Yesterday, after milking the cow and feeding the goats and the cows and the big pigs and the little pigs and the chickens of all descriptions, John and I loaded two dog crates into The Matriarchs jeep and went to the Bantam Swap. Do you remember last years Bantam Swap we brought home Godot and Carlos Garcia and the year before we brought home BooBoo and the year before that it was The Duke of Kupa.
Well this year was just as successful.
I found Mr and Mrs Flower.
A mature piebald peacock and his Mrs – who is shy and hid her head under him.
He has an extraordinary tail and is old enough to be fertile and finally we should be able to get some eggs to hatch. Fingers crossed. One day it will be me selling at the Bantam Swap.
Just imagine that sauntering through the garden. (For now though he is in the Palace with the girls until he knows where his home is).
When I was very, very small I used to play this game with my mother. I would pick a flower from the garden and go and knock on the front door. My mother would come to the door drying her hands on her apron and say something like goodness me, a visitor. Then I would say: I am Mrs Flower, and I have dropped in for a cup of tea and I would hand her the flower (Everyone brought something when they dropped in to have a cup of tea – never go visiting with one arm as long as the other, My Pa would say.) My mother always acted very surprised and pleased – Oh a flower, how lovely. And holding the door open for me she would invite me in. Of course I was too young to remember much except coming in through the front door which no-one ever did and the sea behind me. But my mother gave me back this memory. Mum used to tell me this story about when I was little. She said I played that game for a whole summer until it was time for me to start school. (In New Zealand we started school on the day we turned five). So for years she would smile about me being Mrs Flower with a flower.
The peahens are pleased to have Mr and Mrs Flower come to stay. I have asked Godot to stay out of the Peacock Palace for a wee while until I am sure they will not fight. He is the juvenile and has to step down for his elder. Best this is settled through chicken wire. So far they sit on either side of the divide and call out to each other. Loudly. Now I know why Godot was so quiet. There was only one of him. And he will not wander into the garden with all the others in the Peacock Palace in the top story of the barn. So the emerging cabbages and lettuce and broccoli should be safe.
Lady Astor and Naomi had a lovely day out in the sun. Baby has been observed having lots of good drinks. Though Lady A keeps putting her baby to bed then wandering off and forgetting where she is. Never mind. I have her in my sights at all times. Potter is growing very fast. Elsie still gives me the evil eye when I go through to open or shut her gates. She is never far from her baby.
Freya and Hazel had a walkabout with me on their way from the wee field to the barn for bed. Munching and dancing all the way. They are so funny.
Poppy and Sheila came out into their field yesterday evening and were chewing on grass from the moment the gate was opened. These trips are always short so there is only eating going on, no digging. Then they come in for their dinner.
Tane and Tima have been behaving differently. I have a feeling she may be coming into heat. There are no real signs of when a Kune is in heat. Not like the big pigs. But something is going on. I am watching carefully.
I hope you have a lovely day. I will.
Love your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
61 responses to “Mr and Mrs Flower.”
What a wonderful looking peacock, his tail is magnificent. I can’t wait to see it open in all it’s glory! What a lovely memory from your childhood. Have a lovely day x
and I loved your tale of giving flowers to your Mom…I can just imagine you as a wee thing knocking on the door…Hurray for Mom’s who have a good sense of humour
What a handsome couple! Godot has a big brother to look up to and emulate. Exciting news about Tima and Tane, too.
Nice! 😀 And lovely story. Welcome Mr and Mrs Flower. For a second I though you might have come home with one…or all…of those Alsatian puppies. Oh that would have been something…lol. And, very probably what I would have done had I been there. (Hanging my head in shame now.) I forgot about Carlos Garcia. Is he still on the farmy?
No he was killed by a hawk very soon after arriving this time last year, he was much smaller .. c
I did too, squealed thinking we had a new puppy or two!
Thank you for linking back to the pictures of Baby Boo – I had not seen that post before. What a precious boy.
(And the snap of the llama and the man with the equally disdainful expressions made me laugh aloud!)
I am thrilled!
What a great personal story to attach to the naming of Mr. and Mrs. Flower. That is a memory to always hold within your heart.
Great looking peacocks , welcome to the farmy.
Lovely, lovely peafowl.
I don’t remember reading the reason you have peafowl on the farmy and I can’t seem to find a lot of information regarding the purpose they would have on a farm. Obviously, they add a lot of color to a farm, but what else to they add. I’m still holding on to my dream of one day owning property in the country and am always interested in learning more.
I have them because they are beautiful. And I think that beauty is as important as food. PLus I intend to sell the peachicks.
Oh Ms. C. your pen fowl are so beautiful! How ever did you get your sweet John to agree to pea fowl? Aren’t they so very loud?
Well we have had them for a few years now and I can say that the guineas are MUCH louder.. but now that we have two males the volume may go up.. c
They certainly are a beautiful addition to the farmy.
Oh, the Bantam Swap sounds like a lot of fun. We have a similar swaps and market days in the local area. I dare not go unless I have a particular need or want in mind. And I must always take FD with me as he can talk me out of just about anything. I’m usually pretty disciplined but there are times when I have no control at all. Mr. and Mrs. Flower are gorgeous. I can’t imagine carrying around a tail like Mr. Flower’s. Gad’s… I’d get that tangled up in something!
Oh C.! The Flowers are so beautiful! That must have been so fun driving home and looking down at that magnificent tail between you and John! 🙂 I loved the shot of Ton lying in the creek…is he really just lying there to cool off or having fun or both?
What a lovely time I had visiting your farm today. Just a quick hello then off to do my work too. Lovely new family members.
Miss C. I have two requests–as you yourself said, you must update the CAST OF CHARACTERS. Some of us really do love to remember those who have passed away or are no longer with you.
And second, please put a mike in with the fowl so we can hear Mr. Flowers and Godot conversing. (Screeching?)
I couldn’t find the link to baby Boo and the llama that Quinn refers to.
Last sentence of first paragraph this morning
Alison Brackenbury I’m an English poet and broadcaster, descended from a long line of shepherds and gamekeepers. A friend recommended your excellent blog – I look forward very much to your daily farm bulletins! (My own blog, with poems, links to BBC broadcasts, books,etc, has been herded into http://www.alisonbrackenbury.co.uk ) Good luck with the youngest calf!
Lovely to meet Mr and Mrs Flower! I could not go to a swap… I would want EVERYTHING…
Your Mrs Flower memory made me smile, a gentle smile, it’s good to remember ourselves.
True.. we are still in there somewhere.. c