Stop worrying about me. You know I look after myself. I have always maintained that a person can deal with a decent stress load as long as she has a Rest space in front of her.
We work hard for the morning then have our siesta time from 12 to 3pm. At 3pm we start again. The siesta should be written in stone because it is a Rule and never broken. We eat whatever we are having for lunch then down we go. Writing time, rest time, study time. The only work I do in those three hours is feed Molly her lunch and feed the Piglettes their lunch and prep the dinner.
So I want no more lectures about taking it easy. When a farmer la la’s about and takes it easy animals die. I work hard but no harder than most people with jobs and I will NOT be taking it easy in the near future. I am no fragile flower. This is my job – we have been through this before.
Until then I have my siesta.
I still have two piglets who cannot get up. They walk now, but if they fall over they cannot get back up. And they will not give up. So until they give up I will not give up on them. They all eat very well, are playful and are improving every day. This is not the time to begin taking it easy. We are winning. Time to power through.
I think you understand. This life of ours is so small, so temporary, so short, so transient. We lose nothing by being totally involved in it and doing the very best we can with it.
Now, look at that header picture – do you think Poppy is looking a little ROUND!? Here it is again. 
I hope you have a good day.
love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
39 responses to “Stress then Rest”
ha ha! I knew you would react like that! Perfect! Yes, Poppy looks round, but I am no specialist on the states of all things Pig. Carry on, as my grandmother would say.
p.s. LOVED the video of Molly and her piggy piglets on Instagram! What a robust and thriving bunch they are. Holy camoley.
Totally in agreement. I love our relatively simple life here in France. People think we don’t work, but I work harder than I have ever worked in my life, much harder than when I worked 9 – 5 in London, here I bring up five children, I keep our vegetables and fruits and the garden going and sustain the family. But it is fabulously good hard work, wouldn’t change a thing!
I had a vision, yesterday, of Tane taking the little pigs out walking on a lead to improve their stamina. Well maybe in the Autumn when they can walk…
It looks like Poppy has been having a good time 🙂
Sometimes you’ve got to do what you have to do. And what you have to do to get by while you’re doing it but there is an art to it 🎨
What a wonderful heap of satiny little piggy bodies under that vine. And Poppy, yes, there is an outward curve to her flank, and I think pigs are normally quite flat there? I’m pretty sure it’s not her diet, what your pigs eat is watched like a hawk. Has she been gallivanting with Manu?
She has been living with Manu for two months now..
Oh my life, more piggies on the way? I think you may just be a pig farmer 🙂 despite your protestations> Laura
hehehe… that was exactly my reaction too! 🙂
“We lose nothing by being totally involved in it and doing the very best we can with it.”
Amen, sister.
Ok I rest my case!..lots of love and hugs
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Well, it looks like the piglet nursery will be very busy this year!
Fingers crossed for Poppy!
Another pregnancy on the farmy? How wonderful! Your animals are always so amazing and so photogenic as well. 🙂
I need to implement your siesta time. Work is never-ending but I would Not change my life for anything. The monotony is comforting even though I admit it is sometimes overwhelming and boring as every morning and evening milking HAS to be done. Chickens have to be feed and eggs collected, cleaning if needed and stored. We are between pig batches and just finished second batch of 125 broilers so animal chores are slightly reduced right now but garden chores are out of this world right now. My daughter and I are trying to keep up with the “help” of her 4, 2, & 10 week old children. We both work part time at other jobs and husbands work full time. But, I look at my grandkids and listen to them and think “This is how it should be.” Animals, gardening, butchering, canning, etc are all normal to them. The work, tears, exhaustion, stress- good and bad, ups and downs are all worth it. I wouldn’t trade this for ANYTHING. I do enjoy my yearly vacation though.
I look forward to your daily blog posts. I’m normally reading them while waiting for the last couple of goats to finish milking. Your pictures are gorgeous. The life you are living is amazing and rich. Thanks for letting us experience it with you!
Your life sounds wonderfully rich too – and how wonderful that you have children with you – children are wonderful on a farm – c
Okay Okay…… We care….. How’s Lady A today?
I love how you say Siesta time is ‘down’ time and then go on and say ” The only work I do in those three hours is feed Molly her lunch and feed the Piglettes their lunch and prep the dinner.”…….. But – down time is time to do what feeds your soul – and farming is definitely something in your soul.
I laughed out loud at Miss C’s Siesta!!
Yes, I did the maths too !! And naturally a siesta id supposed to be in addition to a full night’s sleep . . . there IS that saying about taking a horse to water but . . . . 🙂 !!
Great takeaway! I misinterpreted the siesta busyness–worried, wondering about balance, health, peace — probably imagining my own issues. The idea of feeding the soul helped me see what I missed and remember times when I worked right through dinner because it was another kind of nourishment and because I just wanted to. (Miss C., you said that it’s your job. I believe you, but I think it’s more than that too. Something else is there, like passion, like art. like love. It comes through.)
Celi, I agree with you about pushing thru and paying attention, doing what is needed, etc. Either it’s a passion or you shouldn’t be doing it, right?!? If you love it, getting a little tired now and then is the price you pay. Having sore muscles, getting less sleep, pushing hard likewise are the price you pay for living a life you absolutely love every minute of. Your critters are lucky to have you as the farm mom! And your woofers and farm helpers can learn a lot from you. YOU GO GIRL!