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.”
Loss of pets is always so sad. But, the way you look at the cycle of life is outstanding! Stay warm!!!
Sorry to hear about Thing 2 and the frost. I’d no idea that one was expected in your area. I’d seen warnings to the North but none here and beyond. I guess it’s time to start up the furnace. And so begins our first steps down that slippery slope into Winter …
A BLT fixed by Mom. I’d give anything for that, Celi. It remains one of my favorite sandwiches and in Summer I’ll eat them for any of the daily 3 meals, None, however, will ever compare to the ones Mom used to make on Sundays for “brunch.” My! How grown up we felt when she called our Sunday lunch “brunch.” Thanks for that little bit of nostalgia — and smile.
Sorry for the loss of another cat, but having grown up on a farm myself I know all too well that animals disappear. Cruel but such is life.
Sorry about the cat…perhaps the season changes make them wander further. Oliver eyes–oh, I have seen those–great description. Have fun with your son and all the projects.
And frost already–oh, the poor little plants.
I am sad about Thing 2. I hope Thing 1 does not miss him too much. Have a good day.
So sorry to hear about Thing 2. Maybe he will still resurface, but for sure his life was good up to this point. So happy you have your son with you to enjoy and feed. 🙂 And the frost, does seem so early. We were down in the low forties here last night, no frost but mighty close. However it will be in the mid 80’s again by Wednesday.
Sad about the cat. Your philosophical acceptance does you credit. Isn’t it nice when people appreciate our cooking and demolish it!
Sorry to hear about the cat! Regardless it still hurts! When I saw the name of this entry, I was worried another animal had gone, but thought at first you might have meant some of the veggies. Hope you have a good visit with the son!
Oh too bad Celi. Too bad about Thing 2 and about the frost. And now more work for you trying to salvage the last fo the vegies. Some days are like that and have to be lived thru. Big hugs. Loved your recounting of boys and cake. My son loves my biscotti and, when he’s over, always heads to the cookie jar. Boys! 🙂
I love that you Eldest still eats like when he was a boy home with his mama. 🙂 Makes me smile. I hope Mr. N will feel the same someday when he comes home. Sorry to hear about the loss of Thing 2. It’s never an easy thing to lose a beloved pet, even if it is to be expected. I can’t believe you had a frost already! Maybe we have to and I’m just not up early enough to notice it.
We’re getting chilly at night here too but no frost as of yet. It amazes me that cows, sheep, and horses, seem to be able to just ignore the weather. I’m sorry to hear about your kitties! Hopefully Thing 2 is just hiding out for a while. You hear those crazy stories about cats disappearing for days on end and then heading back home. They are so independent, you just never know.
The other night a pack of coyotes were howling and barking so loudly it sounded like they were right across the street. Woke me out of a dead sleep and then Abigail began to howl at the top of her lungs. I probably would have thought it was comical had it not been 2:30 in the morning! 🙂
I’m sorry about Thing 2. I completely understand your sentiment about taking it on the chin, but I’m naively comfortable giving as little thought to the food chain as I’m able. But speaking of food…how delightful to have your son, and John’s son, under your roof. I suspect you’ll be doing a lot of baking and sharing. 🙂 Debra
Poor Thing 2 – you are right though, a short good life is preferable to a log miserable one. Hopefully he’ll come back 😉
It’s coming in hard and fast this year, I hope your harvest makes it. Have a lovely time with your son visiting, slave labour is such a handy thing to have available! 😉
Mr Misky thinks that the cat is with that hawk, and dish ran away with the spoon. I’m going to hire this guy out as a clown. His retirement was short-lived. Enjoy your time with the boys. 😀