The thistle fields baling is complete. Today when I am not cooking for the Labor Day gathering I will take the tractor and lift the bales where they have fallen and stack them into the two piles. This will be todays workout! Haymaking is great for the body.
One of these bale castles will be right behind Big Jude and FreeBee’s backyard and will create shelter in the winter from the Northerlies. There are not too many bales – fifty at the most I would say.
Internet woes continue
The internet is still so spotty. I will get in touch with the provider again tomorrow. I believe that because I am not getting a full time service I should not have to pay a full time price.

We have gone to great lengths to get the signal – as instructed – but still it is reaching the house only some of the time, I certainly cannot run an online business from here. That wonderful idea I had cannot get off the ground- there have been many problems but an unreliable internet is the nail in the coffin.
As soon as I get my routine in order I will post sustainable living posts from the .org site but the online workshops are in hiatus at the moment.

When the internet is working it is great – but so far today I have waited over two hours to get online. Then I have everything ready to post and over it goes again. So I am posting from my phone without any bells and whistles.
The above image is the POV from the new pole tower. Not one leaf in sight! A straight shot to the tower.
Anyway that is my moan over for the day.
Quacker is being such a dear.

She visits the pond in the evening but she prefers to take her bath in the water bowl.
I don’t think she likes the sticky weed that is in the pond.
Last night the big barn owl hooted softly for hours. She (or He) was alone (no answering hoot) but gently reminded me they were there. The owl feels spiritual to me and often brings the memory of my best friend Donna who died years ago. We all have people we remember at certain times – right? It is good to remember and OK to miss people and feel sad sometimes.
Good morning!
Labor Day Hamburgers
It is Labor Day here in the USA – a holiday. People cook out.
I am making hamburger patties, mixing ground beef with handfuls of green herbs and garlic. I finely chop parsley, oregano and thyme with fresh red onion and garlic, then mix this with the home grown meat and allow to sit for at least a couple of hours before cooking – this gives the mixture time to exchange flavours.
Which reminds me I need to sow more parsley for the winter glasshouse. I will see if I still have any seeds on the old bushes.
It only take a couple of seconds to sow a crop.
Substack
Here is yesterday’s SubStack: (my only farm income at the moment so feel free to subscribe – the money goes straight onto the farm).
Sponsors
WaiWai has lost his sponsor (he went into a nursing home) if anyone would like to step in with as little as ten dollars a month the old sponsor and Wai would be grateful. Wai does not eat much but the creams and lotions for his compromised skin do mount up. And of course thank you to Tima’s sponsor too – (you have been supporting her for years now) I know you do not want to be named but every month your ten dollars a month via PayPal goes towards her special food.

The PayPal button is below.
I don’t ask often. And I am so grateful to you all. We never know when the next animal in need may turn up!
Thank you so much
Celi



17 responses to “Labor Day Cooking”
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Quaker is a smart lady. She seems not to want that nasty green weed to muck up her lovely feathers. She looks very wistful there, gazing at the pond and thinking “please Miss C, come clean out this gunk”! I forgot to come back and comment yesterday. Your post reminded me that I had a large bowl of cherry tomatoes needing to be roasted off and then I never came back! I roast in olive oil with some onions and use them in various ways. Your finished rich paste must be amazing 🙂
Roasted tomatoes are the best! I am having a fried tomato on toast for breakfast every morning now. They are gone so fast!!
I wish I had a shilling for every Labor Day cook-out where someone remonstrates about ‘what’s in the burger?” Like small-end vs. large-end egg crackers folks fall into the categories of ‘put things in the patties’ vs. ‘nothing in the patties, ever!”
The ‘nothings’ are going to lose this year!! Ha!! (Though I don’t put any fillers or eggs in – just herbs and garlic and s&p).
Quacker looks adorable in the bath. What a clever duck. Happy Labour Day!
You definitely should ask for a rebate on the internet – it should work 24/7 or close to that!
I wish we had a duck living here all the time – they just seem to come for the mating season.
I feel sad that Quacker does not have a mate. Maybe I should let them know at the shelter in case they have one brought in.
That sounds like a lovely idea!
LOVELY pictures despite coming from your phone. No way should you pay in full for a rubbish service. Quakers is fast becoming a favourite with us all l think.
My favourite photo from today’s batch is all that lovely clean laundry on the line…
I loved that too. The bright white against the green. Good morning Kate!
Your burgers sound delicious. I add a mix that’s meant to season meatloaf – which I really don’t care for but it makes the burgers really good. Sometimes I add a bit of finely shredded swiss and finely chopped mushrooms, tasty!
Finely grated mushrooms – that sounds really good.
Hi Celi. Ma I please sponsor Wai
I have found a site here – https://store.nzfarmsource.co.nz/catalog/zinc-ointment-500g/247088 that offers zinc cream and specifically mentions animals and sunburn. If you can’t get it delivered to you, let me know. I can buy some and forward it to you. Cheers Judith
Thank you Judith. I get the genetic baby rash one. I will check this out – thank you!