So, I am sitting in a cafe in Chicago. Yes! I have run away from home for the weekend. Though I have to run back to the farm fairly shortly because my friend is bringing Tima back around 11 am and the hay man is turning up at 4pm.
I am buying in 15 bales of mixed round bales. A mix of grass, clover and alfalfa. We will stock pile these in the back of the West Barn. I have learnt never to turn down hay. There is no such thing as too much hay. It will cost two weeks wages but is worth the investment.
It has been lovely to wander about the hot streets of the city. Weirdly restful actually.
When I am away from home I eat no meat and the city has a plethora of vegetable options. Lots of tasty food and interesting ideas. Dehydrated sweetcorn kernels in a salad. Dehydrated mulberries! Yum. Beautiful Asian dressings and last night I had gnocchi with Gorgonzola cheese rolled into the gnocchi then drowned in a vodka sauce. Quite divine but really rich! They also roll spinach into the gnocchi- I will be trying that at home!
It will be interesting to see how Tima is. She will have to go on a diet for a while, last time I saw her she was way too fat, so we will have to make sure she cannot escape and ransack the sheds.
Poor Tane – he was enjoying bachelorhood.
This picture is on the wall in this cafe. Imagine those days. What a smell! All those animals. 
It is important to keep the past close and not pretend things never happened. Weirdly, by facing our pasts with open eyes we can move forward into the future with more confidence. 
There is an enormous world map on the wall here at the cafe.
I have been missing home a lot lately. Truthfully it is mainly due to the political rhetoric.
New Zealand is in the Pacific Ocean – and bordered by the Tasman too but we are greatly affected by the vast warm gentle ocean of the Pacific. In fact Pacific means peaceful. This is not to say we are not warriors too. I feel a longing for less, I don’t know, less nastiness, less side taking, I feel like I am an observer in an awful battle. Drawn in my proximity. And believe me – the battle is being waged in my own house – with opposing beliefs – and that is hard to live in.
Ok!
Time to run for my train. I feel so rested after spending time with my friend and the city.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
39 responses to “Sitting in a cafe”
Such tineless advice… eat your vegetables… so many wonderful vego-vegan culinary creations that although being a -selective- omnivorse they’re often my preference.
Echoing Ardys’ comment… Many of us in Australia, NZ’s neighbour, think the Prime Minister grass is greener on the other side of Tasman Sea. I don’t want to live divisely politically, economically or otherwise… all I can do is live what I believe to be right in the good company of others of likemind… who are more of a force than it might appear without the voice of money or news media.
Yes, this wonderful country is my country, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else but I am so freakin’ disgusted with the whole lot of what passes for leaders, no matter what party, I do believe I will declare a moratorium on any ‘news’, tv, radio or written!
Glad you had that break in Chicago , , , shared with a friend on the same wavelength. How incredible that the Mercator’s world projection should be staring you in the face almost mockingly showing the vast distance twixt ‘now’ and ‘then’. Methinks all you know Down Under understand . . . but only you can balance the needs and desires and what is there . . .We send you warmth from the coldness of our season . . . hope that you are able to feel it in a minuscule way . . .
I am sorry for the waging battle. That is hard. This internet, this thing that was supposed to bring us all together has allowed too many people to live in silos of belief. It gets harder and harder to talk and bridge gaps and close divides. There’s got to be something bigger than politics though. I hope it comes out and makes itself known. LOVE that map on the wall. Such beautiful colors…I could look at maps all day. Like my grandmother and my mother. Do you think there’s a “she will love maps all her life” gene? There must be.
I am an American but I fear America is broken. All this political strive does no good and only adds more angst. Hopefully the pendulum will swing and we cannot back to where we should be.
I love this blog and so enjoy all the animals and their adventures. I grew up in rural area with an uncle who had a dairy farm. I long for those wonderful tranquil days.
I hope Tima and Tane enjoy seeing each other again. Maybe you should take a few more breaks to get away from all the stress for your own well being.JUst a thought.
It’s hard when your loved ones have very, very different views if the won’t accept that we are all entitled to them…
I have the same longing to get away from this America that I used to love and have always dreamed of living in the South Pacific! Happy to see Tina again- you gotta love that girl! It is funny how us country girls
find going to the city relaxes us -just don’t want to live there!!
Sigh… I concur with you about the climate in this country (and the world) is getting dark and ominous; more than many would like to see. And often in my own home too we have “discussions” that differ. Notice how I phrased that 😉
I do feel for you, living in a divided land with all that it brings. I’m so thankful for the peace in our country at present. At least your animals are free of opinions.
I too am sick of the political bs …..tiring and not at ALL constructive. Glad you got a wee bit of a respite in the city!
Glad that you feel rested Celi .. that pasta sounds divine!