An October of Enough

December 21, 2019 by

A small eternity has passed since the first week of October but here’s what it looked like for my little family and I — high desert, canyons, mountain water, warm sunshine and cool breezes, rattlesnakes, sleeping out, trout, flat tires in the middle of nowhere (Look at the jeep trail in the fourth photograph, we took a full-size truck down that skranky old nasty thing!!!), poetry, campfires and the pleasure and surprise of getting to know the wilderness that exists South of our little farm. From this canyon trip we proceeded to pronghorn hunt and then elk hunt and then bird hunt and October stretched on forever and forever until it was suddenly over.

The deeper I go with this life of mine, the more I hunt and fish and garden and grow, the more time seems to slow down, or maybe the span of each day seems closer to being enough and the rush of modern day life seems to dissolve in the sun and wind. Instead of feeling like the hours and minutes of the day are disappearing on me, it seems natural and good to feel the day passing. I see each day eaten up by the sun and wind like all things eventually are and it seems like enough. It never used to seem like enough. October was enough.

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Comments

  1. Pilvi says
    December 22, 2019 at 2:37 am

    Thank you Jillian. Thank you for writing, thank you for touching my soul. I am not so good with words so believe when I simply say thank you.

    I found your words in 2011, the autumn storm was battering a beach in Spain, me cuddled up under a blanket and sipping warm tea searching for stories to read. And I found your words. And those autumn nights I spent reading your words night after night.

    That time I was pondering what my path is. You reassured the path I knew (but did not fully trust) was right. Spain turned into deep snowy wilderness here at home in Finnish Lapland. I have built myself a wonderful life. This autumn I finally shot my first game shot (hunting without dogs is something..). A beautiful little hazel grouse. And when I finally manage to harvest my first elk, I will send you a letter telling you all about it. As you have inspired and supported me on this journey of mine.

    Can you imagine? How greatly you have had an impact on a soul you have never hear of! How wonderful! Now it’s time for me to head to the hills, become onw with my snowboard and fly!

    I am wishing you all the best, to Rob, to Tater Tot oh and Ernie and the horses! And the kitties and all furry creatures that make your pack.

    Thank you for writing.

    • The Noisy Plume says
      December 30, 2019 at 8:28 am

      Pilvi!!!

      Thank you for reading my writing for all these years and thank you for creating such a wonderful life for yourself. Congrats on your hunts. You’ve filled my heart up this morning.

      XX
      Jillian

  2. ~ m. says
    December 23, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Ain’t it wonderful when enough is truly enough?? xx

  3. Nathalie Carles says
    December 26, 2019 at 5:24 pm

    Always a pleasure to read about someone who loves her life so much, I love mine too, I love when someone writes it for me and so well.

  4. Monique says
    December 27, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    Salve for the soul. Each of your photos feels like real, honest, exuberant living. You’re a gifted storyteller through so many mediums. What a joy you are!