Catherine Nicolai

It was a careful system, rotating the fields so that the soil could rest, so that the trees would have time and space to grow. And as I rolled through them, I felt a deep peace settle into me. The night air was like peppermint in my nostrils, making me feel awake and attuned to the trees and the stars. I had read once that the minerals in our bones

It was a careful system, rotating the fields so that the soil could rest, so that the trees would have time and space to grow. And as I rolled through them, I felt a deep peace settle into me. The night air was like peppermint in my nostrils, making me feel awake and attuned to the trees and the stars. I had read once that the minerals in our bones

It was a careful system, rotating the fields so that the soil could rest, so that the trees would have time and space to grow. And as I rolled through them, I felt a deep peace settle into me. The night air was like peppermint in my nostrils, making me feel awake and attuned to the trees and the stars. I had read once that the minerals in our bones

had been born in the belly of a star, light years away and ages ago. And when I rode through the fields at night and looked up, I did feel my place. I was a child of the universe, the same as the pine trees and the deer bedded down in their dens. I stopped on the edge of the Douglas firs, turned off the engine, and reached for my thermos.

had been born in the belly of a star, light years away and ages ago. And when I rode through the fields at night and looked up, I did feel my place. I was a child of the universe, the same as the pine trees and the deer bedded down in their dens. I stopped on the edge of the Douglas firs, turned off the engine, and reached for my thermos.

had been born in the belly of a star, light years away and ages ago. And when I rode through the fields at night and looked up, I did feel my place. I was a child of the universe, the same as the pine trees and the deer bedded down in their dens. I stopped on the edge of the Douglas firs, turned off the engine, and reached for my thermos.

When I twisted off the top, steam, sweet and spicy, rose up and rippled in the air. I poured my hot cider, spiced with cinnamon, into the thermos mug. and wrapped my hands around it. I leaned back in the tractor seat and propped my feet unprofessionally on the dash. For a few minutes, I just sat and sipped and listened and looked. The sky was cloudless.

When I twisted off the top, steam, sweet and spicy, rose up and rippled in the air. I poured my hot cider, spiced with cinnamon, into the thermos mug. and wrapped my hands around it. I leaned back in the tractor seat and propped my feet unprofessionally on the dash. For a few minutes, I just sat and sipped and listened and looked. The sky was cloudless.

When I twisted off the top, steam, sweet and spicy, rose up and rippled in the air. I poured my hot cider, spiced with cinnamon, into the thermos mug. and wrapped my hands around it. I leaned back in the tractor seat and propped my feet unprofessionally on the dash. For a few minutes, I just sat and sipped and listened and looked. The sky was cloudless.

There would be no snowfall tonight, and there was only the faintest bit of wind stirring the treetops. When I'd had that last sip of cider from my cup, I closed up my thermos and started the tractor to finish the loop back to the shop. Just as I came over the slight rise near the Nordman firs, I spotted a tree cut and left behind near the trail. I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

There would be no snowfall tonight, and there was only the faintest bit of wind stirring the treetops. When I'd had that last sip of cider from my cup, I closed up my thermos and started the tractor to finish the loop back to the shop. Just as I came over the slight rise near the Nordman firs, I spotted a tree cut and left behind near the trail. I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

There would be no snowfall tonight, and there was only the faintest bit of wind stirring the treetops. When I'd had that last sip of cider from my cup, I closed up my thermos and started the tractor to finish the loop back to the shop. Just as I came over the slight rise near the Nordman firs, I spotted a tree cut and left behind near the trail. I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while someone will cut a tree and change their mind, spot a better one, and leave the first behind. We ask our guests not to do this, but it happens. I stopped the tractor and jumped down. I stood the tree up on its cut end and looked at it. perfectly handsome tree. Why anyone would have left it was beyond me.

It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while someone will cut a tree and change their mind, spot a better one, and leave the first behind. We ask our guests not to do this, but it happens. I stopped the tractor and jumped down. I stood the tree up on its cut end and looked at it. perfectly handsome tree. Why anyone would have left it was beyond me.

It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while someone will cut a tree and change their mind, spot a better one, and leave the first behind. We ask our guests not to do this, but it happens. I stopped the tractor and jumped down. I stood the tree up on its cut end and looked at it. perfectly handsome tree. Why anyone would have left it was beyond me.

I loaded it onto the trailer and climbed back in. A few minutes later, I was turning in toward the barn when I spotted headlights coming slowly down the drive. I stepped down from the tractor and pulled my gloves on, going to meet them. The car stopped a few yards from the shop, and a man stepped out.

I loaded it onto the trailer and climbed back in. A few minutes later, I was turning in toward the barn when I spotted headlights coming slowly down the drive. I stepped down from the tractor and pulled my gloves on, going to meet them. The car stopped a few yards from the shop, and a man stepped out.

I loaded it onto the trailer and climbed back in. A few minutes later, I was turning in toward the barn when I spotted headlights coming slowly down the drive. I stepped down from the tractor and pulled my gloves on, going to meet them. The car stopped a few yards from the shop, and a man stepped out.

He had a worried look about him, his hands crammed in his pockets, and he hurried to the shop door and found it locked. Hello, I called out to him. He turned toward me, shielding his eyes from the bright strings of Christmas lights. Hello, he called back. Looks like I've missed the, well, not the boat, but maybe the sleigh? I chuckled and strolled into the pool of light.

He had a worried look about him, his hands crammed in his pockets, and he hurried to the shop door and found it locked. Hello, I called out to him. He turned toward me, shielding his eyes from the bright strings of Christmas lights. Hello, he called back. Looks like I've missed the, well, not the boat, but maybe the sleigh? I chuckled and strolled into the pool of light.