Saturday, January 12, 2013

Each morning snow falls. Small round balls reminiscent of bean bag stuffing. Light bits of frozen fog. Small wispy flakes. Giant goose feathers. This is not the usual winter I have known in over 14 years of life on the ranch. I have to admit to days when the magic of the black and white world of frosted trees against a predawn sky has failed to enchant me. It is difficult to execute the jobs of the ranch. Like hauling bags of chicken scratch up a frozen driveway when the tires of the wheelbarrow and my boots fail to grip the earth and slide around instead. I've encountered these times in years past, but they are fun when it is only a week or so. Going on nearly a month...I offer hearty acknowledgment to those who live in this climate for months at a time!

But when I got into the car to go down to the Post Office for mail yesterday the sight of the valley took my breath away. I suddenly understood the Hyampom Valley as 'she'. And after all these years living here it registered in my brain just how many moods she has. She is not an at-a-glance kind of gal. Yesterday the long line of the longest continuous ridge in North America wore the soft scarves of mingled gray and white ribbons of cloud all along her various elevations. The fog hung in the multitudes of draws revealing her complex geography. The entire valley had dusting of snow and she was regal, a queen in her royal gown. The South Fork River wove through, sinuous, strong.

And there are times when she hides. When her lines are not so obvious, when the mountain appears flat, even drab. She is not Yosemite, obvious in her elegance all the time. No, she is a valley of subtle grace, enchanting beauty, modesty her usual dress. I stay here because her moods are many, her treasures endless, her gifts abundant. Her serenity...healing. I am glad she is not Yosemite or we would have tour buses roaring around. Instead I rejoice in those days when Hyampom Valley pulls out all the stops and reminds me that she is every bit as awesome as her sister valley to the southeast, the Cinderella yet to be taken to the ball. Thank goodness!

1 comment:

  1. Your blog is exceptionally refreshing...a break from the mundane day to day city girl life.

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