Relative Something

Friday arrives. Cyndie got up and fed the horses, and then began working on her ongoing project of preserving both figs and peaches. After I finished doing some morning journal writing,  I went over to the main house to visit with Ian and eat my breakfast of bread, cheese, and fig jam. Cyndie was having some yogurt and peaches while she continued to work.

Ian and I began our day’s tasks with cleaning the stables.  Next, we made a run to pick up more sawdust. The route to the sawmill takes us on a beautiful drive around the valley and up beyond the ridge. Ian pulls up to a building that appears very residential, except that its cobblestone driveway extends beyond the front of the house into a lumber yard. The mill is obviously busy in production. Ian leaves the car in front of the house and we walk right through the bustle of man and machine and begin digging in a giant pile of sawdust to fill our bags. Ian digs in the pile and I tie the bags closed. Then he pulls the car up to as close as he is able and we load 10 full bags, just as it begins to drizzle a misty rain.

On the way back toward the farm, we pass by the place where his neighbor, Machado, is exercising his horse. Ian stops the car in the middle of the lane, debating the visit. He decides to back up a ways, to the front of Machado’s driveway to park, and we walk up the road to where Machado was working with his horse in his field. Machado pauses his training when he sees us and we have a very pleasant visit. He comes across as a very good-spirited man. I am, once again, relying on Ian’s gracious and patient translating. I am generally able to tell when he describes that I come from the state in the US where Bob Dylan is from.

While we were talking, Machado pointed out to Ian that it was possible to see Carlos making an appearance at the farm across the way. Ian cut our visit short and hustled us back to see if we could catch Carlos before he left. Luckily, we met him on the road and stopped to talk. He had driven all the way out to report that his daughter had a sore throat and maybe we should postpone tonight’s dinner date until Monday. Ian talked him out of it and said, after double-checking with me, we weren’t worried about being exposed to the illness, and maybe we could cheer Rita up. Ian told me that postponement could still run into a different conflict on Monday and then the odds of it happening begin to decline. Carlos was very agreeable to that. As fast as the plan was off, it was back on again.

Back at the stable, we are again cleaning up manure as we distribute the bags of fresh sawdust. We then take a look at the equipment that Luis and his father had dropped off and contemplate how we will use it all. There are plumbing issues and electric power requirements that will need addressing. With questions remaining, we decide to pause for lunch and think about it. I try looking on the internet for information about the process of pressing and de-stemming grapes. While we are still at the table, just about to serve coffee after the meal, Luis and his father show up again, to prepare the equipment. Problem solved! They say they will come back to tend to the processing of red grapes in the evening, yet they will have to do so without us, as we are to go to Carlos’ for dinner.

While we had been looking at the wine making equipment, Cyndie and Stephanie had taken the horses down to the bottom field. Ian decides we are free to take Cassius for a little walk and do some reconnaissance on the property. It doesn’t take long at all to discover our next project. The camellias need water! We collect the hose and begin a long process of watering from tier to tier. It is a special experience which brings you closer to each plant, and it gives me a better sense of each zone, and an awareness of just how much planting he has done here over the years. It is truly amazing.

By the time we finish the watering, it is necessary to get the horses back to their stables and then to clean up ourselves for our visit to Carlos’s for dinner.