Nature's Medicine
In the last days of March we made a speed run to the ranch, trying to fit in a quick visit before things got very busy at home. We arrived on the heels of one storm, with another looming a few days out.
The sky was bluer than the bluest blue, with white spongy clouds occasionally racing across the sun. Sweet signs of Spring were everywhere. Baby cows and horses testing their wobbly legs in neighboring pastures, screeching hawks warning me off from their lofty treetop nests, and tiny buds ready to explode on the fruit trees.
All this rain has refilled long dormant ponds on neighboring properties, the largest one across from the barn. When I take Charles out for his last walk, the frogs seem to be engaged in some sort of croaking rap battle - ribbit-ing back and forth between ponds.
Of course the cows were out in full force everyday, except one morning when only the old gal was visiting our side of the gate - she’s 28 and had a calf last year 👀 She was unimpressed by my intrusion and allowed me to get very close before she wandered off.
Our visit coincided with the Central Coast Craft Beer Fest in Atascadero, so we drove into town and mingled with the crowd. Atascadero’s “Sunken Garden,” with its stunning domed city hall building, is a scenic venue for community events. We attended the Tamale Fest there last year and plan on doing so again in May.
Chad’s oft-said comment “things are just better here” is really true. The natural beauty is unmatched, the people are real, and the vibe is chill. Kindness is not the exception, it is the rule.
On our last night, we decided to stay at the ranch rather than go into town for dinner. We sat in our weird ranch outfits, in our mismatched beach chairs, and watched the dog stalk birds in vain. As the sun lowered, we talked about gratitude, and how lucky we were to be together in this moment, in this place.
My daughter’s roommate has written a beautiful piece that speaks to the healing powers of this place we call Hummingbird Ranch.
Meditations In a Spring Here you are again That place where you can rest In a warm pool of water Under the open sky Knowing its only for a little while Sit back Rejuvenate The water won’t heal scars But it will sooth your body Calm your mind Look back At how far you’ve come How much longer will life let you walk? You don’t know So make your strides worthy And pick a good direction Let those bad thoughts pass Set down your burden for a moment And remember why you carry it And that everyone has their own And then Just look up at the stars And feel the hot water on your skin You’re alive In this strange place You’re alive And when you’re ready Get out And face the cold Trusting the warmth inside you And walk With your burden on once more So nobody else must carry it for you Unless you fall And need help getting back up And smile At the others you meet Who are doing the same And somewhere Deep in the whole thing You’ll find beauty - Rusty Hunter You can read more of Rusty's work at his Instagram page.