The Christmas Barn Morn

Christmas Is Here, Christmas is when the stockings are hung and all through the house not a creature was stirring , and as they say, not even a mouse.

 The break of dawn, the dawning sun ,the white and gleaming snow across the field, into the barn on Christmas morn we go.

It is a tradition, in some families, especially those who are animal lovers or country folk, starting the morning off with a beautiful Christmas ride, of course the horses are all spry and frisky, the weather has been cold, the snow has stopped and it is the first Sunrise we have seen in three peaceful days. The beautiful clouds, the white crystal soft snow have graced us with their glowing miracle. It is truly a Christmas Day to be able to spend with those we love, two-legged and four-legged, and to give Grace and thanks for all the goodness that we live with.

My little mare, whose name is Jewel, is an absolute Jewel ; however on these days I always take a little time to take her into the round pen and do some ground work so she can work off a little energy and a little of the cool air exhilaration, it is also a bonding time during our ground work before we go on our ride.

 David, my youngest son, will feed the chickens. We have hens, red hens, dominickers, arcana's, Buffs and even get the Easter egg colored eggs from the Arcana.

 There is one big huge rooster, he's an old man Arcana and he can be kind of feisty so sometime we just have to watch out where he's at. Our neighbor keeps telling us someday he's going to come up missing as he thinks he's getting too aggressive. Those of you who have never had a rooster attach its beak to your ear may not understand. Not so with us adults, but when my son David was about 4 years old he went out to the hen house, I rarely let him do this on his own as he was still so little. So I went to the back screen door and watched him go off to the barn to the other side of the hen house, within a couple minutes I heard a blood curdling scream and ran out there and David was turning in circles trying to get that rooster off of his ear, I immediately knocked the rooster off, grabbed my child and went back in the house to doctor his ear. He was whimpering trying to be a brave little boy, he was mostly scared and not so much hurt, his ear lobe got green and purple and swollen , but after a couple days looked almost good as new. This earned Mr Rooster a trip back to his crate.

 For today, Christmas morn, what a beautiful frosty morning, and as you breathe, you can see your warm breath expelling into the chilly morning air. Breath is sacred, breath is connection...

 The Ravens caw and fly and light behind the barn to get the few grains that are on the ground. The apple tree limbs and branches are covered in frozen delight, it weighs them down, just like the Autumn apples would , only this time it is the ice of the season. The deer still hover in the tree lines and will most likely come out later in the day when the sun is warmer.

 Listen, the horses neigh, snow falls off the barn roof, I hear the Beautiful song of the wren but do not see him or her, what a beautiful peaceful morning we have been gifted with, celebrating Christmas in our old fashioned way and we give thanks to the Lord and all the angels , and all our spirit keepers . Isn't this what it's about, the birth of Jesus, the Angels, the wise ones, the Star which shown the way, listening to those beautiful gifts from within, those beautiful gifts of the universe, and so much more...

 I know there are many types of celebrations for Christmas around the world; but for us here in the US, on our farm, it's pretty old-fashioned and we love it wholesome and simple and joyous.

 Jewel has been waiting patiently, as I sit on the bale of hay writing this little portion of a morning. Okay dear sweet girl Jewel, I think today is a good day , we will just go with our bitless bridle and bareback, tracking down our old trails that are now covered with snow, but we are together, my mare and I. David will saddle up his little Sorrell gelding named Duke, Duke is the beautiful epitome of a gentle soul. Sometimes he will surprise you and perk up and prance like a 3-year-old ,it is absolutely delightful. This is one of those days Duke and David are both like little fireballs.

 I pet Jewels neck, her beautiful winter white coat. I can feel her heat on the palm of my hand. Sort of like the warmth I feel in my heart this day. What a blessing, what a heartsong, to share this beautiful new day we call Christmas astride a horse touching the ground of the beautiful Earth Mother. We are together as two legged and four legged, the heart is full and later today our stomachs will be full. But for now, I remain in this blissful moment, this blissful ride, this is our story, this is what we do Christmas, spend time with the Earth which gives us life, with our creature companions that we share this planet with, and we spend time together sharing memories, sharing fun talk, ideas , interests and wishes for the future.

 Most of all we wish you each and all peace and harmony wherever you are at. Merry Christmas from the horse trails of snowland, the hawk takes flight from the trees such a wondrous sight, for whatever entails the events in our life and we have surely gone through some, just like some folks have gone through much , and I can remember a time when we didn't have any heat, when I made a dollar stretch into a week for groceries, when I worked like crazy to keep our humble and cozy roof over our head. We give thanks, I give thanks.

 For this is Christmas the day we celebrate the birth of the one that saved so many and is a reminder of peace throughout the ages. In the real world there is trial, triumph, War, peace and so much in between. But what is real?

 Christmas is a time for us to be together with those we love , if possible, in the physical or in the heart, in the house and in the barn, a beautiful morning, this Christmas morning, my heart my home my family, are in the barn. Merry Christmas y'all!