Windmill Closeup

Country Pics

Prairie dog posing for the camera.

A pasture pond in the hills north of Palisade.

This wildflower grows in low spots, such as in ditches, where rainwater accumulates.

These wildflowers can be seen in the prairie pastures and are numerous this year.

Windmill

In memory of my Dad, Van O. Peterson, farmer/rancher 1928-1997.

Watchman of prairie dog and pasture grass,

what do you guard today? Rugged and proud

sentry of wood and steel, watching when

westerly winds waft o'er the plains.

Solitary giant pumping water

to parched land, thirsty cattle and dry

human hearts. Head into the wind, no storm

cellar ot hide your face when tornadoes

pummel the soft earth. Weather-beaten

survivor of sun, wind and blizzarding

snow. Antiquated silhoueete at

setting sun, won't you watch for me?

~Tami Peterson Vrbas, 2005

Rodent Rodeo

He springs from the chute, like a shot,
gallops like a barrel horse toward the knothole,
canters to the west branch, where he scrambles
into the turn. The bushy tree rat soon emerges,
weaving over, and under, and around,
loping to the straightaway, his feet barely touch.
Oblivious to gravity, he dives fearlessly down
the south slope, and leaps to the ground,
passes the corn cob bait - and with black-oil seeds
beckoning - he makes a final dash to the bird feeder.
He shimmies, undeterred now, up the greased pole,
slathered with Crisco, steps nimbly over the baffle,
installed to prevent such pesky raiders, and glides
to the finish line. The cheeky rodent swishes
his tail, like a victory wave, munches seeds
in tiny paw hands, claims his rodeo prize.
I never saw him break a sweat. Then, cross-my-heart,
hope-to-die - I swear, the little buckaroo winked at me,
as I hung up the dishtowel.