Yesterday I said my last gulping goodbye when Senior Son dropped me off at the airport, with my lightened luggage, to collect my little zip zip rental car. 
Wellington is very easy to drive out of especially from the airport and even in the misty rain and low cloud. My little zip zip car and I paused in Palmerston North for lunch with an old friend before we raced through the hills.. 
up the island and across the Takapau Plains,
then dropped into my home territory; Hawkes Bay. The Bay. There is a singular very specific surge of old joy when you see the land of your birth. 
Then to find my own sister Gabrielle’s gorgeous farm nestled into the hills of home was just bliss to my battered traveller’s good bye heart. Here are Maggie May and Angus. 
Her place is high in the hills of Hawke’s Bay. We will see the actual Bay later today. 
She has stunning views that need no words. 
She is raising her own herd of Devons and Fresians. Dairy cow breeds. From the left is Texas, Holly, Betty Boop, Lady and Brie. As well as two very obedient dogs, she has very obedient calves. Everyone lined up quite nicely for a shot. 
The wee heifer on the right, Mabel, is in training to be the milk cow. A naughty Daisy in the making. 
Along with you, Gabrielle reads The Farmy weblog every day, which made our walk really interesting. To everything she would laugh and say I know, I read about that. I know, she would say. So we spent a lot of time catching up on her life. 
We have not seen each other for many years due to my travel and I said to her over home grown corned beef, salad from the garden and crisp roast potatoes out on her verandah overlooking the valley. I said to her but what if I had turned into a horrible person after all these years. She laughed again, looking so like my Mother my breath caught. 
But I do know you, she said. I read your words every morning. Every morning, first thing.
One thing she did say on our walk around her property was that she was very impressed with the amazing collection of people who make up the Fellowship of the Kitchens Garden Farmy commenters. Your readers are like your friends, she said. Have you met them, she wondered. No, I said. And we both paused to look out over our beloved hills. Amazing isn’t it.
This morning as I write in the sleeping house of my sister, the rising sun is picking out the gentle colours of her roses, pointing out the dryness in the hills, (and it is only December), and warming the air – preparing us for a magnificent Hawkes Bay day.
Good morning. Today you and I are going to visit Ocean beach, then drift netting a little group of friends we are going to drive out to a beach house in Mahia for the night. This is up the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand and is stunning. We will make the most of this amazing day.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
81 responses to “My Sister has a Farmy”
Sisters, like old friends don’t need catching up – like they have been there right along…continued safe and blissful travels.
J
I have only my phone, mostly, now, I will catch up as I can,
and it is always lovely to see you jess, I must pop over and see why you only have your phone! c
That looks like a beautiful farm 😉
It is divine up here, a cup of tea and the warmth of the hawkes bay sun is a perfect way to start the day.. c
What lovely countryside! It’s beautiful. And pretty cows too. Do have a wonderful day.
I will find some close-ups of sheep as i go along, but very few sheep are as tame as ours back on the farmy.. c
I am back home, and so it seems are you, my friend. Enjoy, and make mental notes that last a lifetime.
I am glad you are back home, you have had a tough few weeks, welcome back my friend.. c
Oooh so many cows and sheeps and bees and beautiful fields … and umm is that a mannequin in the vege garden? have a happy sunny day 🙂 Laura
yes it is, isn’t it terrifying!?.. c
For a moment I was terrified 🙂 that I might have to pull my feet out of my mouth … again. Laura
I had to look twice too…I noticed something wrong with her neck. Snow predicted for here Thursday evening. …but then warming back up for Christmas. Enjoy the warmth. Chilly and windy here.
I can simply feel your joy in returning to your birthplace, in seeing your sister, in photographing the land and animals. As difficult as it was to leave your children, you still manage to find the joy in every day. That is a gift and thank you for, each day, sharing your life with us.
You are very welcome audrey, you see more when you have the camera with you don’t you think?.. especially when the images have a destination too.. c
I agree 100 percent. I view the world in more detail with my camera. And it’s so wonderful.
Beautiful Captures – thanks for sharing:) Happy Tuesday!
happy Tuesday!! It is Wednesday here.. time is running ahead of us..c
Goodness those pictures are breathtaking! And do tell us that that is a scarecrow in the garden and not a real person! I scratched my head more than once at that picture. *L*
Yes that is a scarecrow! I looked twice too! c
I keep reopening your post just to have a giggle at that ghastly thing. *LOL*
Oh good, I thought ‘what a pretty dress’ and then ‘but what a hideously long neck’!
Me too! I kept thinking, “Is that your sister in the garden?” And, “What’s wrong with her?” Next time I will wear my glasses when visiting with you! 😉
a lovely visit of catching up and knowing you belong.
Morning Joss! c
What a gorgeous place. So much to see so many places to visit…
SO many places to visit.. once i get my little car i am off!!
It sounds as if it has been a lovely visit. Have you ever come across any of your former students?
I am visiting a few this morning, best i call them and warn them I am on my way.. c
The Bay is looking very dry, but still very beautiful. I hope you didn’t get drowned during lunch in PNth yesterday – not our best day, weather wise.
I’m really looking forward to seeing your photos from Mahia – the scene of several wonderful family holidays from years ago…
Yes the bach in Mahia.. such a legend.. c
Oh heavens! The mannequin in the garden is ghostly!
Thank you for sharing your travels with us. I feel like I can start my day now.
thats a bit late! hope your day is brilliant! c
Another breath-taking experience of your New Zealand, Celi. How absolutely thrilling for you to see your sister again. Your words are pure magic. You take us places we didn’t know we wanted to go. What a joy to read your post. With much affection V.
Morning Virginia, Thank you so much, it is so good to have you all along with me, it kind of focus’s my eyes.. c
Gosh it is dry up in the Hawkes Bay. You zoomed past our town (Kapiti Coast) – if you come back our way i hope you get a moment to stop for a cuppa at Ruth Pretty’s Te Horo – I think you will love her little kitchen shop, herb shop and garden – plus you can get a cuppa there too. http://www.ruthpretty.co.nz/kitchenshop.aspx/shop-info (I don’t work there just enjoy popping in)
Miserable, I am not coming back that way but i must pass on that venue to my boys, they are always looking for good cafes.. c
Your boys might be disappointed, it’s not a cafe as such just a stopping stop for a cuppa and choice of one or two cakes. The kitchen shop is the draw card.
Love Leanne