My daughter who lives in Melbourne, Australia and her boyfriend Jack have been here for a very fast visit on their way to Mexico to climb some cliff faces.
So what better work to do than help your Mum by replacing a couple of windows in a barn, that came down in a storm not long ago, and the barn face looks blind without them. An excellent job for strong climbers. 
The windows are way up high in the North side of the West barn – only a tiny challenge for these young people. These two climb together often and are totally equal on a wall – instructing and guiding each others feet with verbal commands in gentle voices. Even for a short climb like up a barn wall they prepare, plan and use their hands and feet efficiently. I love watching them work together. 
And they were happy that they could start and finish a job that I desperately needed help with.
They are leaving in the early hours of the morning tomorrow so we are going up to the Big City this afternoon to get a head start on that journey. 
The sweetest thing for them was that yesterday my new layers came. Twenty-five white Leghorns. Three days old. The suppliers sent me a batch quick quick so we could slide them in before it got cold again. So they took the job of dipping each little beak into the water and placing them in the box under their heating tables. 
And this morning is blowing and cold and wintry.
Here is the weather:
So today will be cold. Never mind. The chicks are all safely in their box and sleeping under their heated table and I have family sleeping in a warm room in my house. I must take the joy and run with it and try not to think of tomorrow when they will be gone again and travelling far away.
Being an immigrant to a country means that we miss our families unless we are lucky enough to be able to bring our families out to live with us. I think sometimes people forget that immigrants are often just sad, and always feeling around at the hole in their bellies left by absent loved ones. (I actually hate that term “loved ones” but I cannot think of a better word this morning).
And today we have a full day and one more all night together. Which will be wonderful! So off I go!
Have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
53 responses to “From A Far”
Brrrr … I think it feels worse because we’ve been spoilt this past week. I hope this doesn’t affect your fruit trees. Some of my roses have started to bud and I’ll be keeping an anxious eye on them, hoping this cold snap does no harm. Have a wonderful time with your daughter. Bet you’ll never look at that side of the barn in the same way again. 🙂
Sometimes projects like those windows come to mean a lot more to a person than what it appears. It’s the simple gifts of offering of oneself that are cherished the most. Chicks are fun. They’re a bit of work and worry, but it’s a wonderful thing to watch them develop and grow over the next weeks. Good luck with them! The winter always makes these endeavors a challenge.
[…] via From A Far — thekitchensgarden […]
What a treat. Handsome and handy! I always enjoy the visits with my adult children and extra bonus when they can help me out with a job. Safe travels and enjoy your family time with loved, cherished, appreciated ones.
Hee! You pulled at my heartstrings another way, Ceci! Haven’t heard the expression “quick quick” save once since we moved back from Africa! When the East Indian owner of a motel where I was staying in Central California said that, my jaw nearly dropped to the floor in delight!
And your chicks, need to see pix! Why do you dip their little beaks in water? Is this a one time deal, or is it repeated? Still learning. Glad you got to see your family! Love it when mine come up – grandson loves to communicate with HIS ‘shikuns’ – chases ’em all over the yard at a baby’s pace! He’s also an honorary employee at an outdoor restaurant in Hawaii where they go – hat, shirt and badge-certified as the Official Pigeon Chaser.”
What a nice barn now – with the old/new eyes in…
Enjoy the last hours with your special guests, Celi! Loneliness & belongings will come back sooner or later. – I prefer the term “beloved” for my relatives and people I love. Is it maybe ancient or from a religious context? I lost my mother last week, we had to bury her on tuesday. I hope she is glad where she is now – together with her husband and son (my brother and my father). Hope they are reunited.
Oh Irmi, I’m so sorry, hugs for you from Australia x
Oh my dear. How hard it is to lose a mother, mine has been gone 15 years next month. I hope you are able to find peace for yourself. My personal beliefs tell me that she is full of joy where she is now. Perhaps that may of some comfort to you. I will add you to my prayer list.
Chris S in Canada
Truly sorry Irmi! Yes I like ‘beloved’ also . . . . in spite of having crossed the river they all will live in your heart for evermore. My darling Dad left some 40 years ago: we still quietly talk every day . . .
My deepest sympathies, Irmi. I know what it is to have both parents gone. It changes your life forever. Be especially kind to yourself now. Blessings.
Truly sorry, Irmi, to learn of the loss of your dear Mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.
And wonderful that you can tell us so calmly. Beloved is a beautiful word. And losing your beloved mother is such a blow – I am so sorry – we all love you here. c
Climbing–a sport with a practical “app.” I can see its deeper appeal also, though as a kid it was simply an urge. And we had plenty of trees nearby. But to be able to work high up and solve problems there, that must be satisfying. Especially with family. I suspect maybe there’s a spiritual element too. To work your way up towards the light, relying on each other’s quiet presence and guidance–pretty special! Hope you had plenty of good “down time” with your daughter. It is hard to be far from children.
Jack felt the same too – he said he had great satisfaction using his hands for physical work – he said it was great to “put these great mitts to work” holding up his hands – he works as a programmer for apps for cars – so he was more than happy to do some “real work”.. c
I thought it odd they had to go to Mexico just to climb things; don’t they have enough in Austraiia?
How thoughtful though for them to help around the house, as it were.
Perhaps you should not let them go but create some cliffs to climb right there.
We New Zealanders are great travellers! I was glad to be able to lend them a wall!! c
And don’t forget the mothers of the immigrants who are left behind, that’s a big hole too, to have your daughter go off and live in another land. I remember reading someone’s blog ages ago who was complaining that her son and his wife had moved down the coast, for work, and she’d have to drive an hour to go see her grandson! Pffft! Enjoy the flying visit and the trip to the big city with them, clever young ‘uns.
Yes – they re a clever pair and we had the best time in the bog city – theya re very very easy to spend time with.. c
Even families living here in the U.S. don’t always see each other often. For the majority of my adult life, I either lived away from family or family has lived away from me. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time in history when families not only lived in the same area, they lived in the some neighborhood or same house.
It’s wonderful that you have been able to spend a few days with your daughter and she with you.
Hey Celi ~ great that you could enjoy a bit of time with your daughter!! And they could fix your windows in a few minutes!! Great picture of them staring out the window!! Are they stopping to visit again on their return trip? get some more work lined up!!! I often think of people who have family living in other areas of the world ~ I can very well imagine what the emptiness must be ~ makes my heart hurt for them. And when you have to say goodbye at the end of a visit ~ oh ~ that’s always hard. Glad you’re enjoying one more nite with them.
You’re so right about emigrants. The umbilical that attaches us to all the people important to us is wrenched away, leaving a sore spot that never truly heals. And the more people you leave behind, the more sore spots you have; I wish sometimes I didn’t have a big family, as I wouldn’t have to miss so many people… That tiny glimpse of your daughter tells me she looks like you, lovely!
Lovely that your daughter & her boyfriend leave a tangible memory mark of their visit. It’s nice for family to be able to feel they have a presence & contributions to make. Those two have exceptional talents ♡
What a lovely gift that will never wear out. and having family visit you from far away is a priceless gift! Cheers!
Am laughing having made my ‘climbing comment’ quite innocently ere Sophie + ‘her man’ arrived! Remember you and ‘them’ in the Grampians a year back. I am so sorry this has been such a short visit tho’ . . . a few more days would have been nice ! BUT, am very glad Sophie’s handsome fella did not mind his photos being included in the farmy history . . . nice to see him making use of his balance and climbing skills to have one more thing fixed 🙂 ! Hope the two have a fab time getting to know Mexico: should they go anywhere near San Miguel de Allende [yep in the mountains N of MC] give lovely Vicki Challancin a call!!!