves made mountains just for jumping into. Rustle. The earthy wizened perfume of Autumn wafted through the air like her dancing leaves. Everywhere we walked, Autumn rolled out her gold carpet. Rustle.

This October twenty-first day felt like a bit more than eye could see; somehow, the Sistine Chapel or the Taj Mahal might have seemed a bit dull compared to the sun-gilt palace halls of Autumn and her golden carpets.

Fiddlers in the Fall

Pictures from the small and fun Three Forks fiddle contest last weekend:

I placed 3rd. (But I'm on the far left)




Hannah placed 1st in her division.

Mosaic of Fall 2010

Our grandparents came out from IN and surprised JD for his college graduation.

Cody played some fall ball.

Visited Isaac's grave, nestled at the foot of the Beartooth mountains.

Sirs Will and Jed reveling in our Indian Summer.

Praying for an end to abortion with 40 Days for Life.