The barn is quiet once more. The wind is down. Everyone was resting yesterday including Mia, she did not have a good morning, so once again I let them out into the forbidden field where it is clean. We are supposed to be letting the grass grow! Everyone else has to wait on the concrete pads for a month (sigh).
A great weariness descended on me yesterday afternoon. We had scooped and scooped, and sprinkled lime and cleared and organised, as I make my way through each pen cleaning and cleaning. Trying to mitigate the filthy risks from animals living inside. I looked over at the other side of the barn that is still full of old cars and imagined what I would do with that last bit of space.
White cat finds old cars are nice and dirty for his perfectly white bottom. 
These things take time. They are Johns toys and he is slow to part with them. Mini Rooster likes old cars though. 
Daisy has told the calves to lie down and stop fighting or Else! No talking either apparently!
I thought about gardening but it looked too hard.
We went for a walk down to the Kelly’s Creek that was a creek eighty years ago until they made it a ditch. I see green coming!!
We found Thing 2 camouflaged as a tree.
Later we thought maybe we would visit the chooks but they were all going to bed. 
So we went to bed too. Funny how I write We. Like I am royalty or something, but it is really because it is always at least two cats and two dogs and me, wherever I am on the farmy.
Good morning. Friday morning. TonTon’s day to visit the Old Codger. I rise from bed very early now, about 4am actually, I pull old clothes on over my nightie, then my clown suit, hat and jacket. Then TonTon and I take the torch and visit the sheep. We creep quietly through the North door so as not to bother the cows, who would set up a noisy Feed Me ruckus. I do not speak, even a quiet voice will raise the whole barn. I check for any little sheepie surprises, then scuttle back to the house. One day I am going to be doing my early morning check and meet myself coming back from the late night check.
I don’t light the fire until evening now. So it is a wee bit chilly in the house by morning. More than once lately I have found myself sitting up in my loft writing with my clown suit and hattie on. My clown-suit by the way is a Carhart bib overall. It is surprisingly ugly!! But WARM.
So it is dawn and I am still dressed for the barn. Back out I go. After we have finished with the big animals I have to give TonTon a shampoo and set, then drive the hour it takes to get to the Old Folks Home. Ton certainly cannot walk through the rest home with barn dirt all over him. Mia looked better again this morning and Mama does not look imminent (I don’t think), so I hope it is safe to leave the farmy for a few hours. I will not be gone long.
Good morning. Have a great day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
75 responses to “Walky about the Farmy”
I’m exhausted just reading this. I too had thought of gardening today. I’d just hung out the washing when it came on to rain. So I made bread instead. And cranberry buns and an apple cake for Sir. I am also trying to write a poem in sonata form. Busy days for both of us.
Oh cranberry buns sound awesome.. Rainy days do bring on the baking don’t they! c
I truly enjoy your writing. It moves me and takes me to another place. However, if you have ever lived in England for any length of time you will have spotted that the diminutive “y” on the end of a words is used mainly by footballers when speaking of team members or mates, even if the word is unpronounceable as in Ceciliay:)
Celi! Could be spelt Cely! And I only lived in England for four years.. I do think it is a NZ thingy tho too,… eek footballers.. c
Lovely read C. Fantastic photos. White cat has got such an adorable face.
Have a great weekend.
Florence x
He is kind of nice looking in that shot, maybe that is his good side!! morning Florence. c
It’s probably my imagination, or maybe a reflection of how I’m feeling today? — but you sound a bit exhausted and down. Are you?
Good question Misky, Not down really, just adjusting the the increased level of work with John back at his own job. He was off for a few months in the winter and I suppose I got used to the help.. and I also feel an increased level of anxiety about Mama influenced I am sure by what we just had to deal with with Mia, but she has never had any trouble before so I am sure I will settle down again .. I hate to lose an animal, and two lambs were too many. I just wish I knew why it happened..What I missed.. ah well thank you though.. maybe you and i are just having an off day, i am sure we will be both be back on form tomorrow.. c
I’m off today because I’m trying to adjust to new blood pressure meds that have given me a banging migraine. I’d love to throw the whole lot out the window to be honest. As for sweet litle Mia, you missed nothing, Celi, and the reason it happened is for the same reason that 1-in-4 pregnant women miscarry — nature stepped in. Knowing why it happened might make us feel more in control, but as we know, nature isn’t keen on being controlled, and it’s a battle that can’t be won. I think you’re old gentlemen friend might be good for you today. I sense there’s true balance there. Take care. xx Much love.
Well said , maybe I needed to hear that. How awful to have to take medication that gives you migraines. That does not sound right. Hope you get that sorted out soon. Time for me to get changed into respectable towny clothes.. thank you honey.. c
you do sound tired but I’m not surprised you didn’t fancy tackling any gardening, you’ve had a tough old week Celi, so a nice cup of tea and a chat with the old codger sounds like a good antedote, maybe even an anecdote. .
Oh a cup of tea, you are so right that is just what I need.. and a scone.. maybe a scone! with peach jam.. ah that sounds nice.. c
Isn’t it odd, how the emotional things like Mia’s illness, take more out of us than hours of physical labor? Sore muscles are a very different ‘tired’ than the bone-deep exhaustion that comes after a crisis…
Enjoy your visit with the Old Codger, and try to take a moment to recover this afternoon…you’ve earned it, and you owe it to yourself (and your critters!) to stay healthy…
You are right! This is the other reason why I have started myself on a course of kefir and red berries. If all goes well and Mama does have her lambs OK,in the not too distant future I will be up every two hours feeding the extras.. so I need to eat well! c
I like that cat. The feral looking one 🙂
Thing two, he is a wild thing!! I never go far without him galloping along behind! Morning Rosemary. c
You’d be in trouble with the Farmers Union if you didn’t have any old rusting cars on your
property 😉
(laughter) it is true, seems to be the norm around here! c
Reading your post made me long for the days of being home with young-uns and spending time chatting with friends. It’s good to release feelings, as you have done in this post. Everyone following you feels along with you. The yin and yang of life: the highs and lows.
This might be a switch: the Old Codger cheering YOU up.
The best for you and the farmy friends,
Ronnie
I am just back from seeing the Old Codger and he was overjoyed when we walked through the door, thrilled to bits, he has seen so much in his life that he has a way of bring stuff back into perspective.. it was a great visit.. and TonTon was very good again, thank goodness! c
You have had a difficult week, so it comes as no surprise to me that you are weary.
My favorite line from today’s post is the one about meeting yourself in the morning coming back from the night check. That struck me as brilliant writing.
Clown suits are quite practical for farming and other outdoor activities. My husband bought a full pull-on zip-up clown suit (not bibs) for $5 at a garage sale several years ago. He considers it one of his best purchases at a bargain price.
Enjoy your day with the Old Codger.
Wow 4 dollars, that was a fantastic deal.. I love those kinds of surprise finds! c
oh my goodness i just want to snuggle white kitty!!! what a dirty poof ball!
He is a grubby cat, for such a well bred moggie! c
You have such a very busy time on the farm – I suppose nature never really sleeps or not for long at any rate. I hope you get some quite rest from time to time. It am glad that Mia looked better this mornings
She is quite bouncy today, yesterday she had her head down which is not good for an animal.. c
Enjoy your visit; you need a farmy cam – so we can check in on Mamma while you are gone. 🙂
Jess
What a fantastic idea, wouldn’t that be fun! Morning Jess.. c
You have such a long day Cecilia, but you make it always sound so magical. Thing 2 in the tree would have probably scared me as he/she blends in so well!!
He really is camouflaged in there isn’t he!! c
I love the suggestion about the farmy cam — we could keep an eye on the animals for you 🙂 Hope you find some quiet time just for you. You”ve had a helluva week.
If I even get caught up Lois I will sit down and stare out the window for a bit, that sounds quite nice right at the moment! c