I know it is not Christmas yet. But I could not resist. Kittens in a basket. You can’t get more Christmassy than this.
Kittens. What can you do? One more left for another good home yesterday. Now there are three.
Sheila got up late yesterday afternoon, limped very slowly to where Hop and Pop Poppy was hurling herself around rummaging for scraps, barked at her, smacked her in the head, stole her food then lumbered back to bed. She had had quite enough of that infernal racket! I had to laugh.
Sheila is back on board. I bet you can hear my sigh of relief from all the way over there.
Yesterday I was asked how John and I met. A New Zealand girl and an American bloke. Here is the story. Thank you very much Chicago John for finding that for me! I arrived here almost 9 years ago now. John had his Big Dog and White Cat, a vegetable garden and barns full of of cars. And about five mature trees. No farm. We have come a long way since then.
Good morning. When a couple meets and marries later in their lives, after children and that mad hand over hand push to establish themselves in the world – it is wonderful to have a mutual mission. Though I am the boss of the farm, we do work together. Having this in common makes us happy. Gives us stuff to talk about. We have a common goal. Often as small as a bucket of fresh milk, or a calf or a basket of eggs, jars of tomatoes or shoring up an old barn. But it is our together mission. Our glue. Working together towards a common goal is a good thing in a marriage.
Yesterday was one of the good days. Still no sun. John back at work. But strangely enchanting. I think it is the fact that there is light in the barn. For the record I can change a light bulb but choose not to go walking the beam through the dark ceiling of a very tall barn, clutching fresh bulbs when there is no-one around to see if I fall. Occassionally I am sensible. And John uses a tall, tall ladder that is too heavy for me to even carry! A Ladder! Who knew!
I hope you all have a lovely day. We have a little sun this morning, peeking in! YAY
Your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “Merry Xmas Pictures”
This one made me smile extra big… kittens, up-and-about Sheila, good thoughts on marriage. And have I mentioned how grateful I am to have something to read EVERY MORNING from someone whose brain and ethos I so admire? Thank you for being so much more consistent than… others among us… cough, cough.
Ohh, kitties in a basket! Miss C you could run so many varied theme calendars each year, have your own little production company…although running a sustainable farm might get in the way a bit 🙂 Truly though, your animals all have the faces and actions and stories to share through your pictures and some extra $ might help feed that sweet, but big eating group you have. Have you looked into cloning yourself… then Miss C the photographer could do nothing more than wander with Camera House while Miss C the farmer tends the farm
Kittens, what can I say? They make me feel all fuzzy and warm inside! I feel a painting coming on! As for marriage – at any age – teamwork and a common goal is essential in my book. Whether that’s raising a family or starting out on a new venture.
Christine
How can you part with such beautiful kittens? I know that you have to because you are a farm lady and animals have their jobs to do, so being practical is a good thing…if it were me I would keep them all and then find I was overloaded..but beautiful overloaded.
Its good to hear that Sheila, Bless her heart, is getting back to normal…you can’t keep a good sow down! She has always given us something to smile about.
Thank you for the info about how you met. What were you doing in USA befor e you met John..what made you leave NZ
SO cute!
I’m glad Sheila’s feeling better – I thought she might end up lying on the rug in front of the fire for Christmas 😉
It doesn’t get much cuter then kitties in a basket!! Berit is wondering why I didn’t get one for myself! I hope I don’t regret it!!! Glad to hear that Sheila is better!
I just went and read the post on how you two met, which was new to me. What a wonderful story! All I can say is what I’ve said to you before–I hope you are writing a memoir! Or a novel based on your life. It’s extraordinary.
You will have to take me to france with you, and sit me down to write it.. Have you read all the stories that are here in the farmy pages? When I first started the blog I used to tell stories about my life.. some of them are very amusing.. if you have not read them, and would like to, i will find a couple for you.. they are all short. c
When I first discovered you — discovered you in much the same way Columbus “discovered” the Americas, of course, as you were around all along! – I read your whole archives from start to present day. I was actually sad to be caught up. I love the Celie back in the day stories and join the chorus for a collection. Memoir writing sounds daunting, but collecting some stories up isn’t so bad, is it? 😉
Agree!!
Well that agree was to be under the Charlotterainsdixon comment but Cecilia snuck her comment in first. 🙂 I do agree with her that your life should be a novel. What an interesting read!
Adorable kitty pics today. So glad that Sheila is doing well and on the mend.
Pheww glad Sheila is better 🙂 I was thinking OZ must be hogging all the sunshine because we have been overcast and wet for days, even better to hear you are finally seeing it at last. Gorgeous Kitties. Laura
Meant to say …. Sheila is 2 yrs and 9mths old. The Shush Sisters arrived on the Farmy 2 June 2012. Laura
yup almost three, hard to believe isn’t it.. In fact we must have a birthday party for Aunty Sheila next year.. all being well..
We don’t have the sunshine here Laura, days of cloud then nights of super storm cells dropping heavy rain on us, weird lightening that sets boats and sheds on fire, and hailstones big as tennis balls…….someone had some drop in her yard and they looked like doughnuts. It’s warm though, warm and humid.
Those pictures of the little kittens are drop dead gorgeous . Thanks😊
I enjoyed reading the story on how you met John. You really did reinvent your life, no wonder it took a long time for you to decide. Had you ever farmed before?
Nope, I grew up on a beach, I knew more about the migratory habits of killer whales and the best spots for paua.. and could tell you the tide without even looking .. nothing about farming.. my grandfather had some land though.. c
Amazing, you are a fast learner.
OMG cuteness overload! 😀
We tend to adapt to wherever we find ourselves, like chameleons. Thank you for the Howwemet link, and for the lovely puss pics. I think you would have a marvellous book if you simply joined all the posts together in sequence.
I got lost coming home from a friend’s this afternoon – a route I’ve driven dozens of times. Senility creeps in.
Love,
ViV
Yes, thank you for the “How we met” story! Really a great love story. I can’t remember how long I’ve been reading your blog but it’s been awhile, I talk about the stories so often my sister has become a lurker.
Big relief. Shiela is up an on the hunt for her food, I could hear your sigh all the way across the pond! I read your ‘meant to be’ story for the first time. I love to hear how ‘good’ couples meet. My own story was more love at first sight, but wonderful and my thoughts on marriage mirror yours. You have to work at it every day.