As you know we live about a mile from a highway and I intended to drive the Free Green Dodge down my little road and to the big road and park it on the family land that borders the highway and sell my asparagus and plants. It is quite a busy little highway. (a car almost every five minutes or so) Legally I can only sell what I grow on the farm FROM the farm I grow it ON. I have to be very careful to be absolutely legal because I am a foreigner, and green card or not, foreigners get different treatment from the police here. They scare me a little. So parking it by the field at the end of our lane would have worked perfectly.
But very quietly, while the bees noisely collected the pollen from the apple blossoms, and I moved my stock about, and brushed Daisy, and watered my plants and picked my asparagus, construction men in their bright orange vests crept out from under their rocks yesterday, and without warning, firmly closed off the highway to the east of my country lane AND the highway to the west of my country lane. Ours is the only house on this lane. 
A mile on each side of my road is closed. To get OUT I have to go backwards and follow a convoluted grid of confusing and endlessly samey country roads. To get HERE anyone will be lost. There will be NO passing traffic on the highway let alone down my country road for most of the summer. No-one will see my fresh vegetables sign and no-one will see my Free Green Dodge truck laden with asparagus and tomatoes and beans and stowaway cats and .. Oh well.
God said No. Such is life. Back to the drawing board. I can let four of the asparagus beds go to fern (it actually is good for them) and just pick the rest for my regular people. I picked 8 pounds yesterday. John has taken most of that to work, his mates have been waiting for the asparagus season. But no selling from the Free Green Truck.
We cannot always determine or predict the turns in our life’s road. Unless you are in road construction then you can cut off other peoples roads with broad smiley unapologetic smiles. I can only drive South down another dusty gravel road. The bridge to the North is gone, fallen into the creek that is now a ditch, no point going in that direction. East and West are closed. So NO-ONE will be coming in THIS direction. 
Kupa and I will become like the faeries. People will think they saw us, but they won’t. They will say, what happened to that woman with the cows that did not match and the sheep that was forever pregnant. Did you ever hear again of that little foreign lady who lived out in the swamp with her dog and all those roosters and her fat pig that would pull a red wagon with a cat sat in it. Sure you heard about that I have the postcard somewhere. And that overgrown garden and the peacocks wild in the trees. You could barely see her house for all those flowers and trees, what she needed was a good lawn mower and a chainsaw.
What ever happened to her? Maybe we should hitch up that old nag and go over the broken fields and see if she is still there. I hear they cut off all her roads. And her husband has been driving in circles for years trying to find his way home. I saw him in the bar the other day. They say she just lives on asparagus and honey and eggs and cheese, waiting for the roads to be finished but that could be years, you know what those road-workers are like. What ever happened to her? Can you remember her name?
Good morning!
It is a calm overcast morning so far and quiet except for the deafening wild birds in my trees. So I guess it is not really quiet. Daisy and Queenie have finally made friends and are standing on the concrete yards waiting to be let out onto the grass. Mama is standing heftily with her head through her gate watching the kitchen doors. Hairy MacLairy is still sleeping. And four cats are lined up on the verandah watching for any sign of movement. I am starting even earlier today so I can get as much done as I can. Time is moving faster lately. TonTon can be heard shuffling at the French Doors, trying to get his nose around the handle to open the door and let everyone in.
Kupa was quiet and sweet all day yesterday. Eventually he allowed me close enough to put some feed on the ledge beside him and then he rose and delicately moved closer to eat. He was sitting on the edge of the nesting box or on his roost every time I checked. He is taking his time. He has a big pen but I think he is used to being in quite a small one as he spent all yesterday in his one wee corner looking out the window, ignoring the bowl of feed on the floor.
Good morning. I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
102 responses to “They have closed my road”
How mean of the Highways Agency 😦
Big fat Meanies! Morning Mad! c
Living in the USA, “construction season or more gently nicknamed orange barrel season” comes right after winter, then summer and then winter again. I never really notice any difference after they are done with the construction but am just relieved that my commute is no longer disturbed. Take care, BAM
I know.. on and on it goes! is it the same in hong kong?.. c
Worse! You should check out the construction crew and the bamboo scafolding…
Well that whole road business is certainly annoying! I wonder if you went to the county and explained what they’ve done, and that it’s cut you off from selling your goods and making an income, if they would issue you a temporary permit to sell somewhere else?
I guess on the positive side (if there is one to having choices made FOR you), you’ll have a very quiet summer. Now that I would enjoy. We live right in the middle of a busy neighborhood and I think I’m turning into a grumpy old lady because people’s loud cars and screaming children are starting to annoy me. 😉
Hope Kupa warms up a little more today! And Mama…where are those babies!!
Oh i know April, That sheep looks like she is carrying a sheet of plywood in her belly, sticking out sharply on either side, well she is out on the deep grass today, maybe if she has a really big feed of fresh grass she will just pop them out!! c
Kupa does look like a faery creature and that is a wonderfully imagined story about your fate. What could they possibly be doing to keep the road closed all summer? Did they tell you?
Two bridges evidently, really they are culverts, they did the same last year.. sigh! oh well.. c
This calls for good old fashioned swearing. Bugger!
I’m trying to imagine the world view of a peacock, suddenly having it’s world changed around him with different smells and sounds. You weren’t wearing your special hattie were you, or maybe you should? Morning Celi!
No my hattie has been retired for the summer yachtie hattie, canvas full brim! Not exciting at all!! (laughter) Morning claire c
Or it could be a blessing! Where I come from if you put a “Free green Dodge” on the roadside it would be considered an invitation! Love your farmy, avid follower. Also ‘not looking’ at Mama or Daisy for that matter:) Dieing for you to take pics of your wormies in the basement.
Good morning and welcome, I love hearing from the quiet readers, and yes you are very right I do have to do the worms.. it is time to make some worm compost too! I will get onto that soon! c
Oh no, no green truck!! I hope that you may find a way around this, C before the summer…I am sure word of mouth will help!! Fingers crossed.
We plant to take the truck into the village for the garage sales and sell tomato plants outside johns mothers house, so that will give it an outing! morning ksenia.. c
G’morning, Celi! Road construction is the bane of rural living. Zia lives right on the county border and for the last 2 years the main road was re-paved. One year her county’s part, going south, and last year the next county’s section, going north. The paving itself went quickly, it was the bridges — so small you didn’t even realize your were crossing a bridge over a mostly dry creek bed — that took most of each summer to repair/repave. A “quick trip to the store” became an adventure navigating the mile grid pattern you described. And Zia didn’t have a peacock!
Dang, Celi! Kupa is one beautiful bird! It will take him time to get used to his surroundings, to learn that he’s safe. No telling what kind of environment he came from and being cage-raised is certainly a possibility. It won’t be long, though, and you may be longing for these days when he stayed put. 🙂
So sorry for your troubles Celi! What rotten luck! But what a “fun” post this morning came at your (considerable) expense. Yes, I DO remember that woman with the bird, and the perpetually pregnant sheep! No matter WHAT roads close, I won’t soon be forgetting her!!
(And I received the postcards Celi! Ones to frame and ones to share! How very lovely they turned out!! Thank you SO much! You’ve made my day, again!)
You are most welcome sarah, I am thrilled that you might frame a few.. I have the bee up and he looks so colourful! c
(oops this is Ani – spree – Celi)
Hi Celi! I guess that Our John will have to be the asparagus merchant now! And people go mad over asparagus, so it should go like wildfire. What about a weekly farmers market for your other wonderful extra produce? Would that work?
I’ve been away from the computer for awhile and am just now reading up on all your news. I just love Kupa! He is so beautiful! What at wonderful addition to your homestead!!! xo
You should have a peacock too diane, you have that lovely big lawn for him to wander across! c
Now that’s a bummer. How unfair!
I know. sometimes we just do not win, and now i have to go out and pick the next lot of asparagus.. but i am plotting! c
Only you could describe being there all alone in such wild abandon.. it sounded like paradise actually.. but I would come find you, wee c, yes I would!! I love pretty Kupa.. he is just so beautiful in all his glorious color next to the worn barn wood… adoring and adorable!! xo Smidge ps can you mail asparagus?? Maybe they’re making such a beautiful smooth road with incredible signs pointing their way straight to you!!
or straight to you!! morning smidge.. c
What a shame! One would thnk there would be something to do about that, or one could sell their veggies and such in a local farmer’s market in a town near-by? I hope something works out regarding the road. I do love your photos of peacocks.
I know.. all the plans of mice and men!! c
If you ever get bored (Which I can NOT imagine) you could turn your writings into a book.
Kupa is beautiful! Soon he will be up in your trees yelling ‘HELP” HELP” Or crying like a new born baby…then someone will have to come to see if you are alright.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I fully intend to make a collection of storied for a book. And like all of us i need to MAKE the time to do this! Morning Linda c
Oh Celi, what a disappointment about the road – no worries, there is always something better around the next corner – you will know it when you see it. 😀
Oh poor Kupa, hope he settles soon – must be horrible getting used to a new place when you seem to be all on your own, especially when you did not ask to get put there. I am sure he will soon see that he is in a loving environment.
🙂 Mandy
we are working on another plan.. there is always another plan to try. Kupa is having a lovely day today, it won’t be long and I will put a few quiet hens in there with him .. c