Early Morning

This day the early morning sunrise was a sight to behold. It was nearly 6 months ago, not the longest day of the year, but the shortest days of the winter. The sun rose slowly in the eastern sky, ran a low arc to the south and set early in the west. The trees sleep, tucked into their tight cold bark. If you havn't seen a sunrise lately, give it a try. The house is still dark as I walk past the sleeping kids. The blankets kicked down or pulled tight up. The dogs lift their heads, look at me and seem to say, "Are you crazy, it's still night". To the east the sky is beginning to show light. This time not from a distant city or truck stop, but from the first light of dawn. I step onto the back deck and listen. Quiet. The rooster is still sleeping. The goats are lying quietly, heads drooped as they sleep. The beef steer chewing his cud. Quiet. A car rumbled down the road. Someone is starting their trip to work. The snow lays on the old Farmall C. Awaiting his next call to service. Sleeping too in a way. The morning is such a quiet time. Good time to think. To think about what today holds. To think about the frozen ground. To think about the firewood for next year. To think about the upcoming maple sugar season. Just to think, in the quiet morning air.