8.53 pm. Tuesday night (NOT Wednesday night! hard to remember what day it is sometimes!)
Dear old Friend,
I am laughing at myself!
Fifteen minutes ago I was reading your email – my brain turned off – La La La I was humming, sleepy, sitting in my chair, cup of tea, dishes draining from dinner and writing a reply to you in my head when I saw your comment about Storms. Bad Storms!
What?! I said and quickly changed to the weather site to check the ETA of this storm, (soon) then looked out the window (sheets of lightening – non stop – when did that start?) so: On with the the jacket – On with the head lamp On with the boots and out I went to put the calves into shelter and lead Sheila (bless her) through the dark and back up to the big barn. She came to my call without question, hauling herself up out of her bed, hurrying to catch up with me, trotting along behind. Talking. 
Through the gates and fields and into the barn. The calves also bolted through their gate and straight into the rat house. I opened Pats gate for the big cows to come up off the fields in case they get hit by lightening (can lightening see in the dark? ) and checked that all the big birds were on the rafters. They were.
The wind had begun that insistent gentle swirl that it makes when bad weather is coming. Shifting air aimed from all directions. Lifting my hair, brushing my face. Like the warm air moving ahead of a train in the underground, full of the scents of dust and wet and watchfulness and black. The wind found an imperceptible sound, a faint whistle, that edged closer to my hearing. The hint of a warning.
The light attached to my head picked up the narrowing eyes of cats and rabbits and cows all stood with their heads up, quiet and still – waiting to see which way to move.
I picked up my pace and shut the big doors of the barns, barring them with bars top and bottom but leaving a gap between the doors for the wind to get in. To lessen the force of a high wind hitting a wide flat door.
I brought all the little plants back inside and my boots back inside too in case of rain and here I am in my chair again. Though my tea is cold now. 
And already I can hear the thunder rolling in, low and continuous. With loud whip cracks hurrying it along. The dogs have gone into hiding.
Now that I am in I see EXTREME weather alerts all over the internet, and lots of green and yellow in the radar. Looks like we might miss the worst but be hit by the tail of it. Hopefully. But I had to laugh at myself! Sitting here with my cup of tea. I was oblivious. 
If you had not have written to me from way up there I would not have known there was a storm coming! And though Sheila would probably have been fine the calves would have got a drenching! I just put them back out this morning!
Funny.
Have a great evening my dear old friend. Batten down the hatches. I think it is coming your way too!
I love a good thunderstorm. The high winds are not so good though.
Love c
PS I have a couple of turkeys for sale. Interested? Immediate delivery!
The Kitchen's Garden 
57 responses to “Dear Old Friend,”
Snorts! I love it your living on the farm. Everyone everywhere – I think I would fit right in. XOXO – Bacon
I like that you straight away knew what had to be done, who was OK, who had to come in and in what order. You might think ‘well of course’, but for the rest of us thought and planning would have been needed. Love the description of the rising wind ruffling feathers, fur and nerves. Hope it has passed over, all is well and animals and buildings are safe.
I love the wind, and the lightening and thunder, and gentle rain, but not lashing rain. But when the wind becomes a gale and the lightning extreme I then follow the lead of Boomer and my cats and hurry inside!
Linda
Who wouldn’t be interested n house turkeys?
It really is amazing how our brains can be so focused on what we are doing that we don’t notice what is going on around us. I do that when I am reading. I go to another place in my head. Stay safe in the storms!
All of the trust you build in your brood (and herd) pays off when you go off script and they gladly follow. I’m glad everyone stayed safe and dry. Did you reheat your tea or make a fresh batch?
It had milk added already so I made a fresh batch
Good that the animals listen to you! I’m sure the urgency in your voice was enough to make them REALLY listen!
STORM COMING
“Like the warm air moving
ahead of a train in the underground,
full of the scents of dust and wet
and watchfulness and black.”
(Sometimes I find little poems in your words and pictures, and they get me smiling again.)
When I talk aloud as I write it is always better. c
That is the happiest Sheila face I have ever seen. Perhaps she likes a good storm too.
She has the best smile! c
Your words paint movies in my head – complete with sound and the fury of the wind! When I finish reading I find I take a deep breath and it is like I break back into reality here in my cozy study. Glad you are all safe and sound.
So it’s true that tea has a way of soothing into total oblivion. HA HA. Glad you got tipped off – or you would have fretted and worried during the storm
That next to last picture is really funny – the shapes of the chair backs mirror the turkey shapes.
Or worse I would have run out into the storm to bring sheila in and she is a big old girl – she would have been just fine!! As it turned out the storm was all noise and wind. c
oh my gosh! Batten down the hatches and what the heck? Turkeys in the parlor? Hilarious birds!
They are opportunists – the door had blown open.. c
Delightful photos today. The coloring of the turkeys is unlike any turkey I have ever seen! But no matter how lovely they my be, I would not want them in my home. Crazy turkeys! Another priceless photo of Sheila in your collection today.
I gave my 4 yo granddaughter her book of the farmy’s animals and walked her through it, naming names. She called me last night, wanting to know the pig’s name. “Sheila” said I. “Oh, Sheila” said she, itch scratched. I’m leaving tomorrow for my trip to Washington State where I’ll get dental work done by a very generous and compassionate friend who’s a dentist, see some friends, eat some BLT salad at my friend Lynn’s restaurant and see more friends. I’m taking my laptop with me. Much love from near and afar, Gayle
Have fun gayle! Sounds wonderful.. c
p.s. I lived in Longview, WA for 6 years. Also, I love the upholstery on the chair/chaise longue.
Good of that turkey to keep your seat warm for you, very thoughtful indeed 🙂