How does one describe an ordinary day filled with the little stuff of life in a way that will both entertain and invigorate. As you know my promises are that every Kitchens Garden blog will be about Yesterday, it will be the unvarnished truth (no shining up) and it will be on my own little farm (unless we are travelling).
These have been the Rules since I began this blog over four years ago. These exact same rules. They are not negotiable.
And often nothing much out of the ordinary happens on a farm. Some animals get fatter. Some must stay slim. Some are gestating (hopefully) and some are just lying about thinking about nothing very much at all. These ordinary days are so filled with loveliness.
I was able to garden my way along the border of a flower garden today. This is bliss for me. I love to grow beautiful deep beds of flowers and bushes and trees, moving back up the tiers, planting and pruning for a summers worth of colour. I love the beauty of my flower beds as much as the practicality of the vegetable gardens.
So now that we are sliding into Autumn and Winter, the waiting seasons, you will experience with me the Waiting. The Quiet. The Sameness of every day life on a little wanna-be Sustainable and wanna-be Self Sufficient farm. The pure gentle day of taking dead wood out of trees and trimming back hydrangeas and staking out the spots for the new daffodils. Feeding the pigs, collecting eggs and leading the cow in for milking. Nothing much but Everything.
The little stuff of life. It is the most important. I say: have fun dealing with the little stuff. Let the big stuff be for a while. “Look after the Pennies and the Pounds will look after you. ” Told to me by an old man on Holloway Road in London – after I dropped my change on the floor and he helped me pick it up by pushing the pennies forward with his walking stick. I think this saying works well with Life as well as Finances. (Of course this does not include the pounds I have put on eating Hugo’s crepes!)
I hope you have a lovely day,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
55 responses to “The Little Stuff”
I agree , it’s all about the little stuff, the smile , the moment, followed by the warm glow of satisfaction . When the big stuff happens, the good and the ugly, we have the little stuff to keep us going.
And if we have sorted all the little stuff then the big stuff has been prepared for.. c
I like your peppers – what’s the name of that kind? Are they hot peppers? The basket full of them in all its colourness symbolizes for me the abundance and richness of a natural life, what you call self sufficiency. It’s more than just “wanna-be” as a trendy life style – you live and are that life. And me just being a onlooker sitting on your fence or more (or better less) – just a virtual follower. But nevertheless glad about that participation.
Have a nice and productive day, Celi!
These are jalapenos, very hot. My friend Jake picked them all to make a hot sauce, then he will give us a few jars! It is a great arrangement as he is a very good cook.
Check out the heat factor here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale Love, Gayle
Thank you to both of you – 🙂
And what extra stunning photos you have gifted us today – thank you!
lovely words and your sunset is divine- have a wonderful day today!
The Sunset picture is amazing.
The sunset photo is stunning! You don’t have to be concerned with how to present your ordinary day to us. Your “ordinary” is not ordinary to us, certainly not me. I loved today’s post and that sunset made the day extraordinary.
I’m sure I’ve said this before but just think, Cecilia, you can look back on your life and know you didn’t waste a single day, plus you touched and uplifted so many. Quite extraordinary!
Stunning sunset photos! And colors of veggies and Poppy and the turkeys!
What a stunning sunset shot!
Beautiful .. And a lovely day right back at you!
We’ve all been through enough of those extraordinary and ‘interesting’ days to know that an ordinary day is gold. I love those days where simply being and doing reaches a sublime level. Your days, these ordinary ones especially are food for my soul, and I suspect many others… it’s a balm to feel, hear and see the loveliness. Thank you 🙂
I so feel the same way! And I also rejoice in my every day!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I think that’s Sheila with the canny eye. (not Poppy)
that is one of the Plonkers little fattie! c
I love that last shot! I’m bringing my camera along to practise (I took a course recently) and Miss A is very much looking forward to a Hugo crepe! 🙂
What a simply FANTASTIC photo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Celi dear girl – Your words of inspiration always come along at exactly the right time for me. It has been six months since mastectomy and sometimes I forget to embrace those ordinary things that really make the most of life. The little things that every day we must be so very very grateful for. Thank you for making me remember.
I think of you every single day as I use my whisk! I am glad you are mending well – we are all grateful for that!! c
Three years on for me, and I’ve just had my last surgery to restore symmetry. The ordinary things will resume their rightful place in your life in time. Normality does return and a tidy scar grows over the sadness and pain, just as it does on your body. All the best, my dear.
Thank you for your encouraging words, dear friend. My battle started seven years ago. I thought I had beat it, but it was not to be. I do try to be as positive as possible.
You can do it. The women in my family have the black gene. It’s possible to come back from a second strike. Even if it’s gone beyond that there is still the potential for beauty and a modicum of peace in life. Know that you are not alone and that every woman is angry at the universe on your behalf. xxxx
I appreciate your understanding and encouraging words.
Living with cancer is hard work. But good work. And both of you are very good at putting it in its place and getting one with the LIVING bit!! Life is a journey.. c
Life is a journey and we decided long ago with cancer devastated our family we would not let it rule our life. Consequently NOTHING negative in thought or deed is allowed past our door.. V