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.”
Sorry about Thing Two, Miss C, and about your frosted garden. I know that was a most delicious sandwich that Eldest Son dispatched so quickly.
Aw, sorry to hear about the frost. Though, having children devour a cake seems to take the sting out a bit.
Thing2 was my favorite animal name on your farmy.
So sorry to hear about Thing 2 C, it isn’t easy emotionally even when your “brain” says that this is the way things are..
My son is ony three and he loves cake 🙂 his reaction to freshly baked cake always puts a smile on my face
Coyotes! They are not my favorite of animals. I hate to hear them yip yip yip it means they have made a kill. I know, that means lunch for them, but often times……
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
i know it!//c
feeding the ones you love is heaven, isn’t it? Sad about your cat… nature red etc, no way round, is there?
How sad to have lost a cat.. even if living on a farm, one never adjusts to these sorts of sad occurrences. Thankfully you’ve got your son’s love round you to bring so much happiness in:D xx
hopefully the cat does come home, and if it does not, i am so sorry. i am thinking that with the mild winter last year, we may make up for it this year
I’m sorry to hear about Thing 2. Hopefully he’s just wandered off. Love that you still get to feed your adult son, even if it’s only occasionally!
I was worrying about your other critters as soon as you mentioned the coyotes being especially noisy… poor Thing 2.
I hope you work number 1 son hard(ish) – it will be great to have him there to help with some of the bigger jobs XO
There is nothing to compare with the joy of feeding a hungry son. It’s so satisfying!
Ah I am sorry to hear about Thing 2 – that’s sad although as you say part of the cycle of life. I bet your son is going to love absolutely everything you make for him while he is on the farm. Shame about the frost I hope it doesn’t come back (at least not a hard one) until everything is ready for harvesting.
I was worried when I saw the post title, and mentally ran through the likely candidates before shutting the lid of the laptop late last night and deciding I could wait until morning to know… Once again I was sad, and this quote came to mind “No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, [and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch.]” ~ Leo Dworken. The second aspect not in this case, but even though they may be physically gone, cats’ presences never really leave. Moreso, I can’t take in how short the Summer is there. I now understand why it is so precious. We are sailing gently into Spring with warmish days, still coolish nights. Thanks for the good news with the bad, it’s lovely to hear your voice when describing your son and his visit 🙂
Sorry to hear about your cat. I am glad to hear your son is visiting though.
That look – precious and lovingly amusing at the same time, I would imagine. How happy that you’re home together now! But sad about the frost and kitty cat…