01 August, 2011

Worry, Replaced...


This is the view across our side yard, from the porch outside the studio. Our house lot is adjacent to this open land. When we built our home, ten years ago, there were horses in this pasture. They would gallop up the barbed wire fence that delineated the property line for daily carrots and nose rubs. Not long after we moved in the owners of the property sold their farm and the animals went away. This pasture has stood vacant until earlier this spring when two horses and two cows were spotted grazing in a distant, corralled, enclosure up closer to the farm house. It was nice to see them there but I couldn't help recall how much better it would be if they used the entire pasture and came closer like in years past. A couple of days ago I stepped onto the side porch and saw this: nothing, the fence was gone! I was stunned; where did it go, why was it gone, what did this mean? Worry descended upon me... were the owners selling? Was the pastureland being divided up into house lots? How would this view, my view, change? I had a physical reaction as the day went on, a sick headache from the worry; I lost sleep that night, imagining fifty houses going up on this beautiful piece of property. Yesterday morning the pasture was being mowed, my husband wandered out there to flag down the tractor's driver and find out where the fence had gone. He came back smiling, the fence was being replaced, he reported; the horses would soon have the run of the entire pasture... just like in years gone by! What a relief; I felt the worry slide away, replaced by overwhelming peace and contentment. Late yesterday afternoon the view from our side porch changed once again... to this:
Life is Good!


16 comments:

leigh anna said...

I hope that Mason and G get to see the horses! :)

JudyCinNC said...

Oh, how I can relate - we had cows grazing when we bought our six acres. Next year they moved them out, sold the land to a developer who proceeded to clear cut right up to our boundry - regardless of 20 foot easement - and build 350 houses. Oh well, we are selling now, but it still upsets me.

JudyCinNC said...

I sure am glad your situation turned out differently. I would love to have horses grazing. Enjoy them - (I accidently sent my post before finishing.)

Ancestor Collector said...

Beautiful view!

Pat said...

Like. Really really like.

Jean said...

Lucky you! So nice to see something of the old... stay! Seems everywhere we look the open spaces are getting turned into something.... like a
Walmart! Horses can make good neigh-----bors! LoL... I found your blog yesterday while checking on google search for quilting blogs!
Jean C.

Paula, the quilter said...

O I am so glad! We have a 3 acre green belt behind us that is dry land hay, which BTW, was mowed and baled just the other day. The older lady who owns it rents the land out to a local farmer. I do hope the kids do not sell it to a developer when she passes.

Salem Stitcher said...

Oh, I know the relief you feel! I'm glad you have horses not houses!

regan said...

Whew.....that was close call! So many beautiful pastures are being bought up by developers.....I'm so glad you have our horses back! That is a daily reminder to take a walk and enjoy the view (with carrots in hand!)

Janet O. said...

I went through all of those emotions with you. The land next to ours is already subdivided and rezoned for development and was gifted to the original owners 3 children upon his death. One day there was a bunch of activity on the piece next to us. We were getting very concerned and I was having a similar reaction to what you experienced. And what was all the fuss about? A bee garden!! That's right, a bee garden. Due to concerns about the waning bee population this woman worked with the local university extension to determine what native plants are good for bees (pollination purposes) and she has planted her acreage with rows of these plants! No animals graze there anymore, but good neighbors, just the same. Life IS good!

Anonymous said...

Now, THAT is a happy ending! I can understand why all the worry. It is lovely, glad it is staying that way!

AnnieO said...

How very exciting to see horses back in the pasture. Glad the worry was replaced so pleasingly :)

Nane said...

Yes they are much nicer neeeiiigghhhbors I am sure

phyzz said...

Whew! Happy for you!!!! What view!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Yet again, your DH and mine ... mine would have gone to chat with the tractor driver, no question.

SO happy for you that the horses have returned!

Kim said...

Oh good...horses are the best neighbors :0).
That was scary!

My little Granddaughter is gonna turn 3 this month.....although I'll miss her party I'll have to get a beautiful picture of her just like you did of your grandbaby in a 3 tee shirt :0).
How adorable.

Happy sewing