Coyote Blossom

This past Sunday morning, a beautiful coyote sat where this white post stands and stared at me intently.

I was putting up the hot-wire and posts in the background, when a distinct presence appeared over one shoulder. I turned to experience a sensation never before felt -- a coyote calmly sitting 30 yards away with ears perched observing my every move. Once I caught my breath, I stood and watched, and she watched back, so I watched some more, and she kept doing the same. After a long period of mutual regard, I felt compelled to move on with my work, but did so slowly so as not to startle her. She wasn't startled at all, but just kept staring at me. Her purpose began to seem far greater than mine. So, I finally put down the reel and posts in hand, and squatted to her eye-level to resume our . communication.

Upon quieting myself, I slowly began to hear the message she was offering. And then it became magnificently and movingly obvious -- she was telling me that my daughter Mary's baby was to be born that day!

In great relief and celebration, I rose to walk toward this elegant messenger, to embrace her with gratitude. When half the distance between us was closed, she calmly rose and trotted into the woods, with bushy tail flowing and rich markings of red, brown, and grey rippling. The next morning, I returned to take her picture, but all that remained was this white post.

And that night, Mary called to say that half an hour previously she had given birth to a beautiful daughter, Reed Leighton Zema. Here she is, hours old! 

Reed Leighton is a resident of Manhattan, but we now know her spirit is also afoot in Pike County, Ohio. And she has her own indigenous name -- Coyote Blossom, delivered by one of this land's most astute guardians.

Her parents were married here two years ago before this altar, and their spirits are imbued with this land as well.

After four days of pondering the advent of Coyote Blossom, I offer that experiencing one's daughter give birth is like touching the center of the earth. The power and mystery therein are unfathomably moving and reassuring.  

We are experiencing a terrible shortage of eggs, as aged hens age further and cold weather with short days set in. It appears the solution is a slow six-months away, as a new set of chicks will be arriving within weeks, but won't be productive for months. Egg distribution will be awkward in the meantime. Here we are preparing the corncrib for hens' winter lodging. We are also investing in larger mobile housing for hens to increase supply for customers. So, bear with us as we work through this issue, please! 

As deer-hunting season dawns, we were blessed again this fall with the gift of a gallon of honey by a thoughtful neighbor, seeking permission to follow his prey over our property should it travel our way. The honey is thick with texture and the rich taste of minerals, though we know it comes from blossoms of plants. We savor this honey in our tea throughout the winter, and consider it liquid gold.

As deer-hunting is taking Kathy to the woods this weekend, Beth & Bob will be manning the market at Clark Montessori, while Susan & I cover the farm.

May coyotes bring blossoms to us all, wherever we are.

Drausin & Susan