In the autumn, frost is fun, it is a herald and a wee bit exciting. In the Spring the frost can bring frozen tears to your eyes. When I was writing to you yesterday morning I saw this through the window.
And thought oh how pretty, look at the sun rising through those translucent leaves. But we had had a silent mean bad frost. The leaves were transparent not translucent. The Late Spring frost had breathed his wicked breath at them, frozen them, then silently left them to die.
This is one of the Paw Paws. They are three years old this spring. There are eight of them. All their leaves are dead.
A Fall frost is kind of romantic and photogenic, a Late Spring frost … 
.. can kill your harvest. 
Least said the better. The whole crop is black green and falling.
We cannot always have beauty and we cannot always have right. Fair is often a luxury. This a fundamental knowledge. This is why joy is so brilliant and so bright, if we have the wit to see it. Because joy comes in short sublime bursts. When things go wrong, when God says No and we have no choice in the matter, it is just a bugger. We must move quickly on. So I will not show you the pears or the cherries. Or the hydrangeas. Or my beautiful sunburst magnolia that has not one untouched leaf, every one is freeze dried. But I am sure the leaves will grow back.
All is not lost so I will show you the blue berries….
whose leaves are still lovely.
And the aquilegia are all still beautiful. 
The chicks have a heat lamp so they are all warm and 
cosy.
When living the little farmy life, you have to keep your head above water by Forcing it back above the water when something goes wrong or those frozen tears will freeze in your eyes and make you blind to the joy of the survivors. But that morning was very very cold. And the frost that ruined our fruit harvest was not sweet at all.
This guy is though.
Someone is sneaking through my outdoor feed station. 
And looking pretty on the drive. Completely unaffected by the fact that all the tomatoes are black. John covered every one but they are all dead. However he has more in pots that were all brought inside that night, and last night when it froze again. He knew the risks. So he will be replanting this weekend.
I have been trying for over two weeks to take a delicate shot showing why I keep saying Mama must have her lambs soon. This is hardly delicate but you see what I mean! Hard not to look isn’t it! Soon Mama, soon!
Good morning. Lots to do today. The weather man tells me that last night’s second frost was the last one, so onwards and upwards now. Let’s hit the ground running today!
I am so glad you have chosen to ride the roller coaster of farmy life with me! Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
88 responses to “Frost is only called Jack in the autumn”
Bad luck about that frost. It is pouring here and my cat Fiona has gone missing again — she was away last night. She keeps getting trapped in a vacant house up the block.
I hear you have all our rain, I do hope you find Fiona.. it is such a worry when they wander off.. c
She was where we thought she’d be: up in the attic of a vacant house. It took about an hour to persuade her to come down. We borrowed bookshelves to make cat planks and brought food and did a lot of cooing.
naughty kitty, how does she get up there? well I am glad she is back safe and sound! c
First people broke into the house, leaving broken windows and doors that couldn’t be closed. Then the new owners sent workmen who leave the house open. The cat goes over there to hunt or look around and always ends up in the attic. We don’t know how she gets up there but she is afraid to come down on her own and just waits until we find her.
Late Spring frosts, Early winter snows.
Too much rain, not enough rain.
Tornadoes. Hurricanes…
These have always been the farmer’s lot in life….
Whenever it happens, remember a time when there was no option to say, “I’ll just run to the store, then…” And, that for some of our neighbors, that day is still *today*…
Wishing you warmer days and nights ahead, C!
(OH, MY….those Mammeries! Mama, don’t you think it’s TIME?)
No roof on this enterprise! Morning honey.. c
You’re right, it’s a bugger but there are far worse things in life and you are also right in that we should appreciate all the joyous enchanting things instead. Just the jewel-like colours of Kupa make him a joy to behold all on his own!
christine
Morning Christine, things like this just go with the territory.. c
Hi Cecilia, Shame about the frost. Beautiful photos.
Regards Florence x
Morning Florence. We had such a good run we were almost waiting for it!! c
I know how you feel..
Spring planting fever hits me in Jamuary
every year I follow the air flow from Fairbanks Alaska , it is our flow pattern…
I have been outside for two weeks planting, and yesterday i gave in and planted tomotoes and peppers..We usually have a freeze, light or hard but always one right before Easter….
This year is the first year we didn’t, I don’t think that has happened before, or so long ago I bock it out
my gardens are beautiful, or I should say in progress of being more beautiful LOL
Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures…yes Mama needs to soon!.
and the others are (animals) are looking healthy and happy
Take care…
have a great day…
)0(
maryrose
Morning Maryrose I Hope your frosts do hold off, it is a lovely time of year in the garden! c
Hmm, Mother Nature really does like to test us, doesn’t she! Despite the frost Celi, you have taken magical shots of everything.
Oh Mama – you poor dear, you must be terribly uncomfortable so hurry up and have them little lambies already. Sorry Mama, didn’t mean to sound like I was shouting at you.
🙂 Mandy
Poor old Mama. She is probably doing some inner shouting herself!! morning mandy.. c
What a beautiful post – made me feel all fresh and tingly!
It certainly is a fresh tingly morning out here this morning! c
Oh Celie, I know that life isn’t all hearts and flowers. I’m old enough to have seen and suffered most kinds of freak weather, but your graphic description and photographs made me cry my eyes out. Commiseration isn’t a strong enough word to describe how sorry I feel for your losses. The fact that you still have strength and optimism to find joy in this situation gives me hope for you and humankind.
Oh Viv, honey don’t cry. It is just bad luck. Nothing we can do. But I know you know that too! Have a lovely restful day though I know you hate sitting about!! c
Good Morning Celi! Frost is the downside of our early spring. I will go out later to survey the damage … then again, plants are very resilient.
Morning frank, yes they will come back but such a shame after such a good run, but there you are, thats life! c
Thanks for this thoughtful post. I was thinking of such things when I was driving in to work this morning and appreciating the beauty of the frost. I was aware that it likely meant bad news, and so did not relish it as much as a fall frost. “We cannot always have beauty and we cannot always have right. Fair is often a luxury. This a fundamental knowledge. This is why joy is so brilliant and so bright, if we have the wit to see it. Because joy comes in short sublime bursts. When things go wrong, when God says No and we have no choice in the matter, it is just a bugger.” That is a pretty profound set of sentences, as well the acceptance to move on and be thankful for the “survivors.”
Morning Neil and thank you. You have a great day at work! c
Thank you. I just looked at your counter at the bottom this morning. I hope you are aware of how fantastic a blogging start that is! All so well deserved!
Thank you neil. I love my wee blog and all the dialogue that comes from it! I really do! c
Such a big big bummer (old hippie word) about the frost Celi! So sad to see and hear about it. Will the asparagus revive with the sunlight, or send out new shoots? I sure hope so. Maybe the second time round the plants and trees will be even hardier? We can always hope. I’m sending positive energies your way to lift the spirits of you and Our John.
On a positive note, we are picking and eating radishes daily down here. That’s exciting! xo
Our Johns radishes are still small but we had some the other day too, isn’t it exciting. Your garden must be a delight in that rocky soil.. The asparagus is over for this year as are the fruit trees, even the walnut is covered in dead leaves now. I am especially upset about losing the artichokes, they need a long summer but there you are. As the old ladies say. No use crying over split milk. c
So sad, I’m sorry you had to lose so much after all of the hard work you’ve put into it!! Hopefully Mamas new babies that are coming SOON will soothe you!
~April
Morning April. a couple of lambies would be just the ticket right about now!! c
I love frosty mornings in spring they make me feel alive.
Lovely photos cecilia
Cheers
Marcus
Morning Marcus.. c
Yesterday, you said it was bad and you certainly weren’t exaggerating. Sorry to see that, Celi.Your photos are usually so joyful it’s hard to look at the reverse. But you’re right. It’s the lows that teach us to enjoy the highs. Like you, I hope that’s the last of it. Today will be a better day.
Yes John, head up and today will be a great day and it is going to get as little warm again too.. hope you have a sunny morning spot to have your coffee, this sunshine is gorgeous.. c
I feel sad for you, even though I know too that Mother Nature doesn´t publish a fixed timetable for us to consult. You are pragmatic and optimistic I think though and you will handle whatever she decides to hand out to you. Poor old Mama, she really must be so near her time.
Morning Tanya! Yup. We can manage a few frosts without melting down! Worse things happen at sea! c