And here we are back on the farmy. After an uneventful and long, long couple of flights to Chicago from Auckland, I was whisked away from the madding crowds of airport people, with all its suspicion and controlled chaos and driven back to the howling prairies.
The wind has been blowing out of the North since I stepped out of the car last night back onto my own land. All through the night it howled, blowing away the promise of snow. 
John was thrilled to see me home and the animals were mostly ambivalent. TonTon, The Old Dog and all the sheep were happy to see me..
but 
the cows and the Shush Sisters just looked past me to John, to see is he had any food. 
Daisy is thinking about it. But that’s OK.
As soon as it stops blowing, and I have had a rest (sleep has eluded me since I arrived back in the country), I shall get out my pitchfork and start cleaning out the pens, counting the hay bales, checking the feed, walking the fields, taking over my share of the chores and making friends with the animals again. Daisy needs a good brush. 
Queenie has put on weight. Little fat cow.
Of course the cats are always up for a cuddle…
… Chickens – not so much. 
And here is the beginnings of The Coupe. The floor is down. 
They got much further ahead than I thought they would.
Yesterday had a high of 34, and blowing, cold but not too bad. Still, a far cry from the beaches and colour and bustle of New Zealand. In fact my bones are still carrying some of the warmth from the summer Down Under so the cold has not made me shiver yet. However I am glad to be home. Though home is a funny word. Maybe home is the place where you get to unpack your suitcase and put it away. We all have many homes in our hearts.
Good morning. It is 5.30 am., not dawn yet, though I am assured that the days have begun to get longer.
Today I shall walk the boundary with the well travelled Camera House and bring you all up to date. But rest assured that except for a couple of the older chickens, who succumbed to a cold spell, all the animals are in good health and excellent spirits.
There now. We are back to being a daily dawn farm weblog again. And so far – All is well.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
68 responses to “Home again, Home again, Jiggedy Jig.”
Welcome home. I’m sure everyone on the Farmy is far happier to have you home than you realise xx
morning darling, once I wake up and get back into it they will notice, though i have to say walking back into the barn was a warm fuzzy moment, i had forgotton how sweet it is with them all galloping in from the fields and into their inside pens to see what you have, such a wonderful combination of animals.. c
Early Morning with C…all is once again right with the world!
Glad you’re home – whichever place that is right now.
morning marie, it is great to be back into my good routine of life, seeing my children was wonderful, seeing my farmy family is wonderful too.. c
Well, Miss C, I have been missing you very much in the last wee while – I just haven’t had a moment to sit and read your words each day, so today I caught up on all your travels, just as you’ve arrived home.
What a whirlwhind of emotions you’ve been in! I feel a shadow of them myself, as though part of me came along with you – which, of course, I suppose it did. It was so wonderful to see your other home, it is a beautiful place. I feel a little warmer for having visited, both in my bones and in my heart (It seems like I have gone a bit faux-poetic today).
Welcome home to the Farmy.
Wonderful poetry carol anne, and welcome back too – I hope your life settles down a bit now as well! c
Welcome home! Gosh isn’t jet-lag something? I found some herbals at Vancouver health stores appropriately called “No Jet Lag” and you know what? They work. Have you got a Whole Foods near you? I’m still in E relishing every moment. We’re being very lazy these last few Christmas days and it feels so good to do…well…not much at all. Take some time to rest Celi. In my experience it takes about 1 day for each hour of time difference to get back to feeling in one’s own skin again. Much Christmas love to you. 🙂
I go from here to NZ absolutely seamlessly, but coming back this way is such a drag, i just don’t sleep for a few days, and there is no sun, a good blast of strong sunlight often helps! No whole foods close to here sadly but i shall keep it in mind next time i go to california.. I am thrilled that you are having a lovely relaxing christmas in the old country.. c
Welcome home Celi. It is always good to get back home. I hope you are able to get some sleep this evening – we don’t want to being overtired.
🙂 Mandy xo
morning Mandy, yes overtired babies start whining!!! I am sure if I work hard all day I will sleep tonight! at last.. c
Thank you for showing us around your beautiful NZ. I’m happy to be back on the wee farmy, but I feel bad that it’s so cold for your return. Is it just me, or is Lulu twice the size she was before we left?
actually i noticed that too, and fat.. that is a fat kitten! Hmm. we need to keep an eye on her.. I should check to see if she is a her too!. c
Welcome Home C! Glad you are back safe and sound! Can’t believe the kittens are so big already! Thanks for sharing your trip with us — loved seeing all the sights of New Zealand! The days are getting longer — thank heaven for that!
Yes, only two more really wintry months to go!! then crazy march! aren’ t we nuts, on a count down to spring already! c
Welcome home! So happy your trip was safe and that you are back with the animals…who surely missed you but maybe don’t want to show you exactly how much…
the shush sisters were friendlier this morning, they have grown too.. TALLER! weird! I shall take some shots for us today.. morning charlotte.. hope you had a fantastic christmas.. c
Hey Celi Welcome back, I was recently told that pigs never stop growing! I don’t know if it’s true but it came on good authority from a breeder of pigs so I must look into it a bit more.
Welcome home!
morning honey, have you started editing yet? I must pop over! c
Good morning Celi. Glad you’re safe and sound and still warm from your trip. We’re at 27F and feels about 18F with a layer of ice on everything!
Ice!.. cold fingers when you are milking I bet! c
Welcome home!
Thank you darling.. it is good to be back into the old routine.. c
Look at the size of Lulu … erh, have you seen Author? 🙂 🙂 I slept for two straight days on my return from NZ. What are you doing up so early? Pleased to have you back in my lunch time coffee slot again. Laura
Author is just as fat, and just as cuddly – it is all the milk (I hope).. everyone is present and accounted for.. which is a relief.. c
I’m sure they’re all happier to be back to normal, even you! I hope the weather in Illinois isn’t treating you as badly as it seems to be doing to everyone else. I am about to venture into the deluge to post a birthday card!
We are still above freezing ViV which is good for this time of year.. so I am not too shocked really! Any rain would be welcome though! morning.. c
It is nice to have you back on the Farmy. I know what you mean about jet lag being different depending on the direction. Coming to Turkey is a breeze compared to going to NY.
Glad to have you back and to see that the Farmy survived your absence. I never got jetlag going to my holiday destination. If it was going to hit me, it would be when I got home — and it didn’t matter whether I was returning home from Europe or Asia. Don’t overdo it the next couple days and you’ll get back in synch with the rest of us Illinoisans. 🙂
Welcome home!