Ephemera, 6:47-6:56am Friday 11.10.17

•three horses, stock still and staring at me, in Diamond Hitch turnout
•a dozen quail beating it out of the bushes, “Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt!”
•bright white mares’-tails in a swivet above the Los Padres foothills
•dew-diamonds hanging fire on the rusted gate below Trotting Hill
•bear family tracks in soft dirt, so clear I can see the wrinkles in their pads
•Topa Topa Ranch orchards in transition: fields of worn corduroy

As Grace Bueti, an advisee in the early aughts, was famous for intoning in moments like these: “Note the beauty!”

I do.