In the country!

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