The power had gone off. The wind was howling, the rain spitting angrily at the windows, the clouds low and heavy as roiling black seas, the day so dark I moved my work to the table by the window so I could see. So the first I even knew of a tornado warning (they call it a Tornado Watch here) was when the power came back on. And my phone connected to the wifi, buzzed its warning (seek shelter), too late, then died again. The wind howled – the storm raged – but we had no tornado. Just the storm. Huge winds. And a lot of rain.
With the rain in the forecast I had already brought all the pigs inside and the cow’s barn doors were opened. Everyone has access to the barn and its shelter – but is a barn safe?
The bands of weather here are so narrow you can have a storm on one farm and a catastrophe on the next farm.
One mile away the wind was so bad that it took out one of my favourite old barns. The day before yesterday it was standing up as the workers strengthened its walls for a new roof. Today it is gone. God said, No. I had to call my neighbours as they travelled to Christmas with family hours away and send them photographs of the devastation. So sad. Their barn and all their plans are now a pile of rubble.
And a reminder to me. Tell them you love them now. Don’t wait. Even if it feels strange. Better not left unsaid. That could have been my barn with me and my cows and pigs IN IT! We must speak.
Then the skies parted for a moment and golden light descended like forgiveness.
I hope you are not caught up in the wild weather of the Americas. I hope you have a lovely day instead but if you are in California I really hope that you are getting piles of rain and snow in the mountains. I hear that the rain has arrived. Well done.
Good morning – Christmas Eve tonight. We have no other family here. Just Our John and I but we will have a lovely dinner anyway and I will spend hours and hours on the phone today and tomorrow with my own family and my extended family – Hugo with his Papa in France, Fede who is with his family in Argentina, Amanda who is coming here on boxing day, Tomoyo who is home in Japan now.
I am not a fan of Christmas and all its guilt and commitments and presents because you have to but I love the phone calls!
Above is Hugo’s flock, a bit young yet but living happily in the West Barn, helping Manu with his housekeeping. I always think that chooks and cats make a barn seem alive. We have the chooks now . I am working on a cat for this barn! But ecosystems move slowly.
The home barn rocks along! No stone left unturned since I let the home flock out to range free for the winter. I have let their door stand open and the dogs stand guard – so far so good. But we all remember the days of the Bastard Mink so I hope I am right. I hope the dogs keep them away. But I cannot keep them locked up all year – that would be cruel.
Much love to you.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
76 responses to “Warning”
“..golden light descended like forgiveness…” Love the picture and the phrase. Glad everything is well on the farm. Enjoy your little ark. Peace.
Ha ha yes, my little ark – we are still sailing along … c
I read that sentence, viewed that photo, and thought the same.
Always thinking of you when they announce rough weather in the middle of our United States, and dreading that one day a post will come with not so good news so I am happy that this was not the day. Enjoy your phone calls and catching up…perhaps a post soon with some of the news you gather about our absent farmy friends?
OOOH, I was thinking the same thing. I’d love to catch up with all the news from Hugo, Fede & all the others too. Merry Christmas to all!
Hugo is working in a restaurant! He has lots of hours and thinks of us often he says, every day he thinks of Boo. He and that dog were a terrible delightful team.. c
Fede says he is hoping to come back this summer – that will be a reunion and a half!! c
That kind of weather must be so terrifying. I’m glad no one (and no animal) was in the barn. Stay safe, and Merry Christmas!
Yes, it looks like a pile of giants kindling now – and the profile of the horizon is changed now too, with that lovely old building gone.. c
Glad everybody is ok there. In Northern California, we are indeed getting a good amount of rain everywhere, and snow in the Sierra. A Christmas miracle!
I’ve been enjoying your blog for quite a while; thought it was time to stop lurking and start participating. 😀 Cheers, Elizabeth
Surely the best Christmas present for a drought stricken territory is rain, I am so glad to hear it, and fingers crossed for lots lots more – don’t want to be greedy though – but you need it.. c
Phew! I’m glad you and the flerd are safe, but sorry about your neighbour’s barn. Hunker down when the wind blows, and have a peaceful Christmas.
love,
ViV xox
Today is a perfect day, so far, sunny calm and above freezing.. c
Great. May it stay that way.
I’m so sorry about your friend’s barn! But on the other hand, I’m glad all of you are safe.
Love you, Celi!
Linda
Have a lovely day Linda!!
We’ve had rain and wildly fluctuating temperatures here in NW Mo, but nothing severe. I’m glad you and yours are all ok. How sad about your neighbor’s barn.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Connie
It is terribly sad when another barn goes over – especially sad when they were trying to save it.. c
Take care of yourself – wishing you all of the best today, tomorrow and for the new year to come from rain-drenched CA.
My, your photo of golden light descending like forgiveness is stunning! Really very beautiful. And such GREAT news that California is becoming rain-drenched! I hope it continues for some time.
To you, Celi, and to all of the Fellowship — however you celebrate this season and even if you don’t — may the Creator rain down His blessings of love and grace upon everyone. ~ Mame 🙂
Thank you Mame and wishing you a wonderful holiday too.. c
There is weather related news everywhere, even here with our heavy rains. My heart hurts for farming families that are just getting by and take a hit like losing a barn. They always look so fragile anyway. The news only gets ratings if they sensationalize everything instead of just telling it like it is. A quiet night just relaxing is a wonderful Christmas gift. I love the phone calls too. They are a treasure but why must we wait till Christmas? Enjoy your peaceful night. Merry Christmas.
exactly – i should say that on christmas we make a special call – it is so easy to keep in touch nowadays that I am communicating almost daily with all my children and many of the summer people.. it is great! c
We watched those storm move past us here in eastern IA. Nothing severe here. They got pretty active farther east. One passed a skinny tornado over my old high school and small town. No damage that I know of. Weird for December 23.
Merry Christmas to you and the critters.
I was able to sleep in this morning (FD is off work today and tomorrow) so I did not know about the tornadoes until I read it here! That “golden” sunlight photo is classic of beauty after a storm. It is the backside, the hope… the promise. Enjoy your phone conversations… bask in the good. I love you… and that never feels awkward. 🙂
That is me a nice Christmas shot here on the Farmy blog header. Nice. Plus everyone of the other photographs is so nice too. I love everyone of them. But the broken barn is looking terrible. So sad for the poor family.
I just came in from a Christmans mass held in that station bulding where a few months before thousands of refugees were being welcomed and taken care of. The mass was held by a very friendly and modest bishop and there only were few people. He of course compared the story of Jesus’ birth with the fate of lots of the refugees and told us that in that same station hall a baby was born, just when he visited. We were singing the parochial Christmas songs and there was a brass band presenting and accompanying that songs. Kind of a very different Christmas I had there. Interesting. Now that I’m back home I spend this evening (yes, it’s already evening here) nearly as all the other evenings of mine, wishing a Merry Christmas to all of the Farmy Fellowship and especially to you, Celi & John!
Tomorrow I’ll be as a volunteer worker at a very big Christmas meal given for people in needs as old ones, lonesome or homeless ones and for refugees with their children – about 400 alltogether. Yesterday we prepared and decorated a big tent for that event. Every single one of the guests will get a little present, given personally to each one. I am curious about that day tomorrow and am looking forward to, too.
Fingers crossed the the bad wheather leaves you alone… 🙂
Irmi – Methinks you will have a wonderful Christmas Day you’ll always remember . . . and you will have made so many lonely people short of Christmas cheer feel much better about their day . . . surely what Jesus Christ would have wanted . . . and, feeling the way I personally do, am glad a mass was held at this particular station and again, you had the opportunity to be there . . .
I worry about you all the time. I really do. But right now, I’m not going to focus on the worry, just the gladness that you are all fine. And the sadness I feel for your neighbors. Yes, we must tell people we love them now. We love you, Celi.
Weather is such a whim. You never forget the devastation after seeing it so close. (We say “pea soup fog” here, too – must be the human migratory patterns?)
Everything alive does better if there’s sun…just need a wind break and spot to stay warm. You do need a stout guardian dog as back up.
We’ve let go of most of the Christmas frenzy over the years. (Online ordering has helped so much. And that is pretty sensible) But there will be phone calls and emails of pictures. Quiet is good. Starry night is good and we shall be back in time for that after dinner/lunch with daughter and her fiance’s family ( but we shall have rain…dog and a fireplace will be fine.)
May all the joys of the holidays soak into your fields and return in the spring to spread warmth and seasonal gifts all year long