Jiggidy Jig. I am home. Back on the farmy. The sun has risen to a cloudy day. It looks like rain and warm. 42F (9C) . 
I can hear the calls of the red winged blackbird outside the window. This is the bird that signs the end of deep winters grip for me. I am very fond of the more common birds and the red-winged blackbird is very common indeed and when they migrate back to Central Illinois then I know that spring is not far behind.
I sat as patient as a hat on all the planes that carried me back to America folding up all my sad feelings and putting them back into their little mind boxes and stowing them away. Once you agree to love someone you also commit to the misery of missing them somewhere along the line of life. And for us expats who live far from our homes and families this sadness lives with us. Mine is kept in little box in my mind. Safe from harming.
Above is the little tent I slept in in the Australian bush. I spent both nights sleeping on the ground with no cover, just the fly screen, in this tiny woman sized tent, sleeping under the stars. Happy as a lark. But now the travel blog is closed for a while and the farm blog is open again.
I am back in farmer mode. The dogs have been dancing with skunks in my absence, the cupboards are bare both in the barn and the house, (though the greens in the glasshouse look fantastic) the hay is looking sparse and both barns need bringing up to date, so I will be busy today and in the weeks to come. But Aaron, my first summer worker, is hard on my heels arriving later this week so help is on the way and soon everything will be ship shape again and we will begin to hum straight into the approaching spring.
Good morning. Thank you to you all for tagging along on my Australasian holiday everything worked out so well, but now – To Work.
Much love
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
83 responses to “Home again, Home again …”
Welcome home, Celi! Better busy than bored, I suppose, and it does sound like you will be busy!
I can honestly tell you that i have never been bored in my life.. c
I’m the first, wow!! Long time listener, first time commenter
Love hearing about life on the farmy, and all your travels
Thanks fromAuckland NZ xx
Hi Someone in Auckland – I had a great time – thank you for commenting ! c
You are very brave. I’ve seen the spiders and snakes up close and I wouldn’t fancy sleeping in the Australian bush without an Aboriginal guide.
I had two experienced campers with me however you forgot to mention the scorpions – lucky for me i saw nothing scary at all.. though i slept like the proverbial log!! c
I’m not so bothered by scorpions, in comparison to funnel-web spiders, Taipans, Black Snakes and King Brown snakes. Having looked up where those snakes commonly occur, it would seem that Victoria is relatively safe. However, I felt more secure, camping on the Appalachian Trail, with bears and rattlers, than I did out hiking in the Australian bush 😉
Welcome home. I feel the same way as you. Love visiting family far away but always sad on the return trip home leaving behind loved ones until who knows when. It is bitter sweet but the memories are there, safely stored away. I leave Cape Town now, am writing this while in the plane boarding and Johannesburg tomorrow to head back to France.
We were away about the same time – travel well! c
I’m glad you’re back home safe and sound, and glad that you have busy days ahead to keep your mind occupied. xx
Yes, you know about this feeling Misky.. much love.. c
Welcome. It seemed a memorable trip.
I am so lucky to have family living in such beautiful places.. c
Australia is missing you already…. A lovely night under the bare sky, with huge and brilliant stars, the sound of the cicadas and other night music, that’s a lovely memory to wrap up and put away to take out sometimes and look at… I bet all the Farmy creatures breathed a sigh of relief: “Did you hear? She’s home, she smells of very far away, but our Miss C is back”
it is good to be back .. c
Sounds adventurous………
always!! c
Welcome back to almost-spring! I am sure the animals and the humans are pleased to have you back.
yes, booboo is glued to my leg – poor boy.. c
For me it’s the common birds that start to come out of the deep woods to fly about in the open that makes it clear the winter witch is getting sleepy. Suddenly this week it will be spring.
I hope your birds are coming out then! You have had a much harder winter than us. c
Welcome home. I love traveling with you, but I love you best on the farmy. Same thing in my life!
Morning Charlotte. Interestingly my reading numbers always drop when i am away – so it looks like many people just wait until i am home to read again – I think that is so cool.. c
I’m glad you’re home safely. Though I didn’t comment, I enjoyed your posts about your trip. I’m sure there will be more reflections (and maybe a few more photos?) to follow, but that get-back-in-the-routine impulse can be strong!
All farm photos from now on I think – though my FB page will have a few more camping shots coming.. c
And it looks like you have returned to the coming Spring!!! The forecast says we’ll have temperatures in the 60s and above all of March!!! So I’m thinking you’ll have fairly warm weather too! Sending hugs! xo
It does look like we are going to get some warm temps and i noticed this mornning that the grass is actually starting to show some growth – this bodes well for the cows!.. c
Yes, welcome home! You are a wonder… I suspect we have photos of the travels today because getting home you were simply too spent to get some of the farmy, but still you managed to write your blog in the most upbeat fashion. A reason I love your blog is it always is the cause of beginning my day with positive thoughts. So thank you, and have a great day being welcomed back by all your critters! ~ Mame 🙂
I got home late last night – in the dark – so no photos.. but lots today i hope. c
Welcome home!
Thank you Deb! c