But that is fine. i am not afraid of heights. We already know that the exhalted and unpaid position of caregiver has its ups and downs.
This is what I wrote yesterday: then ran out of time and proceeded to zoom through the day.
‘The In Between; this weather and that weather’.
I have always been fascinated by the in-between. The in between thoughts. In between the blink of an eye. In between this weather and that one. In between me and you. (Though my mother would correct me to say; You and I)
It was busy. Yesterday. But before I shuffled him indoors into the car for the second rushed, last minute (due to cancellation) bloody, bollacksy appointment I stuffed the thawed chicken (8.9 pounds) with oranges and rosemary and red onions and put that huge chicken into the oven. I said to hell with it – I am leaving the oven on. Low.
Sometimes – risks must be took!
And getting back from a 90 minute drive each way to see a doctor (who looked at things on the computer and proceeded to order another test) we arrived home to the divine scent of roasted chicken with rosemary and oranges. And the fire set ready to light.
It is fine. Everything will be fine our warm cosy house, said.
So, while the fire was being lit, I put on a huge pot of broccoli stalks for the pigs breakfast. I put on a big pot of potatoes to go with the humans dinner. Then I shucked out of my ‘town clothes’ (dropped to the floor) and pulled on all my raggy warm farm clothes. I took my trusty bommy knocker torch and bolted outside to feed the sleepy pigs and the whiney calves in the dark.
The barn is my happy place. It was cold but a nice place to potter while my body caught up with my buzzing brain.
The ice has crept in and frozen the mud in place so all ankles are threatened now. All those holes drilled into the mud by piggy stilettos (and booted feet) have frozen in place. It is a horror. I am not calling the big pigs out into the field anymore. I simply cannot have another patient.
Not to worry! Today is a home day!!!
As soon as I have sent this to you (sorry it is late but I was on the phone with doctors and appointment schedulers and all that positive personal admin stuff) I am going to go into my other happy place (my head) and write. There is a story banging around in there trying to get out. You know how that is.
Good morning!
Did you see Mr Flowers in the evening edition yesterday?
He has got himself into today’s TKG Take Ten too. Don’t forget to sign up so you will get TKG Take Ten delivered straight to your inbox.
I am starving – so I am going to go and fry up mashed potato from last night with cheese (my favorite breakfast).
The house is scented with chicken stock bubbling away. My secret ingredient for chicken stock is a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
What is your secret ingredient?
Have a lovely day
Celi
PS Dry January was officially abandoned last night. I made myself a lovely smug white wine spritzer with a slice of orange and agreed with myself that sometimes objectives change. Yes?
The Kitchen's Garden 
16 responses to “Well, Yesterday was a Roller Coaster”
Objectives are meant to be changed, especially when it comes to a day like you had and dry January. And leftover potatoes fried with cheese atop them are one of the greatest pleasures in the world.
Phew, what a day, and you still managed to cook a chicken amongst all that. Things can only get better????🫰🏼🫰🏼🫰🏼
My small life needs your world of grunts and clucks and broccoli stalks. I hope you have enough smooth, warm days to balance out those crazy, ice-pitted days! ❤
I don’t believe in dry January 😉
Fried mashed potato and cheese sounds divine, but if I had that for breakfast, I’d need a siesta before lunch!
I need NO lunch!! 😀
Ha ha – I need no breakfast!
Priceless!
Well that was a day, actually very much 2 whole days rolled into one. But as is typical of the C I know, pushing through is the goal. Be careful walking so as not to make yourself into a patient as I fear Tima would not be a very good driver, wanting to complain more about the lack of food than keeping eyes on the road. 🙂
What a day, you certainly turned it around! By starting the chicken early, low and slow, with the orange and herbs, you created a beautiful tasting and scented dinner. I love cooking and baking with rosemary, thyme and sage, because the aromas make the house smell devine! By the way, mashed potato and melted cheese sound delish! Our secret ingredient for a really good olive oil salad dressing is to add a tablespoon of dijon mustard!
I love that you also have ‘home days’! We are a retired pair here … and yet we get downright giddy when we can put a couple of ‘home days’ together. It is so much nicer to look after our critters when I have the t…i…m…e afforded by a home day!
Yes!! Absolutely- I will have to jog some food into MiL later but other than that it’s ALL MIne!!
Exactly! You’ve nailed caregiver hacks 101. Squeeze in time for simple no fuss food, enough for leftovers… like the magic food fairy would make for you. Find joy… and respite in commonplace at home activities. Reward… and more respite in a glass of wine spritzer.
like you, I love the in betweens the best and reading about your day, I’d say you are at expert level of changing and adapting to any situation. and end the day in a lovely way
End of Day is the most amazing moment.
My secret ingredient is always smoked paprika. Just a bit, not enough to notice as an ingredient but to give a tiny bit of smoky flavour.
Aha! Yes!