This morning we have a bad frost. I still have so much in the garden not quite ready to harvest. So it is bad luck. 
Last night before we drove up to meet eldest son’s bus from the airport, we covered the frog garden with a tarpaulin. And other favourite tender plants with blankets. Especially the eggplant, capsicums, tomatoes and chillis.
Stalker’s Garden with its many tomatoes and zuchinnis has a sprinkler going on it that our John turned on at four before he left for work. The rest will have to take their chances. Sad to have such a hard frost so early in the autumn. 
My son is fast asleep in the room upstairs, John’s son is fast asleep in the cloakroom, the Big Dog is sleeping under blankets in the barn, the cow and sheep have frosty backs and I am shivering in my downstairs summer study. We cannot light the fire until the chimney has been cleaned of the summer nests. 
There is some sad news too. We have lost another cat. Thing 2. The day after the big coyote night, you remember, when they were howling from three sides. He was here for the morning milking and absent for the evening milking. 
So we are now down to two cats. I try to keep them inside at night but they always get out. They are not inside cats.
But as we said before. A short life does not mean a bad life. It is the cycle we are in when we live amongst wild animals. We have to expect and take the losses right on the chin I am afraid. You and I both. Part of being a grown up.
Sad, aye.
Today Eldest Son and I will take a tour of the projects I have lined up for him. Most especially the inside winter home for the pigs. Once we have made a list of everything we need, we will call the junk yard man and hopefully go there for a visit.
But first he will have a sleep in and I will get busy with beginning the day. Then French Toast for breakfast? What do you think?
Last night I made him a Big, Tall, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich, on home made bread, home grown tomatoes, lettuce and bacon, etc, and handed it across to his eager open hands. Then I washed out the cast iron pan, wiped it with oil, turned around and he was looking at me wide eyed from an empty plate. I dropped my head to the side and grinned at him as his eyes did the Oliver thing. Ah, I said. Cake.
He nodded enthusiastically as I uncovered the pound cake and passed him the knife.
Caaaaake, he said, as he dived in.
Tired hungry boys love cake. I love to feed hungry kids. And tired hungry sons.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
55 responses to “Bad Frost and another Loss.”
Sons and cake – a universal duo! This is a very early frost and I should probably go check the micro farm on the deck. It will be apple duty for me today. Morning, Miss c. t
Our temps have been in the low 40s a few nights so it won’t be long now here. I always have mixed feelings at the first frost. Summer is so fleeting…Mentally, I am letting go of the garden. Today and tomorrow we give out our last shares of the summer CSA. We do a smaller late season share of the root and storage veggies, but only ever other week until Christmas. Much easier to manage. Time for me to move on to my winter occupation, and glad of it!
So glad you have your visitor there. You must be over the moon! There’s a lotta love in that cake!
Sons, cake…all good! Frost and losing a cat…not so good. As you say though a short life is not a bad life. Wise words.
I once had a cat that was missing for 4-5 months. We found her wandering around the property one day. She acted like she meant to be gone that long, but she was very grateful for the can of tuna we gave her.
I know what you mean by feeding boys. Mine were not that picky about foods and really seemed to enjoy a home cooked meal. I miss that. I even miss the 5 gallons of milk (a week!) we had to keep in the refrigerator for them.
I just love reading your work, your words. Love your story about the bite on the plane and reading about farm life, something I’m not familiar with. And what a great photo at the top with the cow, hog, and hawk (or some kind of bird) flying by!
Thanks for sharing
So sorry about your cat and the frost – argh – the cycle. Your son sounds delightful even though all I know about him is that he can munch out on cake!
So glad your son arrived safely. Good capture of bird with Daisy and Charlotte! Is there any chance someone is setting animal traps on/around your property? Wow, Bobby Blanc is growing up fast.
Laura
I know a thing or two about the love of feeding tired hungry sons. My heart has only a few greater joys.
Poor cat.
Well rested and well fed, sons can do good work 🙂
Good reminder that I must ring the chimney sweep. We’re not quite ready to light fires, but not far off. Sad about the cats. We lost 3 in the first few years that we were here and haven’t had the courage to get another. Hope your vegetable garden doesn’t get too decimated by the frosts.
Oh, C, I know how you feel. I fed a tired, hungry son home from college for the first time this weekend. It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend and way too short.
Oh no, my heart is very upset about Thing 2 but rejoicing that you have your son with you.
Have a happy beautiful week ahead.
🙂 Mandy
Poor puss! I still think it is better to have a short happy life than a long one imprisoned in the house. Our cats have always been outdoor cats, which on a couple of occasions meant a very short life indeed.
You can’t keep an outdoor cat in…they are reconciled to the risks I think, because the call of the soul is stronger. It goes for people too, doesn’t it? The bacon sandwich is a wonderful idea…I too like to feed hungry boys and watch them go to that food place in their eyes!
Ain’t it grand getting the chance to be mum again!! Enjoy!
Christine