To come down from the buttes after staying out a little too far past sundown only to see the lights of the barnyard illuminating the grass and the kitchen of the house glowing warmly through the windows, waiting for my return…
it means more to me than I can describe here.
I imagine the same sight greeting my grandparents, my aunt and uncle and my father. I imagine them feeling the same deep breath, the same overwhelming calm as they drove in from the fields, rode up to unsaddle a horse or strip off the layers from a hunt in the hills in the still of a late summer or autumn evening.
I imagine the smell of baked bread reaching them from the open windows or the smoke from a grilled steak waiting for them to sit down around the table, the door swinging open and the warmth of this old house whispering “this is home this is home this is home this is home…”
No matter how far you find yourself.
No matter the distance between you and these buttes.
No matter the time that has passed, the mistakes that you’ve made, the words you can’t take back, the pain you might hold onto, the life you might have found down the road or the love you might have lost here…
No matter.
Don’t worry.
This is home…
And I will leave the light on.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch... 
How comforting. I’ve always liked the idea of leaving a light on at the window like they used to do in the ‘olden’ days. When my son was deployed, I would leave a small battery powered candlestick in the window until he came home.
What a wonderful, warm and loving thought, Homestead. Leaving the light on for your son…makes me choke up a bit…
As in the line from the “Wizard of Oz”, there is no place like home……thanks for sharing. Rich
Magnificent Jess simply magnificent……You had me at the first photo. Thanks so much!
Beautiful..
Oh that really is lovely. You are a poet. I bet everyone just smiles out loud when you walk back through the door. c
Beautiful! Is that your place with the wrap-around deck? Looks mighty homey.
Yes, that’s the little farm house where I live and where my dad grew up. It is a fixer upper, but has some charm doesn’t it?
Love it – There’s nothing like HOME!!
So right Roxanne. So right…
Mmmm I feel all cozy now. Thank you for that, MJ
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