For my birthday, I purchased a farm.

It was a tiny farm as Iowa farms go, but there were trees. The trees were happy there. Their roots clung to the earth along the meandering waterway encircling this patch of peace and beauty.

The trees provided homes to deer, squirrels, rabbits, skunks, possums, groundhogs, beavers, owls, many varieties of birds, and, of course, mice.

When buying the farm, the owner asked if I wanted the cows.

I said, “Sure.”

The man said, “Done.”

I said, “Tell me about the cows.”

I know, but that’s how it went.

Rosie was his favorite cow. She was a national blue ribbon winner. I remembered to tell people that when they told me I’d paid too much for the cows.

Rosie would come to me when I walked into the pasture.

We were happy among the trees in that place of peace and beauty.