The Moon Tried To Set Stella's House On Fire Last Night

I was late finishing up evening chores because I decided I needed to rake up the barn lot before it started raining overnight.  That's one of those jobs that is easy to do as long as you keep up with it...and it doesn't get wet and/or frozen.  An ounce of prevention...

I like being at the barn at night.  The lights on make everything look cozy and the sheep all mill around eating hay and picking their sleeping spot for the night.  Some sheep like to sleep in the same place every night - Woolliam sleeps in the corner, Ewen sleeps by the door, Blizzard liked to sleep in the hay manger.  Keebler sleeps in the back of the outer stall, as far away from everyone as he can get, because he's obviously Not A Sheep. 

As I picked up the last pile of loose hay behind the barn I noticed a bright light shining up at Stella's.  She and I are nosy neighbors keep an eye on each other. At first it looked like someone had pulled their car into the front yard and had their headlights pointed at her front door.  

That's odd.  Especially because I knew she wasn't home.  

And really bright.  Ack!  Is her house on fire?  

No flickering.  I guess it's okay.  

Then I saw the row of trees behind her house start being lit up by moonlight.  

Wow.

If you've never taken the time, mere seconds, to watch the moon rise,...well, surely everyone has.  This one was spectacular.  I've watched the moon rise from behind our barn many times.  While I have enough understanding to say, well, the angle of the earth in relation to the moon this particular time of year...wait, who am I kidding, I don't really understand it.  I'm just glad I witnessed it.

How often at night, when the heavens were bright,

With the light of the twinkling stars

Have I stood here amazed, and asked as I gazed,

If their glory exceed that of ours.

Dr. Brewster Higley (1876)