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”
How exciting!
It will be nice to see Tima again . I wonder how much she will remember.
I bet she remembers where the food is!
😀😁
Snort!
What a wonderful map in your cafe in the Old Toddlin’ Town. To remind us Americans how Great is The World. I can see how it would add to your homesickness just to see your beautiful island shining there in the South Pacific & Tasman Sea. I live with my brother & sister-in-law part of the year & we are very divided in opinions & don’t go there in conversation at all anymore. We simply cannot. It is very hard, sad & dispiriting. Back to welcoming dear Tima (the Terror). I can’t wait to see her & hear all about her return.
Tima the Terror indeed.
“I feel like I am an observer in an awful battle.” Not as it should be.
As an immigrant with only a Green Card I cannot vote so I really have no say in all this. I am lucky though – I am not displaced – I am here by choice.
I’m glad you are here.
Of course being me I’m worried for Tane. just hope he can outrun Tima. I’m decidedly for the underdog and hate to see sweetness beat on.
In my long life I have never seen the fabric of our country so shredded and it is in our own family too. I can’t bear it.
Awful how all this is pulling families apart. But I did enjoy a break from
The radio.
Oh NO, not ‘Talk Radio’?:/
Lovely to get away! I look forward to seeing Tima back on the farm. I also know how you feel about the political climate right now. It’s making me feel like I did during the turmoil of the ’60s, when this country was extremely divided and just walking down the street looking a certain way or wearing particular clothes could make you a target of hate speech and more. I also live in a household of divided political views and it’s a constant source of aggravation. Thinking good thoughts for the future!
Yes. It is hard.
I’m glad you’ve had a temporary break.. How lovely to sit, and drink coffee and contemplate that lovely map, reminding everyone that the world is wide and wonderful and filled with all sorts of people who have all sorts of ideas. I’m looking forward to seeing Tima again, she’s had quite the extended holiday!
Yes. The world is vast. There nothing in the book that says we all have to believe the same things. And this kind of clash is not new in the world- I
Am Just thinking that it might be safer to ride it out at home.
What one set of beliefs in my family calls ‘shalom bayit’: peace in the home.
I look forward to seeing our Tima again.
City mouse, country mouse. It’s good to change it up every now and then. That gnocchi sounds yummy. I’ll have to try it too someday. Good luck resettling Tima. How’s Jude making out now?
Jude is a total star. Still a lovely gentle pig and so kind to FreeBee. All the kids love him
The vibes I am getting from your writings, indicate you will be back “Home” soon. I am usually right.
I was wondering about Jude and FreeBee! What a pair – and they both made it back to a healthy state! And here comes Thunderous Tima on the scene! Have you warned Tane to duck? I’m a huge fan of salads, too! Yours sound yummy! Have fun with the homecoming! Going to throw her a piggy party?
Hullo C! We just spent some time up in the wilds of British Columbia and it was so nice…actually wonderful to be away from all this polarization of everything (madness really), here for awhile. In fact, we were totally unplugged from everything except the quiet, astounding beauty of nature for a whole week on my beloved Loon Lake…I don’t blame you for wanting to run screaming away from all this…it’s awful but all we can really do now, is stand our ground and stand up for what is good and right and hopefully what is good and right will prevail again. We did it in the 60’s, we can do again!
Anyway, when I saw the photo of the coffee shop and everyone looking down at their screens, it reminded me of a sandwich board outside of a coffee shop in Vancouver…it said…we don’t have wifi…talk to each other! 🙂
Welcome home Time…please be nice to Tane!
Tima…not Time!
I’m in a stage of ‘news fatigue’ at the moment, mostly due to all the political divisiveness. So tired of it. I can understand your homesickness for NZ, especially with my favourite PM at the helm. Jacinda Ardern is quite a guiding light. Chicago is a great city, glad you enjoyed your break. xx
Sometimes even my heart is divided. Not today though (soft Sunday afternoon ), and especially not after a pleasant visit in a coffee shop with maps on the wall. I’ll never be able to see the Tasman sea, but I get a sense of expansiveness from your writings about your first home.
You sound refreshed from all the city ambushing sounds and sights – that can be fun, too.
I do love your perspective on the human circus. ” I feel a longing for less” ” I feel like I am an observer in an awful battle” So many can share those thoughts and feelings.
Take care and work to keep balance.
(Oh finally found a spot I’m comfortable recommending for that underwear – info in today’s/Sunday’s post.)