A Gathering Place

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock

I can tell you we spent more time cutting the grass than lying on it. But when we could find moments of idleness, it was the screened porch that quickly became our retreat. With its walls of knotty cedar, its squeak-bang door, (it opens with a squeak and closes with a bang), and its view of the creek, it has easily become our favorite gathering place. A place to gather with friends but especially a place to gather our thoughts, a place to rest, reflect and be renewed.
We were indulging in such a moment one morning with our morning coffee when our reverie was interrupted by what sounded like a woman screaming somewhere downstream. It was a blood chilling scream of a cougar, serving as a potent reminder of who really owns the real estate around here. It was a moment that inspired awe, respect and reverence. We are so grateful to be living here.