The Cook did alright!

I'm back!

At home the inlet pipe to the pump on the creek

was washed from its mooring 

in the first week of my absence.

This is not an uncommon occurrence

when it rains and the creek flow increases.

It took me about ten minutes, when I got home, 

 to wade into the creek,

relocate the inlet valve, weight it down,

prime the pump and turn it on.

But these are tasks way beyond The Cook's

desire to understand.  When I try to explain anything technical,

she gets this crazy glazed look in her eyes

and I know there is no point.

So she resorted to using buckets to water the garden

using the rainwater tanks.

There were a couple of casualties

but most things survived...even if they didn't flourish.

Well, the corn did OK.

Here is the 'before trip' photo.

It looks quite lush...those plants in the middle bed,
the one with the tee pee, are carrots
going happily to seed.

...same view before I went away.

I planted climbing bean seeds before I left,

 and they are up and aiming for the sky.

The chickens evaded the vegetable garden security

and dug up some seedlings.

When I arrived home,

 I was able to bandicoot some potatoes

and there was a huge Greyzini zucchini 

which was promptly dispatched to the soup pot

and the first zucchini slice of the season.

We gave away seven dozen eggs on the weekend.

Hortense has gone clucky and is sitting on seven eggs.

The Araucanas are just about fully grown

and I think I will soon be able

to pick the difference between the roosters and the hens.

Jenny's babies are mostly feathered and strong.

It was fabulous to see my little American family

and I was sad to leave them.

But it is good to be home too.