– because sometimes it is going to rain on your life and then you can only do what you can. And sometimes it is Cold hard rain. And sometimes it is on the day you had pegged to cut hay. And that is what we had yesterday. Wet, cold, hard rain. But the work went on – just in a different direction. We don’t need to save the world every day. Some days we just do what we can then take to the swing chairs when enough is done. 
Fede our gentle solemn handsome Argentinian volunteer (fast becoming a good friend) did not care about the rain, he just smiled his quiet smile because it was his turn to be Kitchen Mama yesterday, so he got to stay inside in the warmth and make ravioli. Though the outdoors did come indoors at one point when he got a visit from a pig. 
These are the butternut and ricotta ravioli.
It was the girls and I who worked in and between showers. Getting muddier and filthier by the minute. But getting the jobs done.
We cleaned the winter out of the chook-house. Mercy, I hate that job. It was dusty and smelly – heavy and filthy. I changed rain soaked clothes three times during the day then gave up and did the milking in my clown suit.
Lady Aster is being lovely at milking time these last few days, did I tell you? John talks. She eats. I milk. Excellent.
And after dinner the girls were cleaning up the kitchen with the music on loud, laughing, dancing and flicking each other with Tea towels, Fede was dishing up elegant wedges of perfect lemon meringue pie and bitter coffee and there was that stardust blend of ease and joy punctuated by shouts from John watching the basketball on his ancient television in the Snug that seldom gets a signal, thrilled that the wind had sent him the game, shoveling great scoops of incredible dessert into his mouth with a delicious lack of appreciation at all shouting at the screen with his mouth full. And all our kitchen eyes met and we laughed with the sheer perfection of it. Just that moment of absolute balance.
Later they all went to bed exhausted and I was not far behind.
The girls leave tomorrow after an incredible few days but Fede is staying on for a few more weeks. Then we will be having Fellowship visitors. That will be such a treat. Life is a treat. It is a treat to have such a life. Lucky I am.
I hope you have a lovely day. We will, we are having a lovely big Sunday lunch. It really is all about the food around here.
Love your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “Do what you can –”
I have just come in from the yard, dirty, tired and ready for my first cup of coffee. It will be hot here today so I started my outside work at 5:30, quietly so as not to wake the neighbors. I know it’s hard work you have there but I’m truly envious of the joys around you. The laughter and playfulness are worth more than gold. Food always, always tastes so much better with good company and yours looked scrumptious!! Have a wonderful Sunday.
Oh it is not that hard – we are very good at just relaxing too – Sunday is a great day for that!.. c
Isn’t it wonderful that Fede is such a great cook in the kitchen. I wonder if he found treats for his piggy visitor.
Yes, as others have said, this blog of yours is such a magnetic force to begin a day with. Regardless of your trials and tribulations, you only weigh us down with the joy and fun which, in fact, raises us up to carry on with a smile on our faces.
Raining here today, as well, in southern Ontario but it’s a gentle summer rain and one we badly need. It’s the sort of rain that inspires reflections of times past when we’ve enjoyed warm summer rains. I love it… as long as it doesn’t last for too many days.
Too bad your girls can’t stay longer; seems they have been a good fit with you and Fede… and your John as well.
Hope your day is a great one, wet or dry ~ Mame 🙂
I love that warm summer rain – and am very much looking forward to that.. today is awfully cold – we are all inside! c
There’s nothing better than sitting around a table with good food and good company making the best of the of an otherwise dreary day . I had some young Germans over for dinner last night and we had hazelnut butternut squash lasagna with an apricot marzipan cake served with great stories .
What an exotic dinner.. divine..c
For a cold, miserable, wet day it sure sounds beautiful. 🙂
A perfectly perfect day. We had a Sunday like that today, which is why I am so late…Big Man’s daughter, hubbie & two grandsons came for lunch at 1pm and we finished at 10pm….wonderful!
Any chance of sharing Frederick? Ravioli .. Yum
Cold rainy weather is the perfect foil for simple pleasures, beautifully shared with your household and with us. The damp air crystallize the imagery and colour so I can almost taste the flavours of the ravioli filling and lemon meringue, and hear the laughter.
The sun shined bright today!!!! The first time in 16+ days! It was good for all of us. We went out and just stood in the sun soaking it in. I think I have webbed feet, hands and brain….. The lovely thing about all the rain has to be the bull frogs. Last night we looked at the moon and listened to the croaks and the hum of all things that lurk. Earie to hear frogs in our pasture like area….. Our ditch, that has looked like a creek of late, is still full and will be for some time so now we worry about mosquitoes…..but if the sun could just show itself for a few days I would be so grateful!
There is nothing quite as perfect as the gift of warm sun.. I hope you get to see some more!
I know those grey and yellow socks! H***raiser!
From the looks of the peahen in the photo, Fede might have had one of those to go with his pig visitor–and I sure hope it was Tima and not Sheila! 😉 The rain should reach us in a couple days. The warmth and joy you exude when sharing about the farmy guests is delightful. Blessed are you, Miss C.
There’s something about this post that makes my heart sing.
Reblogged this on albits and commented:
I’m saving this for a rainy day. It’s worth re-reading even if the day is only gray. When I visit here, there are always bursts of sunshine. See our John below, for example, “watching the basketball on his ancient television in the Snug that seldom gets a signal, thrilled that the wind had sent him the game, shoveling great scoops of incredible dessert into his mouth . . .”