It has been five months since I have been at Hummingbird Ranch, the longest yet. The daytime air is crisp, like autumn should be, and the ground is carpeted in a thick blanket of fallen leaves of every variety.
Last night was weirdly moonless, darker than the inside of a pocket…at least that’s how Chad’s Kansan mom would have described it. In the waning light of a low-battery flashlight, we walked the dog down to lock the gate. I usually feel pretty confident on the ranch at night, but between the sky’s utter blackness and the cackling of nearby coyotes, we quickly locked up and hustled back up to the trailer.
Today dawned somewhat cloudy except for a saturated fuchsia and orange sunrise I was lucky enough to spy from my bedroom window. It was brief, but breathtaking. The weather is really pleasant, allegedly 58℉, perfect for relaxing under the pepper tree watching Charles hunt unseen creatures.
I’m so happy to be here.