We are now finally settling into a summer rhythm. After all the births and the weanings and the schedules. The setting up and taking down and setting up again. the milking, the feeding, the cooking and the gardening move in and out, giving and taking a little, but basically the days are settled into a gentle jog, for a wee while. Even the skies are the same each day. Light blue like a wheelers eyes. A couple of clouds, a lot of sky.
Mama is back with her little flock. Her lambs are weaned from her and Minty is weaned from me. They are in Pats Paddock for a while, there is not a huge amount of feed with all the dry weather but there is a line of big old mulberry trees for shade, so it is a good mid summer field for these hot sheep. 
The bees are still working on some honey for the kitchen. But they all have three supers full of brood and honey. There is a lull coming in the flowers as the fields dry up and they will need honey for late summer as well as winter so I am pleased to report that they all have three heavy full supers of honey and brood. Two is usually adequate. In autumn if we get a little rain there will be flowers again.
Daisy has her little herd in order. She leads them out into Daisy’s paddock and leads them back in to drink and for the milking. They all line up at the gate at milking time but only Daisy and Hairy MacLairy come through into the yards. The Big Bobby (the steer) is on with Daisy and Queenie so I can look for any signs for fertility. He will try and mount them when they ovulate even though he is gelded. This will help me learn Daisy’s ryhthms as she will need to become pregnant again in a wee while. I would rather she calved when the good spring grass is flushing. 
But we will see what her body decides. The ladies from the store sent out boxes of corn shucks yesterday. A favourite treat.
Today I shall make another batch of fresh cheese. And rum and raisin ice cream. And maybe a cake for that Tall hardworking Teenager.
Good morning! Thank you so much for yesterdays comments. And yesterdays readers. Thank you all. Yesterday was a special day for us all on the blog. I decided not to leap in and out with my own thank yous and comments because your narrative began to join mine and the whole piece began to develop a character of its own. So anyone new visiting could see that grief and hard work are universal and can be sustained and can be managed. We, all of us, in our hard times know that we can go on. You and I are lucky to have each other though.
But usually I do like to answer the comments you leave for me. I come in and out during my day on the farm to see what you have said, I especially love it when you have conversations with each other when I am not watching. That makes me laugh. The Kitchens Garden comments section is such fun! Don’t forget that if you write a page and want me to read it leave a message to that effect so I can zoom straight over.
I keep meaning to say – if you see a picture that you like and you want to keep it just go ahead and do so. You don’t have to ask me. If you pop it on your blog I know you will leave a credit. If you would like to print an image let me know though and I will email you the image in high resolution. The web ones will not print well from the web format. They are all pretty ordinary really.
I have discovered to my delight that some of the animals are already screen savers on computers around the world. So just steal away. If you don’t have enough words of your own borrow mine. I don’t mind. My words are your words. We all use the same words I don’t own them. Just write celi always said before you quote me. Each of the stories that are being worked up to go in the books will be longer, fuller and more colourful. Then you may pay for them if you want to. Otherwise just steal away.
And thank you for yesterday. Such a wonder.
Did I tell you that I am developing muscles on my arms. last night after I had showered and dropped my nightie over my head I lifted my hair to plait it and saw these little bumps on my upper arms. I thought it was a shadow. So with my arms raised and bent behind my head, still holding up my hair, I looked more closely and yes. Those three finger muscles in front of my shoulder, what are they called were quite defined. I moved my arms back and forth to watch them work. And the biceps in my arms were popping up in funny little lumps. Goodness. It must be all the buckets. It reminded me of that line my Dad used to say “The muscles on her scrawny arms stuck out like spiders knees.”
“Look” I said to John, turning to him. “I’ve got muscles.”
He raised his eyes from his book and squinted. “Where. ” he said.
I turned back to the mirror. I look in a mirror once a day so it is always a surprise to see me there and I thought. Well, the sad thing about that is he was not even trying to be funny!
Do you remember only a few months ago when we were creeping back up from the dark cold winter all weak and pale and wobbly. I bet you are all developing your summer muscles too as the rhythm of your summer defines your body. And you winter people will be working to keep strong for your summer.
Big breath. Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
86 responses to “Summer rhythm”
i am surprised you don’t have huge muscles with all the work you do! we had rain for a whole 5 seconds this morning…a small miracle! we are also about to get really hot again. i can’t wait for some cool weather. i wonder if it will be a hot fall too?
Such a little drop oh well, if we have a long warm fall then we will have fantastic fall gardens, it will be interesting to see.. c
I remember the first time I felt my own muscles. I was 13 and my family was clearing a right-of-way through the woods for the power line. We were getting ready to move to a farm, and there was plenty of work to be done. Once we had a road, power, water, and a septic system, we moved our trailer onto the farm and off the rented lot.
Well you certainly must have got muscles doing all that work, and i imagine moving through the woods like that must have contributed to your love of nature that we see now on your blog pages.. c
I hope you got some of that rain yesterday and just forgot to mention it. We got well over a half inch, which is more than we’ve had for the past month. It was nice seeing puddles again. A great photo of Minty, head through the fence, enjoying a good, behind the ear scratch. Sometime she seems more dog than lamb.
Well, I’m off to the farmers market and a huge garage sale-like event. Have a great day, Celi!
No nothing.. Nada! But I heard about you getting some.. that is good.. it clears the city air.. have fun at the markets.. c
Rum and raisin ice cream and a cake, the tall teenager will be impressed.
Poor Teenager will have to have strawberry! Dad says no rum!! Luckily he does not like raisins.. imagine not liking raisins! c
Not liking raisins……hmmmm. Gelato di Fragole is very good……he will enjoy. If you put the alcohol in at the hot custard stage; it will evaporate off with the heat. Strawberry framboise or daiquiri ……now wouldn’t that be good.
I’m organising a few summer recipes for you; no desserts as yet…….that is your forte……e
You have the best recipes, i look forward to those! c
I cannot believe that the lambs are so big already!! I am sure you will develop muscles with all the hard work you have been doing!
I hope so, my skinny girls arms need some curves! morning pink! c
What are “supers of honey and brood”. I was thinking it was a play on words and then it occurred to me that I know little or nothing of bees. Is this technical bee talk? Apart from that, good to hear that all is well on the farm.
A super is the box..Each holds ten trays that slide in vertically, for the bees to build their combs on. The big ones are for bee honey and brood and the slim little ones are for my honey. well done asking though roger I just chat on forgetting that I need to clarify some words.. c
A great read first thing in the day.
I have a farming question. For how long will you be able to milk Daisy this time around? Does she dry up when she gets pregnant?
A cow will naturally come back into season about 6 weeks to two months after she calves. They give about 6 – 8 months of milk. I hope to dry Daisy up about three to four months before she births the next calf. But this also depends on how much milk she is giving, you can’t just dry a cow up unless she is ready.. so we will see.. she is a big milker, c
We’ve milked a cow as long as 2 years when we didn’t have access to a bull to breed her. Her production went way down by the end but we still had enough for the family to drink!
Wow.. that is some cow, i have heard pf them being milked for a year before but not two, what a good old girl.. c
I love your stories and wish I had time to join in on the conversations, but some days I just get to read you on my phone and continue working. I’m glad you share them and I don’t feel like the only one sitting in my laundry basket :-).
Yes, Blossom is weaned. From the bottle, but not from her cot. She’s been going out some with the bigger flock, but doesn’t feel comfortable enough to stay out there with them for long. She’s good buddies with the guard dog though so whenever she’s ready, I know she’ll have a watchful eye when I am not there.
Enjoy your day 🙂
It is sweet how the orphans buddy up with others on the farm. Minty loves to hang out with Baby Bobby! lovely to see you and i quite understand about the working.. you are very busy! c
Has Mama’a wool made it back to the farmy???
Not yet, i will tell you when it comes so we can all ogle it.. ! c
I think you’ve just coined a new phrase…an emotional meltdown will henceforth be known as a Sitting in the Laundry Basket moment. Just ’cause we’re (mostly) grown up doesn’t mean we’re immune to them, eh?
Enjoy the rythmic pace of the day…I’m afraid to write about it. Might jinx things 😉
I know what you mean, i was tapping my head as I wrote it!! I think these endless hot dry summer days contribute to the lazy rhythm.. and you are right about our new phrase!! we will; all understand what we mean when we say it!! c
You are a generous woman celi with a big heart. Just don´t go getting too big muscles (like Madonna) to match that lovely heart 😉
I think we are safe!! (laughter) c
Are you turning into Arnold? I would love to have more muscle definition it’s just you can’t wish for it, you have to work for it. Sounds like the farm is giving you a good workout! xx
Oh it is honey, who needs a gym!! c
Silly man — of course you have muscles: good, strong ones, too, because you are always working.
I think he was just not sure where he was supposed to be looking!! What? Where? Laugh! morning sharyn c
I’d like to hear more about how the tall hardworklng teenager is helping you. Perhaps he will develop muscles just like you and John will notice them.
John and I are thrilled at how hard he is working. He gets up at 6 am when I start outside and works with me until I am done.. Mainly he does the waters and the pigs. AND he has expressed an interest in milking Daisy.. how is that for fantastic! morning Audrey.. c
I would say that is mighty fantastic. Simply to get a teen out of bed at 6 a.m. is a miracle. Well, at least my teen. So good to hear that he is helping you with the watering and is showing an interest in milking. A mighty fine young man, I say.
Morning, Celi. I had a miserable day yesterday that I don’t wish to repeat soon. It also meant that I didn’t have a chance to read your post yesterday, so I’m off there now to see what’s up. You have me worried now.
I also love the photo of Minty. Precious.
No need to worry darling, just an old story. a womans story.. c
Yes, so I’ve read, although with some difficulty; it’s not easy to see through a flood of tears spurred on from your tale. I think every woman can empathise with your touching story. Thanks, c., and good morning to you.
Good morning darling..have a sleep now! c
Soon, my darling. I’m making stew to off-set the dismal rain and cold temperatures.
Comfort food.. good idea! c
I’m sure John has his favorite spots to look at!
cheeky girl (laughter!).. c