thankful

It's the end of an incredible week. From Naples to the farmette. From childhood friends to newer friends, and the newest of all -- good people whom I meet as a result of Like a Swallow or Ocean. Those of you who "met me" for the first time yesterday and then wrote to tell me about it -- you are both wonderful and kind and I am so glad to have you on board, with your positive attitude about life and a generous warmth toward people that cross your path. Wow, so much goodness in this world!

These were my thoughts as I wake up to yet another light snow day here in south-central Wisconsin. I know some of you may be wishing it would stop. I am not one of them. I love snow, especially fresh snow, especially when it falls in seasonally appropriate months and not, say, in April. 

I walk to the barn to feed the animals (for the new readers -- we have six semi-feral cats that share space with us here at the farmette. Three of them come regularly into the farmhouse, the remaining three like to hang out in the sheep shed, which, by the way, is no rickety shed -- it has floor heating and lots of comfy spaces for them. All six cats panic when we have visitors. My grandkids have been coming here almost daily for eight years now and the cats still take flight when they see them coming. Apart from caring for cats, we raise free range chickens. Right now we have six hens but that number does fluctuate. Predators have been known to outsmart us. But, knock on wood, we've had a streak of good luck this winter and so far, our beautiful Bresse girls (white hens with blue legs and red combs) and our motly crew of others are as happy as I imagine chickens can get. Well, they do hate snow so perhaps today they are not as thrilled with life as they are on days when they can dig up my plants and eat bugs and roots and tiny new growth. 

It is my morning job to feed all these characters and it is a job I love. Even in foul weather. It gives a good start to my day. You know how you're supposed to have a meditative moment before you plunge into your activities? This is my meditative moment.

(The barn does have a few boards missing...)

(the venerable farmhouse...)

And now I have to prepare breakfast, which takes a shockingly long while, considering it usually consists of just fruit and oatmeal. In cutting up fruits for me, for Ed and for whatever grandkid comes to the farmhouse later in the day, I again find that peaceful stretch of minutes that makes for a fine beginning to any day.

(cats, waiting...)

(Breakfast)

This morning I also bake a rhubarb yogurt cake. Ed keeps nudging me to use up all our freezer produce and we have a lot of stored rhubarb. I'm on it! 

Is there time for skiing? Just barely.

And now I pick up Snowdrop, eight years old, here daily after school:

Toward evening, the routines change a bit. First of all, her two brothers drop by after school. For a cookie. And rhubarb cake. Sparrow (4) and Sandpiper (1). Sweet, sweet boys!

And then -- and this is a really unusual thing for us -- Ed and I go out to dinner with friends. It's such a rare thing for the two of us to share friends. Since he and I began our life together when we were already past 50, we came into it with pre-formed friendships and we typically stay in our own circle of pals. But there are exceptions where I will be included in his gang from years past and this particular evening is just such a time. And moreover, these people picked as our dinner place Osteria Papavero, a small Italian restaurant that quite coincidentally just got nominated for a James Beard award. 

Chef Francesco Mangano is from Bologna, which really is a far culinary step from Naples, but both these cities have a deep affection for pasta and braised meats, so there is indeed reason for me to feel a tiny bit nostalgic as I step into this little gem of a place. 

Look familiar? All that's missing is the zucchini blossom...

It's restaurant week in Madison, which means that we have a solid three course meal before us. Panna cotta for dessert!

Such a terrific cap to a beautifully busy week! 

We drive home in falling temperatures. There will be solid snow tomorrow. We're ready for it!

with love...