I will let you choose which one is the filthiest, but yesterday was hot. We have not been having temperatures that are too too high but the ground is soaked and the humidity is thick. So any animal with a penchant for mud is IN it.
Federico came home yesterday from his jaunt to the Springfield. He thought he might stay a while and see the big city but after he had completed his test he ate some more horrible city food and after a sleep he took the next train home. “I missed the farm.” he said, as he dragged his little suitcase back up the path. He said the test was hard. It was five hours long with one ten minute break. He thinks he may have done OK but does not want to think about it anymore. We will know in a couple of weeks what the result is and I will let you know.
He will be doing his PHD in architecture. He wants to go to the Boston area. I am sure there are a few reputable Universities in Mass,.
Anyway last night we invented a couple of ‘welcome home’ and ‘thank gods that test is over’ champagne cocktails.
One was made with a rhubarb simple syrup with lemon. But that was gigglingly horrible.
The other was made with this liqueur that he unearthed from somewhere, that he says is a very popular drink in Argentina. It is now a pretty popular drink on the farm – especially mixed with champagne and cherries picked from the night time tree and crushed into a tall champagne glass with a little bruised lemon peel.
Fede presented me with a stunning book on Argentine food (I will show it to you later) that we went through with him while he explained all the dishes and terms and origins. Later John shambled off to bed and Fede and I were left, drinking and laughing, still in our dirty pig work clothes. “How are you going to cope with being clean all the time when you go back to Buenos Aires. ” I said.” I don’t know.” He shook his head and turned the page. He was thoroughly enjoying explaining all the words and techniques from his home. The tables were turned. As we drank and talked it got later and later and now here I am loading my pictures and posting this blog late.
We discussed serendipity. “Do you know what that means?” I asked. “I know what pity means.” he said. “Not pity. Serendipity is A Happy Coincidence. No pity allowed”. I said.” Luck brought you here”. He nodded – understanding. “It was a lottery”, he said,” is that the right word – Lottery?. And I am the winner”.
Our own Kim P arrives today and I must zoom around the chores then finish preparing the Coop for her. All my Fellowship visitors stay in the Coop. We are planning an Argentine feast from my new book to welcome her. Thank goodness she is coming. Fede will be leaving in a few days (his visa is almost run out) and it will be nice to have her around when I say Goodbye to my new Little Brother. He is so like my own kind little brother.
This is the problem with the Summer People. They leave. However this time we have a lifelong friend. The farm brings good people.
Not Peghorn though. Peghorn has more lives than a cat.He will never leave. He got in a fight with two roosters from the chook house and has been sent to Kim’s Half Way House to recover.
I hope you have a lovely day. We will.
Love your friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
41 responses to “Filthy Little Pig”
Sounds like you and Fede had a lovely evening. The farmy is a very special place, even got those who do not visit physically.
Oh I hope Fede passed his test, it must have been exhausting.
Fergus Henderson swears by Fernet Branca as a hangover cure. When I go to the St. John to buy bread I can always tell if he’s had a heavy night!
Tane is looking very handsome 😉
Fernet Branca works. You can get it free in the pub where you earned your hangover!
I have tried it, but found it quite foul tasting. I suppose it’s kill or cure 😉
Have it with champers – works a treat – actually it tastes very like the cough medicine my mother used to use.
Oh yes, it’s foul – on the principle we learned as children that if medicine tastes nice, it doesn’t make you better.
It’s all part of the Italian love affair with bitter flavours – they regard it as good for the liver. Try it with gin and orange juice…
As I drink almost nothing these days (other than water), I won’t be needing to try that combination.
I will though!!
Same…. :-(. But maybe Celi will try it, sounds as if there are alcoholic adventures happening on the Farmy
Ha ha – I always liked Vicks cough medicine – it tasted like nice alcohol 🙂
Ha ha .. maybe I should take a swig now!?
It will be difficult letting Fede go in a few days time, but I am sure he will find an opportunity to return on a regular basis. You evening of celebration sounded wonderful. Have a great Sunday.
I hope Fede comes during his studies. I think we’ve all got a soft spot for him. Perhaps you could persuade him to start a blog and keep us up to date.
Tima must get clean before the birth day.
love,
ViV x
I assume that is Tane with the thick mud coat? How funny to see, but I think it must be heavy to move about in when it dries, but perhaps there is little movement…just laying about and sleeping.
Be warned, Kim’s bringing her sewing machine and some work she has to finish! I can’t wait to hear what you two get up to, and we’re all going to miss hearing about Fede’s exploits, the food, the creative construction projects. Surely, surely he’ll be back one day…?
I am thrilled about the sewing machine.. I have about a million ideas of things to sew that are useful on the farm and in the farm kitchen.. c
I think she’s expecting to be kept busy!
When Fede comes to Massachusetts for his studies, he will be very welcome to visit me when he needs a little dose of farmish 🙂
I will tell him!
There is a saying somewhere about special people that come into our lives that once they leave, they never really do…in spirit. Something like that but it seems Fede will be one of those special souls.
And I think Tane is the filthiest! 🙂
The parting is difficult and we go through this again and again in life. I suppose it is like the yin and yang of everything – we have understanding because of the experience of knowing and then letting go of what has become familiar. Then something different comes along, and we experience again. I have a feeling Fede will be back maybe more than once. Ah, the mud photos… I think it would be grand just to spend a day like that – well I did one afternoon many years ago (in my 20’s) playing mud volleyball at a small town summer festival. Except for mud in the eyes, it was actually a wonderful feeling!!
Oh that sounds like fun–mud volleyball!
Those piggies look like they are content. To clean them do you hose them down? Also has Federico been able to construct the water supply for the animals?
I love that you had a little party yesterday – for the home coming, for the reunion and for that overcome exam…
You’ve been talking about that evening so lively that I feel I’ve been there too… 🙂 – so nice Cocktails — mmmmh!
So sad, that Fede will be leaving soon, you had such a great time together. Looking forward to hearing of him now and then…
Yes, it’s true, Your Farmy brings good People…
…. Serendipity, so true – and I have learned a new word too 🙂
I was intending to head down the road last night but circumstances got the best of me. Sorry I missed the evening.
We started late! And filthy.. more evenings ahead this summer.. c
Yum. Fernet-Branca. It’s Italian, I believe! There’s that Argentina – Italy connection again. The rhubarb version may have been icky to drink, but it sure is pretty. Sorry Fede is leaving, but so happy a life-long friendship has been forged. That is such a happy story.
Argentina is a mix of Italian, Spanish and german.. really quite an interesting country.. in one of my lives I am going to go there and be a gaucho.. c
and Welsh!
Man, a five-hour exam for simply English! That’s a little over the top, I would think. Phew! But if he doesn’t get the results for a few weeks and is gone home in a few days… I have a feeling it will be a very long time before we hear results. Does the PhD course begin this fall, and has he been accepted to a university in Mass.? I wasn’t clear on that one. Too bad he won’t be in Chicago, then he could come ‘home’ on the weekends… lol
Maybe, just maybe, you have brought out the farmer in him and, when he returns to Argentina, he’ll become a big rancher… lol And, yes, it will be sad to see him return to his home, leaving behind just memories — an even greater reason for this blog, to record many of those memories for posterity!
I guess Tima’s ultrasound is tomorrow, is it?
Hope Peghorn’s injuries aren’t too serious and, with a little peace, he recovers quickly. Being Sunday, am wondering what’s for lunch under the tree… raining here, so we will be staying indoors. Hope you have a lovely day! ~ Mame