Yesterday for the third day in a row we had stunning, drenching, rain storms rolling in.
Though yesterday it was in the day time. If a storm comes in with all its flashing lights and its kettle drum set low and I am in bed I snuggle lower and watch the show from bed. The storm at night makes me feel strangely secure and snug. At no point do I feel energised.
But a storm in the daytime hurls me into action. I cook and clean and tidy. I don’t resent being inside because outside it is WET. I am happy to be cooking when the rain is pouring down outside.
Especially yesterday as, in the morning before the storm, I had weeded and mowed and trimmed my way around the gardens. So I had that lovely successful feeling about me as I picked the lavender for this weekends oil.
Over the last two days we have had four and a half inches of rain. My hay field is growing like crazy. It is very humid as well, everything is damp. The clothes hang on the line all day and come off as wet as they went on.
What an extraordinary summer.
My next farm hand has car troubles and may not be here for a week if at all. So this coming week I will begin to clear out the barn myself and get all the old straw out onto the gardens as a winter mulch, as they are closed down before I go away in October.
But today I have friends coming to help me work on the wall in the hen house then we are having a big Sunday lunch with extras. New Zealand steak pie, roast vegetable salad with a lemon grass and mint dressing (experimental), breaded zuchinni chips, home made buns and an enormous bowl of greens from the garden. That should sort them out.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
miss c
The Kitchen's Garden 
46 responses to “Sunday Lunch”
Yes I went to the pie recipe and saw Hairy with the curliest head imaginable. Do you ever hear how he is? And that sweet tabby cat. I’m afraid to ask what happened to her/him.
No idea really and cats.. well they really come and go around here don’t they.. speaking of which I must toddle out and take some milk to the kitten, it is hot!.. c
I am going to try your steak pie on my next day off. My husband will love it!
Excellent heather, let me know how it goes.. c
Breaded zucchini chips. You have come to my rescue. My garden and I thank you.
They are so easy, I do them in the oven on a big baking sheet..
Rain gives me ‘permission’ to read and be idle. It’s dark so I can’t sew, wet so I can’t hang out laundry, the dust doesn’t show so I can’t do housework… But it’s pie making weather here too: I made chicken and mushroom pie in flaky pastry with a cream and mushroom sauce. Yum!
Chicken and mushroom! YUM! I think I might make that one next week.. c
It’s very good, but you have to put some grain mustard in, it just gives a bit of extra kick to the flavour.
good tip! thank you..c
Oh, that glorious rain! I’m in Southern California, and our state is in it’s 14th year of drought. It’s getting real bad now – especially through Central California – from where SO much of the entire nation gets food! Your post was like a long cool drink of water…..
I have a son out there in the Central Valley, he tells horror stories of the dry out there, who towns with NO water.. awful.. hope you are doing OK.. c
Everything looks as green as in NZ. Water is so precious, and I can almost hear your land drinking it up from here!
The storms have been frustrating!
Your place looks lovely even in the rain! We are having some of the nicest weather in NZ …
OK I have been following and reading every single one of your posts for over a year now, and NEVER knew you had a swimming pool!?!? (I don’t comment often, I just enjoy reading about the farmy life.) Is that a new addition or have you had it all along? Inquiring minds what to know. 🙂
yes it was there before I go there but it is so ugly. And this year is so damp and so hot that it is not as blue as it should be.. c
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On August 24, 2014 7:00:37 AM thekitchensgarden
I hope you were able to get the wall finished and enjoyed your dinner and friends.
Shame about your helper 😦 Sunday lunch sounds marvellous!
What a sky!
Oh your dinner sounds fabulous. Dinner on the farmy would feel like a retreat, what lucky friends!