On our return from the Bantam Swap, I placed the cage, with Kupa’s surprise, into the still empty turkey enclosure and left the cage door open while closing the pen door. This was so Kupa could see but not touch for a wee while. I had no idea how peacocks behave with strangers. 
Kupa was tranfixed with what slowly emerged from the cage and he sat down outside the door to the pen and gazed. The Duke of Kupa put on his best and most patient expression and waited. He waited outside the pen for hours. Just watching. 
After I could see that there were not going to be any problems, I let him into the enclosure so you could see his surprise too! I know this is an arranged marriage and I don’t want to overwhelm him but I hope he is not averse to having TWO wives. These girls were too beautiful to leave there for just anyone to take home.
Meet Tui (on the left) and Pania (on the right). Our two new peahens. I was not prepared for how beautiful they are. I thought they would be mousy and dull but they are speckled and fat and gorgeous, with green scarves around their necks and those delicate crowns. They look like large well fed thrushes dressed up for a ball. 
All afternoon they gently flowed about the large enclosure like a tiny school of fish. When Kupa moved left, they moved left, when he settled down so did they, when he flew to the roost they clumsily followed. Kupa is happiness filled. He will have to stay in there with them for a few days until they settle down and learn the peacock call. Which by the way is Neil Neil!! Thank you darling. When I call Neil Neil, Kupa appears and hops up to his feeding ledge, which luckily is IN the turkey enclosure. The girls will learn this too. Then he can lead them out and show them about. But not today.
They were in a good spot because later on in the afternoon the weather turned from bright and sunny to dark and threatening without warning. I guess if we had the weather channel we would have had warning, but we were working outside and don’t watch TV anyway. 
A squall of high wind and dust raced across the prairie straight at the house, then turned on a dime and wooshed back into itself. You can see from these shots how is came forward then whipped back up. 
Hmm, I said eloquently, is that a tornado! No, said our John, that is just a dust cloud! But it is strange. The wind was extreme so this conversation was discussed in stacatto shouts as we raced to and fro saving potted seedlings and buckets as they flew past. Then just as suddenly it stopped. Like when you raise your voice to speak to someone at a dinner party and suddenly the table goes completely quiet. Not by design of course. But always at the wrong moment. A surprised quiet dropped like a brick. Is it over? I said.
The local looked at the sky and turned pondering.
Then the phone rung from inside the house.
It was The Matriarch calling from town. Get into the basement, she said, the tornado sirens are going off here.
Is it really a tornado? I said, as John put down the phone and reached for the IPad. Wait, John said the connection is slow. Is it coming this way? I need to get animals in. I am out the door and pulling my gumboots back on. Wait, I will see. John is tapping at his stupid little box. He caught up with me in the barn. We need to get them in, he said. Forget the computer, look at the sky. He pointed to the horizon. A wide shaft of dark cloud was heading our way from town, not a tornado, but mean looking. This was not a dust storm. This was heavy and dark, it reached from the sky to the ground, and was widening as we watched, racing for us.
Now, you will remember that all my animals have their own call. And my voice was trained for the stage. So as the wind rose again so did my voice. I called everyone in one by one and John moved them through the barn to their pens. One at a time each paddock was cleared, fast, gates shut. I was running, so were the animals. No-one argued. Ton went down when he was told and leapt forward when he was told. Daisy had some trouble getting through her four foot gate at speed and Queenie was terribly surprised to be handed a Get Out Of Jail card so soon. Mama with her babies and Mia at her heel trotted into her sunroom. Hairy said, oh good, time for a wee lie down, and Kupa told his new flock to hold on to their perches. The pigs, three chickens and Mary’s cat were already bedded down in the pigsty so I shut all the big barn doors one after the other.
Just as John got the last vehicle under cover, and I slammed and latched the last barn door the rain began. Hard. By now the horizon was gone, the dark had come, the lightening and thunder were consecutive, like strobes with drums in a 70’s disco and directly overhead. I yelled at the Big Dog to get into the house as I raced for the porch, chased by lightening, the dog ran under the house and I smacked through the kitchen door followed by dark deafening thunder as the screen door slammed behind me.
We turned and dripped on the floor as we looked back out at the already raging storm. The air was thick with wind blown rain running horizontally. But we were OK. Everyone was where they were meant to be. All secure. It was just a storm. We could relax now. I reached down to pull at TonTon’s ear. Good job Dog. Dog was not there.
Where’s my dog? I said to John.
He look at the mat in the kitchen. He looked back outside. You are not going back out there, he said. It is too dangerous.
It’s not so bad. I said. I will be fast. I pulled on my sodden jacket again and stepped wet feet back into my green rubber boots.
You’ll be hit by lightening, he shouted, as I ran down the steps.
I’ve never been hit by lightening in my life, I laughed back. Already gone. Head down, eyes almost closed, gumboots filling with water. Fighting through the storm back to the barn.
TonTon was there where I had left him, with a Down command just inside a door, in a pen, surrounded by animals. He was so pleased to see me, he became the cork in a champagne bottle and beat me back to the house.
Good morning. The thunder and lightening disco rolled for hours in the night. All together so far we have had three inches of rain. And it is raining again right now. I have not been outside yet this morning but I don’t think we have sustained any damage, just a severe storm. I will let you know. Minty’s bottle is warming. Time to start work. It will be a wet day. Nice.
Have a lovely day yourself.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
93 responses to “Love at First Sight. Kupa, The Romantic Peacock !”
I was at Wrigley again yesterday, sat for over 2 hours as 2 bands of storms passed through. The temps dropped a good 10˚ and we left. When I got home, they kept breaking in about the severe storms and tornado threat in your neck of the woods. So glad, and relieved, that you’re all safe, Celi.
And His Royal Highness has a harem! His “girls” must’ve thought that was one heckuva welcome he arranged for them last night. 🙂
Do you think that they huddled together and held hands through the storm!! I wondered how you were doing at the game.! It seemed we had a close call but nothing really touched down for long the locals say.. c
What an action packed day you all had! Once again you came to the rescue. Kupa and his ladies really are stunning, I too was expecting the peahens to be plain, but they are not a bit of it.
They are so sweet aren’t they! Maybe when they get into the sun i can get a shot of their iridescent silk scarves. Their necks are an amazing green.. c
Oh good grief – I feel like I´ve just been to the cinema and seen an Indiana Jones movie! Stay safe and I´m so pleased that Kupa and his Laydeeeeeez are happy!
indiana jones was into minimal dialogue too!! c
Oh my gosh! My heart is racing after reading that. Glad that you are all okay. 🙂 And welcome to Kupa’s new ladies.
they are all peacefully wandering about their enclosure, i hate to see birds caged, even the chickens get out for a wander in the evening , so i look forward to releasing them. morning misky! c
Morning Celi! I’m so pleased to know that all the farmy is calm again. Such a scary moment for you all.
I think sometimes these things are more scary afterwards.. also as I am not tornado traumatised/trained it is even less scary.. c
What a gentleman the Duke of Kupa is, Celi, and now he has two handmaidens. You couldn’t choose, could you? Poor Ton Ton, just following orders — at least he had company. Tornadoes terrify me, but they rarely show up within miles of here.
You are absolutely right Sharyn. These two were huddled together in the corner of a cage at the market and i could not possibly leave one by herself.. ah well.. what a softie i am! c
I have to agree with Misky…I was reading as fast as I could to see how it turned out. The peacocks are beautiful…something to think about!
You would love them on your property June, they wander about and look after themselves really and i actually really like their strident calls! c
Drama nicely played on the page. Love the picture of the curtain of dust approaching. In a situation like this when the weather is inclement do the animals wait until they’re actually called or do they head to the barn as the first ones go, a;ready knowing that they need shelter?
The sheep are always waiting at the door, usually the cows need calling in and of course the chickens are in at the first hint of inclement weather.. c
Good grief! That’s a lot of excitement for one day. The peahens are gorgeous, I had no idea what they were going to look like. And what an extra gift for Kupa…two wives!
Goodness, my heart is still pounding from reading about your weather! Crazy!
Hope today is quiet. ~ April
Scary as, it definitely looks like a tornado to my eyes! Well I’m glad that you all got in safe and sound. Being struck by lightening is not fun, our van was once. I’ll return to your other news now that my own heart has settled a little: your peahens are gorgeous, I thought they were just drab whiteish-ness. So pretty! Kupa is going to be a very happy-chappy. 🙂
your van was struck by lightening! How was that?.. a loud bang? that must have been terrifying.. c
Well if it wasn’t our van, it was pretty jolly well next to it. You know when you see a bolt go to ground? And you feel it more than hear anything, I suppose electrifying would be the best description. I was outside of the van when it happened, husband, friend, small child were inside. All pretty shaken. Weird, scary, don’t wish to repeat. 😉
Oh, my goodness! I was reading along enjoying the pea fowl then suddenly I was terrified for you.
I’m so glad the huge storm missed you and yours so very glad!!!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Soooo excited about Kupa’s new family!!! Am curious though about how it will all work out…..if the wives will have equal status, or if one will become a favorite. Very interesting indeed!!!
Just knew you would go back out and get Ton Ton. 🙂 He is such a cool dog!!! And you are his hero!!! xo
What a great job you guys did gathering the animals up in that storm. I hope Kupa and his two gorgeous wives were not too put out by all the wind and rain.
They are just drifting about in the barn, quiet and happy.. how are your bees emily, i must pop over and see! c
Oh Celi, what scary weather! I am pleased you are all safe and sound. Hope there is no damage when you get outside. I have missed your posts while I was away and come back to Kupa, 2 wives richer – what a boy!
Have a super day.
🙂 Mandy
morning mandy, we are having a dark rainy day,which i am thrilled to bits about!! you have a lovely day too! c
I am sure Kupa is very happy!! That storm looks very scary!
Tui and Pania are beautiful. Missing the picture of the Llama:) We have NBC (NO BorderCollie) shows here to give the other Breeds a chance to win too! So very pleased your family and the farmy escaped the wrath of that Tempest. Keep warm and dry today, let it rain,let it rain. Laura
There was only one Llama at the show this time, actually there were lots of goats though! and yes laura you have it right.. let it RAIN!! c