I baked a double storey cake for my father’s birthday today.
I can see a group of police persons doing the rounds in the road.Strange times this.Yesterday morning there was an earthquake but I slept through it and the evening there was slight hail.
I have not spent so much time with half of my siblings or with parents for a long time.
I am collecting a lot of firsts this holiday.I cut bamboo and built a compost heap with my brother who times and calculates the energy expended each day..I also dug a small piece of land and planted vegetables.Needless to say I screamed at the level of pain in my right hand the same night.
Today I even killed a rat in the storeroom,a bulky rodent which was getting cheekier by the day.Armed with sticks the four of us ran after Mr pest but rest of their screams were louder than their action so I armed myself with a bulky stick and gave it two deadly rap on the head.
My silver berry jam and the wine are bottled.I can see some raspberry ripening and the South American coffee inviting me to work on them.I have been making kimchi every now and then .I have been picking water cress and other seasonal vegetables which seem to sprout up like manna .There is just so much one can do in a farm.Early in the morning,fresh butter,cottage cheese,butter milk is made.I need to get up earlier to learn how to make them.I am learning how finicky our cows are and how selective they are in choosing the grass to feed on.One day our cowhand cut some ripe figs for its fodder with the usual grain and protein and it refused to eat it.Someone had to break the figs with the hand into a pulp after which she ate the feed.
My mom was telling me yesterday how the helps during my grandmothers time used to start their day by two in the morning.Nobody asked them to but they would get up as the cock crowed and would start working,pounding rice,feeding the cows,cleaning the compound,etc.Even my parents at this age get started by five in the morning.My sister and I noticed how the air seemed so crisp and concluded it was their consistency which must be an asset to their health.
If I were to stay home longer I would keep a lot more animals.There is so much to do here.
We continue to pray for our friends and family all over the world.
Comments