When my son was here we were talking about technology and smart phones and audio books and things like that. And how we can do all these interesting things on the move. When we have a spare moment we can check our emails or the weather,listen to music in the garden or have a book read to us as we walk. That kind of thing.
When I come across an idea like that I write it down – often on the wall of the milking room.
I wrote on the wall. Every Minute is Filled. The Modern Minute. And the cows and I looked at it for a few days.
As he was working in the quiet of the barn one day my son noticed what I had written and added his own words to my sentence. Every Minute is Filled except for the moments between the minutes.
I guess this is where our real selves are living. In that moment of clarity between the noisy minutes of life. What an excellent thought don’t you think?
Here is the healthiest of the Rescue Piglets. She is the only Hereford pig I have seen since Charlotte that has sticky-uppy ears. Everyone else has floppy ears. 
If I were going to name her, which I am not of course, I would call her Elfie. Do you see the wee twig she brought back inside?
We are still struggling with dehydration with the others – their skin is like tissue paper. The weather is not helping, they are overheating very quickly. I opened the door to their little outside run yesterday and the three who can walk raced out and began to dig in the shady dirt which I took as an excellent sign. Their skin is so dry, the moist earth would have been a balm. 
Aunty Del and Lady Astor coming in for the milking. 
Boo jumping back OUT of the cows water trough after being yelled at for jumping IN.
Tahlia is so hard to photograph as she still sees me as food and I spend the whole time dodging her.
Yesterday we shifted the electric fences which were long overdue and today we will begin in the gardens and then begin trimming under all the fences. The gardens are a complete mess, so much to do out there. However we will begin at one end and work towards the other, that is always a good plan I think.
I hope you have a good day.
Love miss c
The Kitchen's Garden 
64 responses to “The moment between the minutes”
Smart son
He is – I am lucky
Him too. And us, to be able to visit.
That would be a perfect name – if you were going to name her,
Which of course we will not of course.. c
Living between the minutes. It does seem we have to do our living in smaller and smaller increments now.
And hopefully if we are cognitive of this we will allow those moments to extend just a tiny bit. And use them well. Though as I write that it I realise that using the moments efficiently would kind of defeat the purpose wouldn’t it!! Good morning Doc. Hope your day goes well! c
🙂
Perfect. She has such delicate ears… Would a bit of bag balm help the piglets’ skin? The photo of Boo made me laugh so: he looks as if he’s standing on the edge of the trough and thrashing his back legs 🙂
I am using my favourite udder cream, (I hate bag balm too sticky and hard to apply without pulling the skin) and focusing mostly on rehydration – last night the smallest of the cripples actually began to walk by herself and very slowly appeared at my elbow while I fed the tiniest one – so that was a real advance. c
I knew you’d be on top of it. I’m so pleased there are tiny signs of improvement.
Woo Hoo!
I wonder if a bit of olive and/or coconut oil would help?
They are in and out so I am concerned about sunburn. Plus of course everything I put on the wee dry one collects dirt and stuff gets stuck to her.. she looks a fright.. c
“Every minute is filled except for the moments between the minutes.”
Love, love the extensions of your sons thoughts added to yours. That I am finally commenting on your blog-how could I not comment on such amazing words. I am so hooked to what’s going on with your farmy and your sharing of your inner strength.
Thank you for this wonderful dimension to the blog world. I read your blog daily while enjoying my coffee! I am inspired by your perseverance, strength and insight!
I’m from Connecticut. Hello Celi
Good morning Sam! And thank you for such a lovely comment, have a gorgeous day. c
Yes, welcome Sam. And I echo your thoughts and words and you’ve said it so well, I won’t repeat. And I, too, am carried away with the moments between the minutes; it’s lyrical. And as far as being hooked on the farmy, join the crowd… heh heh Hope everyone’s day goes well! ~ Mame 🙂
Boo very definitely did not appreciate that photo being taken . . . . and Elfie is such a trooper she should become Sheila’s protégée, that is if you named her . . . 🙂 !! Well, she could grow and have a tube instead of Manu and . . . . the genetics would then be right to make lots of little piglets with elf ears . . .
Boo is a beggar for flying at speed into the water troughs.. c
Good to see you picking your rhythm again 🙂 Laura
Yes, Laura, that is how I feel too, like very carefully unpicking a knot. c
if only my life were planned like the clearing of the garden..start at one end a finish at tuther…if only I had one minute of normaility….but life goes on
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 1:17 PM
Your moments between the minutes can go like that maybe.. c
Moments between minutes – Oh my – I have filled those up too I believe! I listen to books very often on my commute to and from work. I drive 1 hour each way. Mornings was always books – and evenings was my hour to talk to Mom. Now – it’s books both directions. And yes – there are lumps in my throat each afternoon on the drive home. I do occasionally call other family, but alas, it is not the same.
Love the Boo picture…. I know that boy must get warm. Texas is LOVELY right now. In the 70’s and low 80’s with clouds all day. Who knew August could be so mild?
I am glad you are getting good weather – it is just rain rain rain here and not long before we begin to prepare the headland for your Mums wild flower field – it wlll be beautiful ) I hope! c
Moments between the minutes…it’s got me thinking. Love the name that piggy will not receive and the photos give me such smiles and peace. Prayers for all good animals and yours. Your son is a keeper son. We are so fortunate, ar we not?
Perhaps you should keep Elfie 😉
Definitely! She’s a testament to faith and perseverance. You need only to look at her to reaffirm your belief in the near impossible!
I can almost see Cecilia at a revivalist meeting, dancing with the rattlesnakes!
You guys!! c
Not WITH rattlesnakes, IN rattlesnakes – boots, that is!
Ha ha – I’m sure her pure heart would keep her safe 🙂
No, pretty sure that would be WITH! ha ha
You waaald waaald woman!
Eating Rattlesnake CHILI? Actually – it is pretty tasty! It does taste like lemon chicken actually.
I’ve eaten snake, and I didn’t enjoy it enough to go round a second time. Perhaps it was the recipe! Prefer them at a distance…
Elfie was the only one who did not get sick or injured – however I cannot keep any – my land cannot sustain any more and I am farming sustainably remember. c
About our minutes and in between…I have a theory. Our technology has surpassed our brain’s ability to process the enormous amount of information fed to it. We evolved to gather information leading to our survival. Those most aware of their surroundings could avoid dangers and form alliances. Today, we are aware of dangers and threats from the 24/7 onslaught of news and social media. I don’t think we are handling it well. That’s my opinion. 🙂
I have always thought that the onslaught of unsought images and etc has contributed to some very unstable mental health in our young people. We just cannot biologically evolve as fast as technology evolves. Especially paranoia as we get more and more anxious about missing something. I would LOVE to sit down and talk about that with you around the dinner table. c
Me, too.
Ellie (She who must not be named) must have seen TonTon and his “working stick”. Maybe she’s looking to be his assistant?
What a perfect example of for the moments between the minutes, when the tiniest little weakling appeared at your elbow! Your dedication and magic seems to be working on those weaklings.
Judging by his photography and perspective, your son is one acorn that didn’t fall far from the tree. 🙂
Yes, there’s a definite resemblance. And who knows better, John, than the great things that come from family trees! Great new headshot, by the way!
xo to both of you, Celi & John!
Kath
Thanks, Kathryn. With Mad Men gone well over a year now, it was time for a Gravatar update. 🙂
Smiles!