Yesterday was my son’s wedding day. It was extraordinary. I have many pictures from that day but while they all percolate in the machine, I have a few shots here from the day I arrived. I was going to send you these yesterday morning but GOODNESS the day got away on me. I have been feeding the guests and the wedding party since I arrived here at 2pm on Friday. It is been very successful but intense, endless prep and present, so this morning (Sunday) I am taking the day off, the English contingent are in charge of food today. So I am quite literally sitting in bed, writing to you.
My feet hurt from that dancing last night. HURT. I threw my heels in the caterers bin as I left the venue and wore my daughters bright green jandals for my midnight walk from the barn back through the sprawling country garden. I followed the little solar lights through the old orchard, listening to the rumbles of laughter of my children behind me. We walked under an incredible star lit night with a sliver of a moon threaded in to the dark, dangling like the silver earring of a dancing girl. As we brushed through the lavender at the steps of the big old house our senses shone with the sharp cut of perfume. And came home.
Home is not a place. It is the scent of a New Zealand night floating through the sound of the people. My people. Where there is home there is joy albeit sitting next to the sharp taste of loss – but mostly joy.
My coffee has arrived. Black and strong. Delivered by my son’s childhood friend. They are all here and though they are all taller and hairier it is like we are all young again. I am The Mother again. The lazy mother this morning.
Here are your first images. 
I may break one of my rules and post again later today with a few shots of the wedding. I will load them shortly and see what we have. 
The Local Hotel.
Here is the house.
This afternoon I am going to walk the New Zealand contryside with Camera House. There are cows here.
Speaking of cows, the vet sent me a message and Queenie is not pregnant. So when I get home we will look for a new home for her. And being the farm y- sad news is often bracketed with the good stuff. Yesterday Lady Aster arrived. Jake took a picture for us with his cell phone. Here she is. 
Munching on hay after her long trip. Jake said she is much friendlier than Elsie, eating out of his hand. From here she looks bigger too. Do you think? Hard to tell from this distance!
For now I am going to stay in bed in the sunrise bedroom of this big country house and just be quiet for a while and listen to the the house and the sounds of the country floating in through my huge sash window. It is warm, sunny and cloudless. Beautiful.
Love your friend in the country
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
52 responses to “In the country!”
There’s nothing like a good wedding. Glad you got to dance 🙂
So lovely! I hope your weekend continues oerfectly….
Not having the best day here in Virginia, so thank you for this post full of joy and beauty. Mark my words, this will be your line of the year: “Home is not a place. It is the scent of a New Zealand night floating through the sound of the people.” GORGEOUS.
Enjoy being ‘home’ with your family Celi…..
The week and wedding sound wonderful! And so does a morning relaxing, writing to us, and having coffee delivered to you in bed. Just love it!!! Lady Aster looks lovely! Did she arrive pregnant, by any chance? Continuing relaxing, dancing, and having big fun!!! xoxoxo
Yes they are both pregnant..or there would be no milk!
How poignant the image of the farmy’s new cow following the New Zealand ones!
so many emotions, so much energy. Time now to catch your breath a bit and soak it all in.
sounds like a beautiful time at the wedding ~ can’t wait for all the pictures! and coffee in bed ~ way to go Celi! take advantage of it ~ I never hear you talk about such service at home!!! Maybe you should put that on the farmy application: must serve coffee in bed to Celi once a week! Can the farm survive without Queenie? Boo and Ton will be lonesome! Enjoy your family ~ and New Zealand!
i compared the sunny day in new zeland to the winter day on the farmy,i think i would try to stay a few days longer in the sunny place surrounded by your children
So, so much wonderful in this post…from the obvious delight you are experiencing, to the pictures of older buildings and country homes. Who in the world named Lady Aster? I love that name. While it is impossible to be anything but sad that Queenie must have a new home, it is understandable when we take the time as readers to remember that your purpose is not to house a farm full of pets, but to produce and sustain and grow.
Lady Astor popped into my head and I cold not get rid of it.. that just has to be her name.. c
Beautiful images. Congratulations to your family!
Oh, what lovely images of a warm and far-off place. Your home. Wonderful. And wonderful to have Lady Aster join your family. Love the photos!
Oh the beauty and old-world charm of the hotel and the house. Just lovely. The description of being Mother again. Love it! And sore feet from dancing. That’s a new one! Not to mention coffee in bed. Well, wait a minute. John does bring you coffee in bed, if I recall correctly. Yes! Only it’s around 4:30 a.m.
I’m sorry to hear about Queenie. It’s so hard to be attached to each. Maybe she’ll be happier surrounded by men, males, I should say. Some of us are, you know. And Lady Aster–how interesting she’s so much more friendly than Elsie. Gosh, they sure are individual! She does look bigger, pregnant, even. Now I’m going to have to look up exactly who Lady Astor was.
Lady Astor was an out spoken women. I do not agree with all ther views of course but she was outspoken for women way before it was fashionable to do so.. c
Lady Astor was the first woman to sit as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons in 1919! She served in Parliament as a representative of the Conservative Party until 1945.
yes she did.. must have been a strong woman
As we say in Ireland: A woman before her time!
At least the white board can be erased now. Time for a more relaxed fun with everyone, I hope. Lady Aster. I love the name and she is beautiful. I’m so sorry about Queenie.
What a lovely place for a wedding! I’m happy they’ve let you rest this morning. ha When we moved away from our son, I almost could not bear having him leave when he would come for a visit or leaving when we would go back home for a visit. Bitter-sweet those visits. Happy you got a few twirls in. Can’t wait to see the pictures! xoxo April