Blackacre

If you know law terms, you will know that the word 'Blackacre' is an arbitrary name for a piece of land used for purposes of supposition in legal argument or the like. (Of course that's not how I talk, that's just what my dad told me) This is the name of our family's 116 acre pecan farm 17 miles east of Seguin, Texas on Hwy 90. Sometimes, when I'm feeling really exhausted from...well...life, this is the place where I feel my heart and soul really belong. We were blessed with a long weekend and Alvaro and I took the opportunity to be with my mom, dad and sister at Blackacre. While I was sitting next to the Guadelupe, I made a list of the things I had seen that day. See if you can get the picture of being in this place.

people eating bar-b-que

a river running high

wild grapes still on the vine in September

purple martins swarming

horses playing

cows grazing

a Scrabble board

lightening bugs

a rainbow

organized tools

many giant spiders and one gargantuan scorpion

snap beetles

rain & puddles

cardinals, hawks, finches & buzzards

roaring campfire

These things warm my heart in a way that not many things can do. Maybe it's the place. Maybe it's seeing God so clearly in those surroundings and in the life of a small town nearby. Maybe it's the feeling of accomplishment after the physical labor required to keep up with the little chores needing to be done around a farm. Sometimes it seems so simple...that life. It's that simplicity that is so often missing from the lives of those of us who are 'busy'. A reminder is many times all people need to put everything else into perspective.

I picked 17 pounds of those Mustang grapes on Sunday evening. I'm going to be making grape jelly for the rest of the week. I'm going to be exhausted and I'm going to love every minute of it! Let me know if you need some for your toast!