Cheese?

Yesterday I took goats to new meadow. The meadow is rich in red koniczyna. Today I could see result of good feeding. The goats given around 5 litres of heavy, dense milk. I am glad :)


I covered quite a distance walking with the milk. First I crossed a rich goat meadow, then stream, wood, horse's pasture and eventually I reached the yard and  house.


The goats were kicking and moving a lot during milking, so it was hard to hold them and milk in the same time. Some milk was spilt by a wild goat. Soon new girls are coming - I hope they will help to hold the wild goats while milking.


Returning with the 5 litres of milk I was thinking what to do with it. Pudding? I have already made some. Pan cakes? I have already made some and still have pastry for more. Milk bread? A cake?
Maybe cheese? I haven't been doing cheese for a long time now... So maybe to try to make some after the long break?  


I have found the proper pot and are washing it exactly with boiling water. It has to be sterile.

I am happy today

Well, I am not happy that the girls went away, but I understand the importance of their come back home, and I am glad to get back my common hermit rythm of life without rush and obligations towards guests. I woke up early in the morning and first fed poultry to make sure they will start giving eggs soon again. I have just 3 hens and one perlica, but for me this is enough eggs when they lay them. I have bought good food for them, so soon they should start giving the eggs.
I am considering also purchase of some more hens, since some more volunteers should arrive here and I will need more food to feed them. 


I am happy with my new discovery - the text-to-speech website. I have downloaded a decent short story of 10 pages and are listening to it while making order in my study.


While I was listening to it the first time I could pick up the overall meaning of the text, but not so well like now when I am well, not tired and my mind is fresh and open to new texts.


The story is flowing in the air while I am doing some houseworks around. 
So, I am frying cinamone pan cakes, making bed and order in my study, washing some dishes in the kitchen.
Doing just one task a time is for me too boring. I need to make many various thinngs during the same time.


***


I have made a cheese cake and pudding. For lunch I am going to bake a chicken and serve it with young potatoes and cabbage.


Goats are waiting for milking! So first goats.


***


I have decided to spend French noon. I poured hot water to the bath tube, added some meant tea and bath lotion, switched on French music – Alizee – and sunk in the pleasant, relaxing bath for a couple of hours... How wonderful! :)

Online learning facilities

I have found wonderful websites – one I was advised by my future guest and rest I found out on my own.
The best one is this one suggested by my soon volunteer: text-to-speech website.

Others are websites with free ebooks. I have chosen one of the short stories, pasted into the text-to-speech website and the result was really good :) I am glad! :)

So now I don’t need to bother my guests with reading to me English novels :)
Maybe a bit, since I cannot find text of the English books which I own at my home.

http://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/A-Bridge-of-Letters/html/2#ixzz22Okx0utF

The girls haven't survived!

They haven't survived even a week! But it was not their vault. Hannah's sister got seriously sick back in London. She lost her conscious due to meningitis. She was unconscious already 6 hours. The hard case. The girls had to come back instantly home. They left early in the morning to catch evening flight to London.
I am so sorry...

The cheerful morning :)

The new day has awaken ! :) And with it - the cheerful host :)

It's time to wake up the chicks :) Garden is waiting! :D

The Brittish Chicks Came :)

Hannah and Alice :) Two 19 years old girls from center of London! :) They have already some volunteering experience at two other farms and are eager to help so I hope they will survive at my farm the two weeks without pain :)

The lazy Sunday

It was lazy Sunday. Hot, humid. I was slow with everything. At evening a refreshing wind came and then heavy, intensive rain. I am glad I don't have to water the garden :) But weeding is needed here.
I still have to take care of some farm papers. Maybe on this Monday.
Today during evening I fell asleep and slept like a stone until my Mother's phone call has awaken me.
My father again spoiled the internet connection and they cannot communicate with me by the Skype.

Hot

It’s so hot, that I have decided to measure how hot is it :)
Soon girls with pump to my canoe arrive so we will be able to try some swimming by the canoe along Szwałk lake. The lake has connections to other lakes, so later we could have much longer trip by the boat. But first we need to check it at shorter distance. At the other lakes we could get lost easily as the area is vast. I am not the best swimmer and I don’t know if they are good ones. It could be good to have with us some rescue wheels in a case if we start to sink. Water should be very warm after such hot days. I love to swim and are able to swim across the lake, but I need company to feel safe as I am always afraid that a  skurcz will caught me.




I had not expected guest. It was an old man whom I met long time ago while I was walking to Kowale Oleckie.
I met him when he was working with his horse over a garden. I talked to him then curious if he could bring his horse to my farm and plough my garden as well and maybe teach me how to work on a soil with horse.


Now he came to chat for a while and talk me into marrying his brother’s son who is also lonely farming around 150km from me. He needs a housewife. Or rather a slave who would work for him for all her life for free... ;)


I washed most windows in the house. I milked the goat, made chocolate pudding and dinner. At evening I gave to my mares medicine against worms. It wasn’t easy. They didn’t want to let me catch them and then didn’t want to let me give them the medicine, but somehow I managed to catch them all and to give them the specific. The hardest job I had with the youngest, who got injured while trying to jump out though the window. This is why I was late to performance in my village at my neighbour Wojtek – the painter. 


The performance was great, the atmosphere was great. I enjoyed it. The best I liked the fire performance after the theatre. And then I found some instruments like jabba and percussion. Suddenly I found out playing talents.
Considering that I was  playing the first time in my life – I was brilliant. Quickly I catch up the jazz melody which was in the air and played with it. Soon a boy joined me and we played together. A moment later a group of young people with their jabbas came and we all played together. It was great fun :) I enjoyed it :)

Washing windows

I am finishing today washing windows. Some of them I washed a few days ago, now I continue with the remaining windows. The weather is great. Big Sun outside. Very hot. I still keep horses in the yard as the fence is not finished yet and the yard is full of grass. I have watered them with fresh water from the house.


I need to take a bath and cook the dinner, milk the goat and finish the fence. 


***


I have finished the novel. It was nearly 500 pages. Now I will take a stroll and spread more electric lines before I go to sleep.

Electric fencing

Today I am finishing what we have started yesterday. Yesterday I and Kourosh spread one electric fence in my forest and I spread the other to divide two orchards while Kourosh was still fighting with the nettles in the forest. Today I am spreading more lines and are adding more plastic sticks.


In meantime, while I was working with the fence in the meadow, a postman arrived. The new postman. He delivered a letter for me with some forms to fill in, so I am going to take care of them in this weekend. 


I brought the goat to the house wall and installed her here for a while to let her drink water and lick the salt.
It’s hot. But the sky is grey and may rain soon, so I will better hurry up to milk her. I will make delicious pudding. I love pudding.


Still I need to cook lunch and dinner and finish the fence. Horses are kept today in the yard before the new pasture will be fenced and ready to accept them. They have enough grass here. A part of yard is very rich with grass, a part is nicely eaten. The grass is cut short, even too short. My horses are very precise grass eaters.


For dinner I decided to cook today typical Polish dish – chicken stomachs.. Kourosh wouldn’t like it I think, but since he was encouraged to buy his own food in the village while he is there to do his things – I don’t need to worry if he likes to eat the stomachs or not. I like the dish. My Grandmother used to cook it often.


***


I have baked fresh bread, made chocolate pudding and a pancake. Still some fencing in front of me. I should go before starts raining, but I feel a kind of tired and sleepy so maybe I will have a nap or read a book and then continue the work.


***


In the evening I was working along the electric fence checking if wire is complete and correcting it when I suddenly heard from distance raged roar: “FFUCK!! FFFFUCK!!! FFFFUCK IT!!!” 


“Hmm” – I thought. It seems like Kourosh is coming back from the village. But why he was so furious? It seemed as he was attacked by some villagers or maybe dogs? I listened carefully to the noise, but it stopped for a while. I thought, that if he needed some help from me he would call for help or something like that. 


After some break the scream resumed - much closer this time: “FFUCK!! FFUCK OFF!!! FUCK OFF MOTHER FUCKERS!!! FFFUCK!!! FFFUCK OFF MOTHER FUCKERS!!!!” – Kourosh shouted with the highest rage.


There was no other sound, no sound of fight or anything, no dog’s bark or anything this kind, so I guessed that he was fighting with the flies. But the degree of his anger was so huge, that I have decided to hide away before him not wanting to meet him while he was so furious. I lied down on the soil hiding in the grass and waiting until he passed.


Then I stood up and was continuing my job with the fence. I have finished spreading some extra wire and then returned to the yard. There, in front of the house I met Kourosh. He seemed to be calm this time. He greeted me with smile and was asking innocently how I was. And I asked him HOW WAS HE? He said that okay, just all the way to the village and then back he was attacked by malicious flies including blue bugs as he called them. I tried not to burst into laughter. 
Well, insects are very common species in the world and very numerous in the Nature. Is not possible to avoid them completely. The best way to tackle with them is to get used to them and try to ignore them. While I was in the forest I was also attacked by some mosquitoes, but tried not to pay attention to them, just kill them when they were trying to sting me.


While I was lonely spreading wire along the electric fence earlier in the morning I was not glad with Kourosh refusal of help and determined not to feed Kourosh that day. But when he returned and he offered to share with me his music as a farewell souvenir  – I decided to share with him my pudding and dinner. After all he was helping here for 9 days. It was very hard to him, as he is allergic to any insects which make him so stressed and angry. He did what he could to help me here. Obviously he is not designed for country life, but he was trying to do his best. I also gave him a half of my bread and full big bottle of meant tea for his journey.

The last day of Kourosh

In the early morning Kourosh annonced that he will not be helping today and is going for all day to the local village to read there his papers and to use the broadband internet connection in the local library there.

Well, if so, I don’t cook today :) I said. 

Farming life is definitely not for Kourosh, I could see it from the start. He managed to survive here 11 days.

Tomorrow he leaves my farm. He goes to Białystok first, then to Warszawa (Warsaw) and finally to Kraków (Cracow). I wonder if he is going to wash the clothes I have lent to him while he is here. I think he should wash them.

Chicks are coming!

Two from The United Kingdom and two from Kraków in Poland. But they all will be coming just from Kraków. Kourosh – the Canadian - came here also from Kraków. Interesting. 5 people from Kraków :)
Kourosh came here hitchhiking, the two Polish girls also will be hitchhiking and the English girls will arrive by train.


Women power! :)

The Broadband internet

I am really pissed off today. 3 men came. They are technicians from Netbud and from Telekomunikacja S.A. They were checking old phone cable if it works and if it would be possible use it to deliver fast internet to my house.

I told them I want them to put new internet cable along shortcut to my farm. They will not do it! They want to put new cable around the village which means, that signal at my house will be very weak - the weakest in the village – approximately up to maximum 1 MBite only. If I would like to share it with some my guests' computers at my house – it will be even worse. 

So now I still need to write letters with complain. This time probably to anti monopoly institution, because Telekomunikacja S.A. is a monopoly in Poland and they don’t care about their clients and their needs. They ignore my letters since a half of year.

Feng shui and pigeon

After lunch a pegon entered my house. It went around the kitchen then continued to Kourosh bedroom and bathroom. 


"Pigeon! What are you doing here? What are you doing in my house? Where are you from?" - I asked with suprise. I was delighted. A pigeon entered my home! It has to mean something! Curious...


I gave him hastily some bread, then groats. He was interested only in groats. 

The language project

Kourosh wants to get a job in an English teaching school. I advice him with it. I have made pics of him for his CV and adviced him to record his lovely American accent. For the voice sample he used the Magna Carta http://www.constitution.org/eng/magnacar.htm

Magna Carta Reading: audio recording by Kourosh

http://soundcloud.com/ktaherig/kourosh-taheri-golvarzi-speech

Searching a job this is also a job :) He spent a few days working on my computer and putting every needed piece of information onto one place – online. Now he will be able to send his application form from any place in the world. In the evening I adviced him how to make English language lessons, what is important during summer language courses. 


I also had him to record one chapter of the Colonists novel for my language learning project. It took over 33 minutes and over 170 MB memory at my computer. I am going to use this sample to work on my American pronunciation, since I used to learn British English pronunciation which is different. Kourosh has Southern Californian accent which I like.

Chapter 1 of the Colonists novel - audio recording by Kourosh
http://soundcloud.com/isabelle-de-red/chapter-01-of-26/s-1akte

Sunny, warm Sunday

After a couple of days of rain – at last Sun again. The “at last” I mean taking in consideration Kourosh, because I don’t mind rain. I am not made from sugar, so rain cannot do any harm to me, but Kourosh doesn’t like water in any form. Even when we were crossing stream with only slightly cool water in it which was rather refreshing than cold – he was scared to put his foot into it. 


He was trying to build a plank from two slippery logs, but since the logs were slippery – he fell into the water anyway. I know it is not polite to make fun of your guest, but I couldn’t help of wide smile and with difficulties tried not to burst out load laughter when I saw him slipped into the water :D 


Today all poles and logs are under the roof, so the important task is over. After that first I showed to Kourosh how to do weeding in the garden and then we went to clear orchard from some bushes. The little branches are crunchy and break easily, so the axe was not necessary to use, but I used it a several times to cut down some thicker branches. 


For breakfast we had milk soup and sandwiches, for lunch I am making spaghetti.

Alizee

Today I am listening to Alizee songs. Kourosh also likes her music a lot. At my place it is the first time when he could hear her music.


Today Kourosh helped only 3 hours and after lunch decided to go to the local internet cafe to spend there all day long. There is internet much faster than at my home and he doesn't disturb me to rest in my study (while he is my guest I moved from my bedroom to the study where I have a short couch, but good enough for me, so I sleep here). For lunch I cooked Polish dish - żurek [goorreq]. Kourosh likes it very much, so I am glad. He has eaten two plates of żurek. I have used for the żurek losts of goat milk, so it was really tasty. I like it too.

Robbie Williams music

I do love to listen to Robbie Williams music... It is so full of romanticism... So when I wake up in the morning first thing I do is turning on his music... 


My present guest also likes the music so we listen to it aloud. The music flows across all rooms and fills them to the top... :)


Today the last day of carrying logs and poles. Today they all should be under roof and left to dry there. When they are dry, I intend to polish them and then paint with special anti fungus paint. Then, they will be ready to use them as the poles for new fence around the vegetables garden and also around orchards and the yard.


The weather is perfect for replanting some plants which are still in the pots and containers. I would like to plant at least part of them today.


***


I didn’t replant any plants – instead of that I had to go to correct neighbours fence as it got broken and my horses went to his side. It took me some time to repair it. Then I needed to collect some herbs for the lunch and dinner. Kourosh took most poles and logs into the stable. For the lunch I made a kind of spaghetti for Kourosh because he is not fond of fried turkish liver which I cooked for us. At evening we milked forgotten goat and I made pudding for desert from it and gave one cup of goat milk to Kourosh, because he is fond of it.


The weather is “fucking beautiful” :) (I have learned that expression from Kourosh, who is American English speaking despite of being Canadian, since he grew up in Southern California). All day long rain for a couple of days. If not rains heavily, a slight rain sprays delicately. If there is no heavy or light rain – the sky is gloomy with rare splash of sunshine. But it is to finish in two days. However Kourosh decided to go to Romania, since he discovered the weather there is 30 C everyday which suits him a lot. He got used to the Californian climate and longs for the Sun. He asked me to take formal pics of him, needed to his CV which he is going to send to some English teaching schools in Poland, Russia and Romania and now he is writing his resume and intentional letters.


For me, the woman of north – the weather is okay. In fact I like the weather more than recent hot days when I couldn’t go out to do anything outside, because it was so incredibly hot. For plants it is great, because they have a lot of water so grow faster. It’s also perfect weather for planting plants. I want to do it tomorrow. 




http://youtu.be/KZECO5_gbq8


One of my favourite songs:


Robbie Williams - Supreme


Oh it seemed forever stopped today
All the lonely hearts in London
Caught a plane and flew away
And all the best women are married
All the handsome men are gay
You feel deprived


Yeah are you questioning your size?
Is there a tumour in your humour,
Are there bags under your eyes?
Do you leave dents where you sit,
Are you getting on a bit?
Will you survive
You must survive


When there's no love in town
This new century keeps bringing you down
All the places you have been
Trying to find a love supreme
A love supreme


Oh what are you really looking for?
Another partner in your life to
abuse and to adore?
Is it lovey dovey stuff,
Do you need a bit of rough?
Get on your knees


Yeah turn down the love songs that you hear
'Cause you can't avoid the sentiment
That echoes in your ear
Saying love will stop the pain
Saying love will kill the fear
Do you believe
You must believe


When there's no love in town
This new century keeps bringing you down
All the places you have been
Trying to find a love supreme
A love supreme


I spy with my little eye
Something beginning with (ah)
Got my back up
And now she's screaming
So I've got to turn the track up
Sit back and watch the royalties stack up
I know this girl she likes to switch teams
And I'm a fiend but I'm living for a love supreme


When there's no love in town
This new century keeps bringing you down
All the places you have been
Trying to find a love supreme
A love supreme


Come and live a love supreme
Don't let it get you down
Everybody lives for love

Kourosh

Definitely farm life is not for Kourosh. He doesn’t complain, at least to me, he does his bit of help, but I can see how unhappy he is and how much he strives for being in Cracow. He treats my place as a stop or refuge  before finding a teaching job somewhere in Poland or in Russia. He helps at the farm for 5 hours in the noon, then after a meal he uses my computer to search wildly for a job. He declares he wants to stay here at least one month or longer, but I think he will leave my place as soon as he finds other place to go, preferably teaching job.
I don’t mind much, as this bit of help which I have from him is needed here. He and I last in a symbiotic deal for the moment. Of course, I would love to host here someone who really shares my passion for the Nature and farming life. I believe, that soon or later someone like me arrives here and then we will have much fun from sharing our time together.

The Sun

I opened eyes this morning to see window full of the Sun. I hope the day won't be too hot. Soon I go to make a breakfast and wake up the Canadian. I wonder if he slept well.
Yesterday we had nice walk around the vast village of mine. I took some scenic pics. Soon I will paste them in here.

Today for dinner szaszłyk [shashlyk], boiled young potatoes in skins, salad, goat milk. I am glad Kourosh likes goat milk :) He cannot drink cows milk - he's allergic to it. Goat milk is okay to him.