Reading · Geri’s Substack

Living on a farm in the beautiful Schoharie Valley offers powerful healing when I intentionally create the space to embrace it. The cares of living on Mother Earth in the human experience can pull us in many directions. They can distract us, and at times evoke a spectrum of emotions based on what we are thinking or feeling. All of my relations include every being that comes into my space.

Every morning this time of year, I am awakened by the songs of the birds, my rooster crowing, coyotes yipping on the mountain, the cry of an eagle or pileated woodpecker, and a loud neigh from my Mustang mare Josie, to get me to come out and open the gate to the pasture. A good word to describe the place we steward is “zen” - a state of calm attentiveness you can only hear when you are listening. Listening with more than just your ears.

I have taken a myriad of pictures for 23 years, of the endless beauty in the place that is my home on the east side of the Schoharie Creek at the Wilder Hook, and guarded by the presence of Onistagrawa (the mountain- the opening in the rocks). Revisiting my pictures brings back feelings of centeredness, appreciation and gratitude. It’s always a good way to begin and end every day in any season.

I saw this very young fawn with its Mom during morning chores a few days ago. She left it between two locust trees. It was sound asleep. She came back for it a little later.