Just as we pulled the last 120 bales of hay under cover in the old crib, it began to rain.
Perfect timing.
But I have no pictures – I am not even sure how that happened. We just worked and worked all day (then did admin at siesta time), and then got the last of the hay in, I made spaghetti carbonara for dinner (because it is fast and easy) then later after the dishes I reached for my camera to load my photos of the day and there were none. I had forgotton to take any.
I have used an old stock photo for the header (from September 2015).
Today will be better. Though it is still raining this morning. The rain will clean the cows off. After chores I am off to collect Nick from the railway station (one hour from here) then we will be back to a full complement. He asked us to leave some hay for him to load – not a problem there!
I am happy to report that we have over 800 bales under cover. (Thank you to Laura for keeping count this year.) There are about 150 left to stack. I am feeling confident.
The meat chickens have traveled over the tracks and are now cruising through the hay paddock – fattening up on all that good alfalfa and lots of milk from the cows – the piglets are still so small they do not drink much though you would think otherwise from the clamour when I approach with a bucket, so all the birds are getting good amounts of yogurty milk too.
Here are another couple of pictures from this time last year.
The crops were almost dry! We are much further behind this year. 
This must have been later in the month as the crops are all gone. Look at those skies.
Just so much wetter this summer. Greener. 
Some things remain the same though.
Even though I have two workers here we are still not finding the time to get into the garden to get it ready for the fall planting though we have been picking the butternuts to save them from the bugs and picking tomatoes of course and slowly weeding. We will probably pick the last of the tomatoes and squash today between showers. This will change when Nick arrives – then there will be a full time Gardener every day.
Our next major job is to prepare the West Barn for the winter.
Whitney is in the kitchen again today. I set a high priority on cooking good clean food from scratch every day in the kitchen, this is most important to me. This is why we have the Kitchen Mama rotation. Our second breakfasts are legendary, we always have cookies and home made bread, yogurt and soft and semi soft cheeses on the go. Dinners have to be from the farm so we still eat a lot of kale salad with our fantastic meals !
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
36 responses to “Then it rained but that’s OK”
That last photo of the barn is spectacular!!! I absolutely love that light. Whenever I see it, I ask whomever is with me and few of them can notice the steely light which affects all in a photo in magnificent ways which no other light can do. Kudos, Miss Celi.
Now, the repeat of a note to you.
ALWAYS take your phone with you everywhere you go. Do you have a pocket you can use to carry it? Would you like a nifty little bag whch would hang around your neck and hold your precious phone?
Taking your phone with you everywhere you go is so important. Now you are young and fit, but still you could be hit with a crisis and having that phone with you could be life-saving. Please don’t make me recommend this again. I care about you, Celi, and want you to be able to handle all circumstances which might befall you.
Much love, your necessarily nagging Gayle
If I hung my phone around my neck I would strangle myself in minutes. Farming and dangling objects do not go together – not to worry Gayle – I am a big girl. I look after myself. No fretting.
It’s difficult not to fret when a loved one is concerned. However, I will give it my mightiest try. Love, Me
I miss some good clean food! One of my favorite parts of working there for sure
Darling girl – hope you get time to come visit in the winter!
I have one of our daughters and her husband staying with us until their house is ready. They tell me they have forgotten what good fresh farm food tastes like and are glad to be having it again…sweet corn, green beans, chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh cantaloupe.
Linda
wonderful!
You mentioned that you made spaghetti carbonara yesterday and I was wondering how you make healthy spaghetti. The only kind I know comes in a long narrow box.
I use the stuff in the long narrow box too! c
Second breakfast is wonderful. I can’t eat much first up early mornings just need coffee. Kale salad sounds great, and is simialr to the coleslaw you inspired me to make which the G.O. eats where he never did before.
Great! Both are laden with superfoods – I love that coleslaw .. c
Love the term ‘second breakfast’ . . . always used in Austria and surrounding countries ‘Erstes Fruhstuck’ and ‘Zweites Fruchstuck’! Personally have eaten like this since my move to the country – small breakfast, main early meal as ‘second breakfast’ – unless friends or colleagues here – and what I laughingly call ‘high tea’ late in the afternoon, unless a dinner party planned. Very healthy and practical 🙂 !!
That’s wonderful hay news!
So pleased you got the hay in Celi .. Great last year’s images btw 😄