Diversity on a Farm, well actually All lives and Living, are all about diversity. My diverse life is in no way special at all. Having said that here is what was on the bench when I awoke this morning.
Federico bakes too. Our John is happy about that. Later in the day yesterday – it warmed up.
Some cats like to sleep in the Pods.
Some in the asparagus basket.
Our John set to and drained the on-ground swimming pool, (in-ground would crack in our winters) scrubbed it and refilled it. Right at the beginning of this process (and as we speak the water is still running) he found the tiniest frog in the winter debris. Naturally he caught it and called to me to carry it out to the frog garden. If you cannot see it in the header here it is again. The tiniest frog. But had to be saved. 
I made more ice-cream yesterday. To make the icecream I first make a French Vanilla Custard then at the last minute before churning add the fruit. Yesterday I made a double batch. Sixteen egg yolks and I only broke one. Life is full of challenges. Recognise them. It makes life more fun.
I was making the custard for the strawberry and rhubarb icecream. This is my ice-cream making wooden spoon. ONLY used for ice-cream. Making ice-cream with a spoon that has stirred garlic is not a good idea.
And while it was cooling I was called in to help with the pool. This coming week we have three girls coming to help on the farm. It is going to be fantastic. I love to fill the rooms and gardens with young people. And I am happy to help with the pool cleaning so they have somewhere to cool down after a day in the kitchens and gardens. If the weather actually warms up!
Federico is looking forward to the first wave of volunteer gardeners too.
He made ravioli for dinner with pesto and cheeses!
When you pull your head up and look around your life/or my life – when my eyes are open – I see such good luck. My life has had its troubles (of course) but the predominant thread through-out the years is Good Luck and Good People. A diverse group for sure. But good. And you are part of that.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
64 responses to “Diversity on the Farm”
On first glance, until I read your posting, I thought that John’s peeper was a cricket. That is a tiny frog… and I bet, in comparison, has a booming voice. The kitties are lovely and that overhead shot of them is darling, all wound round each other. And Federico! Baking flans (is that a flan? don’t think I ever knew but that’s the term that came to mind when I saw it), indeed! When your house fills with young ladies, pls send him up here to me…. I will go out and buy a farm, far away, in the Canadian wilderness, 150 miles from another soul — up in the tundra, if necessary……..hehehehehe And you call that good luck. Good luck? Federico is beyond good luck, more like serendipity. But whoever, above, said it was karma is right, I think…. kindliness is like a magnet and it’s coming back to you. Thank you for letting us join you and perhaps a little will rub off on me too. Have a great day! ~ Mame 🙂
What a fun morning visit. So much to comment on but words fail me. Love all the kitties in the baskets.
Thanks for this post. I’m usually quite good at looking around and for some reason have had my head down lately.
I am about to make an afternoon cup of coffee, a slice of that french apple tart would go down a treat. I might do what my granny did when reading to us as very young children. She would ask if we would like a slice of cake, then turn over a page in a magazine to share the cake pictured there! No calories that way!!
Federico sounds like a wonderful young man. How long will he be at the farm? Our pool is up and running (we cover ours in the winter and it is above ground too because of varmint problems), but with so much rain it’s been overflowing and isn’t warming up much. Your photographs are very “Sunday-ish” if that can be said. Relaxing, lovely, and warm. Those cats have it made in the shade!
I am not sure how long he is staying – definitely another couple of weeks – he wants to meet Tima’s babies – if in fact she is pregnant which I find hard to believe sometimes..
I think the best best thing coming your way besides new piggies is the water trough system so you don’t have to drag one big hose everywhere. I can identify with that as I have to drag a long hose too. But not every day! Big difference.
Love the hand photos today. Together. Hands. Working.
Wonderfully diverse, colorful, flavorsome, generous and inspiring….I’m happy to be part of that too 😊
What is that delectable item Frederico baked? It’s beautiful! Yay for more help coming!
I really have no idea, he made a pastry and layered the apple..Very tasty though and all gone.. c
Oh and I adore that tiny tiny frog. The Frog and Toad books so charmed me.
So so glad you have another person there to share the strains and stresses . . . So happy for you Federico has almost become ‘family’ and is able to stay another little while . . . well, he can be the ‘second boss cockie’ when the girls arrive 🙂 !! I can hear the laughter now . . .
Federico looks like a great help to have around! Waking up to apple pie is the best way to wake up 🙂 Any progress with your watering system you can show us? Or has he been too busy cooking delectable things?
Where do I begin…cats in a barrel…dorbs..tiny frog hello! Tima having babies weird, she’s a baby! So gosh darn cute…everything! I love your farmy!
Robin🐥
Oh my goodness, we ALL need a Fredrico! LOL What a gorgeous tart. I’m going to have to play catch up on your blog this week. I have no idea what’s going on and i hate to miss out! 🙂
Agree with the comments that we could all do with a Federico in our lives! Must be like having your own professional chef and gardener.