It as only luck that I was on the tractor last night rolling out through the garden and along the empty grey fields,
– past the pigs field, them runing out to meet me – we’re here we’re here …
.. through the baby fellowship forest.
Along the fence-line where the the black and white herd gathered to greet me and my load of hay.
I had finished the milking, cleaned the milking room, fed the chickens, fed the pigs, topped up the waters. John was inside making something divine with shrimps and coconut milk so it was my turn to feed out.
I looked across at Lady Astor as she paused to track me wondering where I was going to leave her hay this evening and then I saw the moon. The MOON. The Moon.
When I got back inside, changed and settled to catch up on my social media I saw that pictures of the super moon were everywhere, even some of my old students were posting shot of it from New Zealand.
But at that moment while the cows stood and waited for me to begin to throw the hay over the fence I felt like I had discovered this great blonde perfectly round lantern of light all by myself. Only luck that it was me out here with open eyes. I could have had my head down in the barn and missed it.
The setting, settling sun brushed the rising moon with a smear of gentlest pink. A soft watercolor pink, if this colour had a scent it would be the merest whiff of that very old fashioned sweet talcum powder our Grandma used to use. Blousy. A middle aged muted peachy pink.
Boo and I sat and watched the hesitant young moon hover just above the horizon, gathering power from the earth he holds on a leash. We watched from the tiny tractor in our tiny field, on our tiny farm , and were very gently put into our tiny place.
Then just as quickly the setting sun released gossamer strings she had on this gladiator moon and pulling hard on his earthed leash the moon rose, hauling upwards. The warmth of the setting sun sliding off its face, and up it rose further, clean and white and old. An entity of such power surely it cannot be only a cold moon. The moon is circling close to the earth now our leash firmly in its hold, causing the tides and waters to swell higher than usual – water is heavy, can this put stress on the fault lines causing a miniscule tilt which becomes a massive grind into teethlike earthquakes? Now there is an interesting thought.
The moon is massive in its power over the earth but I am small in mine. I trail in its wake. I started up the tractor, called the dogs, said good night to the cows and we trundled back to the barn, said goodnight to Poppy and her babies. Shut the chickens door after Boo had inspected every corner for intruders.
Said good night to Sheila who always waits for the last goodnight and always grunts back.
The dogs and I walked up to the verandah littered with farming paraphenalia, ignored it all. I kicked off my gumboots, the dogs curled into their pods. I took off my jacket, pulled up my socks and as the sun disappeared altogether, leaving the moon to rise unencumbered and huge, looming above me, I went inside for dinner.
It is morning now. Dark outside. Moon has set in the West. Sun is just pinking up the horizon in the East. We are betwixt and between. The changing of the guard. This is the moment to look at the darkness and make the plans we CAN achieve. Be honest. Be kind. Be true. Be small. Be gentle with our little planet. Make that daily decision to be the best we can be. To overcome our very human pettiness. For this moment between the moon and the sun we make our wishes. But never forget how powerful the moon and the sun are. How completely important. How fragile and awesome and precious this little earth sitting between them.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
54 responses to “It was only luck”
I was up this morning before 6 to get some photos of your super-duper moon. They are still on the camera. But, I did get some good ones to share.
I look forward to seeing those! c
I am so pleased you got that beautiful shot. Our skies were covered with thick clouds yesterday and same today so no moon was visible at all. Maybe I will see it in 2034!
So that’s how the cow jumped over the moon 😉
That was BEAUTIFUL prose.. and your images are outstanding. I laid on a carpet of oaks leaves yesterday and I pondered the sun and it’s warmth. I observed a buck with his nose to the ground catching scent. And I saw four does running wild through the woods snorting. There just are not appropriate words to describe what we feel at these moments. But I think your written word and photographs this morning took us just about as close as it gets to feeling the magnificence of the moment!
I agree with you! Celi’s writing is Beautiful! ( & elegant, thoughtful & wise). What a pleasure to read & see her wonderful blog this cold smokey (from forest fires) bone dry, brittle littered November Monday morning in Western North Carolina.
My newest all time favorite post.
I agree!. Thank you, Miss C !
Those pictures are amazing!! And you can so clearly see the face…ahhh I LOVE the moon.
Aw, so beautiful, Celi! We have quite a drenching rain here this morning so I’m not sure if we’ll be able to see the Super Moon tonight or not. But I’ve now seen it through your photos so I’m good!
Your moon is beautiful, a pearly pink. Yesterday, ours was a Stormy Moon, crossed by swift-moving shreds of slate coloured storm-cloud, and occasionally put in the shade by large bolts of lightning. Tonight’s Moon was huge and pale and peaceful, surrounded by lavish red and gold sunset and strips of dark night clouds. But I had no chance to photograph it; we were unpacking from a long trip and were tremendously tired and hungry. The Moon is always there, but hunger and fatigue need to be seen to 🙂
If the boffins are to be believed it will be even better tonight 🙂 We have been having huge storms, lots of flooding of drought stricken river beds and its all very welcome of course, but all in the last week of the super moon building up (getting closer). Beautiful pics, sad outcomes for some though. Laura
Beautiful pictures! Is your New Zealand family ok after the quake?
Oh how lovely. The calm In those pictures, the sky, the moon! Have a lovely day yourself : )
I know this is hard work but you’ve found all the beauty in it! Thank you for all you do – your the core of our survival.
Oh my goodness. What a beautiful moon!! I’ve heard about it but that’s the first one I saw – so beautifully captured my sweet friend. Have a great Monday. XOXO – Bacon
One of those moon pictures would be great in the 2017 calendar!
Thick clouds and heavy rain obscured our view here but so happy you got a wonderful shot of it. You are so poetic in your description. Thanks for a lovely start to my day.