I promised the farmer I would bring rain on my birthday. We have been desperately waiting for some to fall so that we can be assured of some moisture to germinate the seed. We are planting wheat and barley. It has been raining all morning, signaling the start of the agricultural seeding season. The total rainfall was an inch or 25 ml. In the Wheatbelt, everyone celebrates a rain event.
seeding 2020
Early May is a perfect time to start planting. Many farmers have been at it for some time now, deep ripping, spraying, burning last year’s stubble, and harrowing. We don’t have a big acreage, but this rain is perfect! I am feeling somewhat nostalgic thinking this will be the last seeding for the farmer. I am trying to capture every moment.
BIRTHDay at seeding time
Today, I turn 55. Being the 5th day of the 5th month is pretty special as well and I am thinking of mother, and missing her. It isn’t surprising though because she brought me into the world and I am grateful for that. It’s only when I became a mother that I was able to truly understand motherhood; the devotion, the absolute, and unconditional love she has for her child.
I hadn’t given much thought about how to celebrate the day as we have been driving between the city and back and the day became less important. Feeling somewhat socially isolated, I hadn’t given much thought to organising anything. Furthermore, having a birthday at seeding time is more often than not, simply acknowledged. This year was different. With one text message, we had planned a morning tea for a group of four women, three with birthdays in May.
I made an Armenian Nutmeg Cake and left it out overnight to cool. This morning, it was swarming with ants. After washing them off, the cake lost its visual appeal and ended up in the freezer to be recycled as a pudding with ice cream. Such is the life of a seasoned scrooge. I backed it up with a banana cake but had to disguise the soggy centre. I blamed the oven.
Here we are … as the day unfolded. Three different women, three different decades.
On this day, twenty-nine years ago, I was admitted to the hospital to be induced the following morning. My second daughter was born on the 6th of May. You will recognise this gorgeously cheeky little girl with a smile as wide as her eyes. From this to that in a matter of years.
