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, Celi. I hope you begin sleeping soon. Bundle up and spend time outdoors — any light at all should help overcome jet lag.
yes you are right, and today i will be out there as much as i can, or at least until my hands start to hurt!! c
Lovely to have you back with the Farmy, Celi. I love the responses of the animals. All the best as you settle back in.
Welcome home Celi, I’m sure everyone was very happy for your return.
From the warm beaches of NZ to the winter in our northern areas must be a shock 😦 You do not seem to have gotten the snow Indy did and sadly us unless these photos were from the hours before it dumped on us.
Take it easy on the hands farming is a hard life to be sure just my little garden at times is enough though I long for chickens again but Coyotes are thick as thieves up this way the store is 3 miles away so I will buy my eggs and save a chickens life.
Love how your coop is coming along. Now if I could find some of the Turkey eggs from the 70 who call this place home it would be nice but not the same as knowing they were just laid.
My Grandparents always had farm animals in central NH I have the land and time but no back or hands so I will enjoy yours from 13 hours away.
Eunice
and you are very welcome to join us on the farmy journey, it is quiet this time of year but as you can imagine it makes us love the spring even more.. I hope we get some snow too soon.. c
🙂 Love farm life and the animals rock in your photos thanks for SHARING them with us
Eunice
Boy do I remember traveling back and through your state on my way west and east in the rig slept a few nights on the floors in the rest areas with truck so cold not enough heat coming out 😦 we used to truck for a company in Maple Plains MN brrr now that and Fargo were the coldest I have ever been
🙂
Eunice
Glad that you had a safe journey back to John and your farmy home. I hope that your New Zealand/family memories will keep you going for a long time!
christine
Welcome home. You just wait and see. The rest of the animals will, in their own subtle ways, let you know how very much you were missed.
Oh I’m glad you’re back on the farmy. I worried about the elderly gentleman in the blue overcoat missing you so much …you know how dogs are! And I had to laugh out loud at the photo of Daisy.
Welcome back C, and thanks for taking us with you to NZ. I am always amazed at how happy Penny is to see me, especially compared to the human members of my family.
Happy that you made it home again safe and sound. I’m sure all the critters were glad to see you!
I bet they are all secretly very pleased to have you back 🙂
Welcome back, C! Great progress on the Coup. Rest up 🙂 xx
Finally you are back on the Farmy, safe and sound….Welcome Back Home…or as the saying goes…Home is Where you Hang you Hat!! 🙂
So glad you’re home safe. Though I was traveling for the last part of your trip, it was so much fun to see your homeland and the beautiful vistas. Glad all is well on the farmy and hope you had a nice Christmas and that the new year is full of promise!
Welcome home!
So nice to have you home, miss c.