Friday, January 6, 2012

365 Days Take Three! -- Day Six

I love this photo of the ox "McDuffy" from our New Year's Trip to Shaker Village because it reminds me so much of one of my favorite childhood stories.  The story of Ferdinand, the bull that liked to just sit and smell the flowers.

There's something so peaceful in the solitude of this photo.  In the 'giantness' of this animal (who was brought to the village because he was too lazy, or perhaps too old now to do the work of a real ox) and the ease with which he just lays in this field throughout the day as tourists wander by and snap photos and wonder at the uniqueness of his hairdo.  He will follow you with his eyes sometimes, but otherwise, he just seems content to lay there and enjoy the grass.  To smell the flowers.

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*To find the universal elements enough to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some rewards of the simple life.*

- John Burroughs -

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