As you know that I have given up life on the farm for a while to come to Australia to help my Daughter with her baby. Baby is due to be born end of May early June and God help me – I hope all goes well.
So far she and baby are in tip top form. Above normal in every way. Daughter is still working. She is eating well. Walking lots to stay fit. She is a police officer and on light duties.
The support she has received from her friends and workmates is fantastic.
Her fellow police officers have given her everything she needs to set up a nursery. They are glorious in support of this single mum who has chosen motherhood. She has furniture and carriers and she has drawers overflowing with baby clothes and wraps and paraphernalia for baby that will last us months.
And I am humbled and joyful to be able to say my people are sending gifts too.
That would be you.
Here are a few:
A beautiful dinosaur quilt arrived this week from our Kate a frequent commenter and an Australian member of The Fellowship of the Farmy. A founding member actually. Incredible quilter and dog mum.
A gift of seeds to feed our baby from Dale – another Aussie who comments frequently and has the most glorious garden and a reader here for years.
A gift of the loveliest quilt from Kim who has visited the farm on a couple of occasions and is a long, long time reader. Kim is a wonderful seamstress and also made quilts for my California kids. We have a tradition. And years ago she made me a bag that I carry from country to country. (Still going).
Hand knitted blankets.
Hand me down wraps and blankets.
A pram.
A cot.
All passed on from mother to mother to grandmother.
The back of Kim’s quilt is like a checker board and she added a bag of little bags that I can fill with wheat and use for games. Plus a needle and thread because she knows I probably won’t have any supplies here and she was right.
Kate added a couple of bibs that are just too sweet.
This support has meant the world to my Daughter (I am being careful with her name here due to her job and other issues not for these pages). This all amplifies the change in how we as a society view unmarried pregnant women. Women who have a surprise pregnancy must have a choice as to how to proceed. By choosing to be a Mum we develop strength. She has room to commit to the child. Our support of this one little mother is a magnificent comment on the health of the society we have gathered here. And enables more support for other women.
We must not just leave these little mothers to flail about alone. As older women we have an incredible opportunity to step up and help. Hands on. Hands out to help other young women in our families and communities.
As opposed to the draconian measures taken when I became pregnant as a young woman and was sent away. It was because of what happened to me that I promised my Daughter years and years ago that I would stand with her if ever she found herself pregnant and without a significant support person. Things happen. Plans change. People are often not who you thought they were. So I was careful to tell her a million times that I would be there to physically help with a baby should one choose to land. I am honored that she has chosen me for this role.
I love how you all and Daughters friends, and my big family, rally about in support. I am really grateful. It shows something – something deep. Something real – I cannot think of the right word.
Hope, maybe.
Thank you to Kim, Kate and Dale for these gifts. And thank you ALL for your best wishes. (We are not all that clever with needles! Me neither!).
It is raining!
You know how I love rain in the garden. I am looking forward to this winter. No sub freezing temperatures. Maybe a couple of frosts. No frozen earth. Vegetables all winter. Imagine.
And developing this little space all winter long. With you along for the ride!
Have a lovely time of day.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
26 responses to “handmade. loving. gifts.”
Good to know it arrived safely! Australia Post can be a bit variable in non Metro areas. Lovely also to hear how hands are being held out to help, from family to colleagues to total strangers. New mums do need a safe place to land and it’s brilliant that you’re there to support her during the toughest months, before and after. I wanted to ask if you could use a plastic walk-in greenhouse for the cold months in Victoria, for starting seeds and tender early plants. They sell them in Bunnings and I can easily pay for it so you can go and collect it. Have a look online at ‘Holman Walk In Greenhouse with Misting Kit’ on the Bunnings website and let me know what you think. Happy to do it to make sure Dale’s seeds flourish and you all get fresh food!
Thank you so much, Kate, that’s such a generous offer! But you’ve already gifted us a beautiful quilt, and we couldn’t possibly ask for more. Your kindness means the world to us.
I have a nice wee shed that I am setting up a potting table etc, it has good light and will do well. Thank you again though.
Please do let me know if there’s something else the Daughter would like, since I’m finally close enough to send things without mortgaging the house or selling the firstborn!
I will! And yes!! International Mail is horribly expensive and it takes so long now.
I love all those precious gifts that our farmy friends are sending to your daughter. There is nothingthat can beat a handmade gift. I am sitting in a sunny, still Wellington wearing a sweater that my daughter knitted for my birthday a couple of days ago. I love the fact that she spent hours thinking of me and I love the fact that you are spending hours and energy thinking of your daughter and the change that this baby will make to her life. Your daughter will remember not only the gifts from afar but also the amazing gifts you are giving her. Her baby will grow up in the knowledge that she is loved and wanted by so many people
You know, when I was packing to come here I found myself putting in my kids presents before anything else. There were not many – but I brought them all across! Theya re like talismans. There sure must be something glorious about a jersey a daughter makes for you.
I have a couple that she has knitted me and they always attract great comments. The one I’m wearing is several shades of blue with a quite complicated pattern. Crafts missed a generation because I don’t do anything clever with needles where is she can do anything she sets her mind to.
This is wonderful that people in the farm fellowship are sending your daughter gifts. A fine example of love and generosity in the world.
You are right – there is still lots of love and generosity to go round!
It’s been my pleasure to be part of The Fellowship and friendship all these years, and I love sharing seeds. As always I enjoy your generously shared writing, photos and insights.
I sowed the afghan leeks the other day – perrenial leeks are going to be grand in my little garden!
I sowed the afghan leeks the other day – perrenial leeks are going to be grand in my little garden!
❤ how utterly wonderful and supportive and loving! so different from when I was a young pregnant woman
Right? The world has changed in a wonderful direction for unwed mums now. At least in many countries it has changed for the good.
yes, so true
Such a lovely post, to read of women helping other women. A practice that is centuries old and so profoundly loving. This boy will likely never really realize just how many friends, aunties, grannies and loving bystanders he has in his life but the embrace is there from all of us, also wrapping around your daughter and you dear C.
Women helping women – and men too actually – and you are right – it is as old as the proverbial hills. A village coming together to bring up a child.
How fantasic! I’m staying with friends who have an 8 month old baby – I have never seen such good nurturing and the baby is well known and loved in this barrio (all the shops and restaurants). They moved house last year and have the most enormous terrace now, so I went out and bought a couple of propegators today and will get some seeds tomorrow – tomatoes and herbs. No doubt local sales of vermut are going up and my favourite supermercat (Bon Preu) sells a fantastic bottle of blue gin for €7.50. It’s raining, but not in my heart!
It’s raining, but not in my heart. A beautiful sentence! How wonderful to have a big sunny terrace in Barcelona to grow some veg. With a baby and all!!
My heart was lifted to see all that has arrived for soon to be born baby and mum. There is still kindness in the world. And yes, hope is a very good word. Enjoy the rain. We very much need some where we are. Fingers crossed.
I hope for rain for you! And yes – and THANK YOU!
How absolutely wonderful! And how wonderful that you get to send ‘back’ love to your past self from this kinder future.
What a lovely way to look at it!
These are such gorgeous gestures – welcome to Melbourne!
Thank you! I am LOVING the weather! I am sowing the winter garden – I hope I am not too late.
The weather’s been fabulous – enjoy this special time with your daughter.