Marmalade Cat spends all her time on the bed in The Coupe. In fact I think she thinks that The Coupe has been built just for her. 
She is thinking of taking up a career in modeling.
Marmalade is developing quite the mouth. I think we are going through A Stage. And yes, you are right, previously I thought she was a boy (the vet told me so.. what was I to think)… But really she is a girl.. does this remind you of anything!?
Daisy is still waiting quietly for the milking season to begin. The snow melted somewhat yesterday. So everyone is getting muddier. 
While Sheila went out and splurged on a new pair of boots. (not all the ice is melted)
And the chickens wish they had boots as ALL their ice has melted.
I came home last night after being OUT and driving everyone BACK. And then they were all settled except for me who wanted to be Out again, I grabbed the torch and slushed my way through to the barn and out the other side. And there was Daisy laying outdoors, in the yards. The house was sleeping, the clouds were drooping, the barn-doors leaning, the dogs in moon-sung shadows, the hens huddled watchful. Cluck. Queenie’s heavy breathing. The quiet was like an ebbing sea, a drawn breath, almost there, always there. The moon as silvery as they say. The barn was drifting, unmoored, lost into the sky. Pregnant.
In my going out boots and going out jeans I found Paisley Daisy in the almost full moon, laying in the moons tree shadow. In the cold. I knelt and I laid my head on her warm haunches and then up across her huge hard belly. She hauled in a bellows breath and let it out like gentle wistful candle light. Sleep baby, she said. I will be here in the morning. She said. I wanted to sleep with her. I felt sad with wintryness. Sad from too much life. Sad beyond your ken. Sad that does not mean sad but means lonesome. Like Lone. Like Some. Like Us. Lost in the waiting.
Bed, she said. But I need to close your doors against the night, I thought. You have to go inside. In case the calf comes. Bed, she said. So I did. I went. To bed.
your
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
52 responses to “Walkabout To Bed”
What an incredibly poignant, poetic piece, C. There is such a longing to your words, such a depth. I think you need a hug, my friend. Yes, a hug.
Hugs are good.. c
I saw that lovely moon last night also and immediately thought of Daisy…and wondered…..
Marmalade has grown up and what a beauty! Grumpy Cat, eat your heart out! 🙂
And Miss Fashionista Sheila is right in style wearing the shorter “ankle” boots… very “ta ta”
Have a lovely weekend, C 🙂
Glad you listened to Daisy’s advice for bed. You need to rest up too! The farm is looking almost spring-like. I enjoyed the walkabout this morning. Have a great weekend C!
Littlesundog’s fashion statement on Sheila is hilarious. Who knew Sheila The Fashionista!
Yes, Tilly now Marmalade. She is really model material. And your description of you with Daisy. Just so poignant. The moon was so rich last night. And the sunset myriad shades of grey.
We are all pulling for you, Daisy.
Celi, you need to heed Daisy, you will need all the energy you have, when labour begins and the farmy turns the corner to busy, busy! May the new season be healthy and fruitful. The photos are wonderful. I never told you, but when I saw the first photos of Marcel with those long legs, I thought he looked like a Llama!
Moonlight can do that to a person can’t it C.? It’s beautiful but mournful, in a way. And yes, I too thought that Daisy was gathering energy and quiet from that otherwordly, silver light. Here is one of my all time favorite quotes that may or may not have anything to do with this post but I think you’ll like it too.
The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses, we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners in the splendor and travail of the earth.
Henry Beston, The Outermost House
Just perfect, thank you chris.. c
Baby anytime now, me thinks! Any time!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://handcraftedbyus.wordpress.com
♬♬♬ Happy Saint Patrick’s Day ♬♬♬
Hope it is not tomorrow, very cold with high winds tomorrow, perfect day for it today though.. but she is still just wafting about calmly.. c
Your words – poetry. Words that shivered my skin. Set the hairs on my arms standing straight up. Words I read again and again to imprint them on my mind. Embed them in my soul. “The barn was drifting Bed, she said”, unmoored, lost in the sky.
Dear Celi. It sounds like you have the kind of sadness that bears witness to existence. That gravity of being kind. I think, I hope it’s a good sad…where the weight of the sadness also wraps you and holds you still like a blanket until it passes. The sad that mirrors our deep gratitude for being alive, somehow. Your animals are perfect for you now. I’m glad you have them. They’re so wise, so unselfconscious. I envy them that. (Except Sheila who seems awfully aware of how lovely her fine trotters look in low brown, button-up, Victorian ankle boots.) (Chris, I love the Henry Beston quote. Thank you!)
This is a wonderful comment Charlotte.. just beautiful.. c
I adore your writing – you let us, your humble and avid readers, see the dimensions within, without, behind us, above us. i can’t say anymore
stunning photos of Marmalade but of course we expect nothing less fro yourself!
Christine
Beautiful words. Super pics Celi. And yes your kitty should be modelling!
Marmalade had turned in a beauty. I must say that any vet that cannot tell the sex of a cat should be fired on the spot. Here is the secret. Lift up the tail and if you see two dots like this :, it is a male. If you see a dot and a dash, ; like a semicolon, it is a female. You can tell the sex at one day old this way. I would look at marmalade again, just to be sure. Of course, at his/her age, his anatomy should be pretty evident. All your pictures are priceless today especially. Every one. I see Marcel the Happy is almost as tall as Boo and growing like a weed. You seem to be in a more upbeat mood today as the sun is shining and the ice is melting. Hopefully warmer weather is just around the corner. Today I heard a meadowlark!
That little lamb always looks like it’s grinning.
I would take over the coupe too 🙂
It’s a little hard to tell from the angle of the photos, but it appears Daisy’s sides are sunken in quite a bit. I expect we’ll be reading about a new calf on the farmy very, very soon.
yep, baby is on the move, but taking his time!.. c