Chicken Chicken No More

Hello from the Adelaide Hills, and, officially, Highland Valley Farm/Sanctuary. Ben and I arrived at his folks’ place last night to lots of changes in the three years since we’ve last visited. Gone since our last visit are the frill-necked lizards and green tree frogs in the house—they’ve gone on to meet their maker. Suzanne (my mother-in-law) has also cut down a bit on her python repopulating and has just a few hatching along with a small goanna-hatching scheme. There are no joeys at present to carry around in a pouch, and I miss that, but the grown kangaroos do visit the farm during the day. There is some beautiful stained glass at the entrance to the kitchen, an impressive new vegetable garden, a heap of attractive chickens (more on that later), a cage of sugar gliders, two cockatoos, a Corrella (sp) and a Galla (sp), a giant marine fish tank in Ben’s old bedroom where we are staying, a fully solar-paneled roof, a new Prius for Ben to test-drive, and three cats, including Raquel’s visiting cat, E.T., in the house, so don’t fear that the menagerie is defunct.

Ben and I are about to head into Strathalbyn, the little village about fifteen miles from his parents house, to pick up dinner and do a bit of grocery shopping (and, with any luck, we’ll be finding a wireless internet shop to post this there.)

It’s cold in the house, but a pleasing sort of cold; those of you who know me well know that I never miss the hot summer weather in Kansas. They heat the place in the winter with an old wood stove in the kitchen and a fire in the living room and nothing more; brave, given that it can get quite cold here at night in the winter. Jeff and Suzanne did break down this summer (the summers here sound painfully hot), after twenty-five years in the country without it, and bought a small air conditioning unit for their bedroom. It’s a bit cold to swim, but Ben is hoping for a day or two of warmer weather for us to head to the coast for a while this week.

Suzanne has the run down on all the local farmers markets, so I’m excited to hit those, as well as a restaurant called Locavore that does, as the name suggests, all local meals. I have a bit of real work to do this week, as I prepare for the summer courses, but plan to spend most of my time wandering around outside, getting stuck in to some good books, and enjoying a part of the world that I’d never imagined I’d even visit, let alone for the third time.

Just in case you’re not convinced that this is a working farm, last night, over yummy homemade pesto, (Suzanne is kindly making Ben and I some of our favorite dishes), two fellas knocked on the door to let Jeff and Suzanne know that they would be out shooting rabbits for hire. Ben plans to do a bit of that this week. This morning as I was eating my morning muesli, Jeff was butchering the rabbits behind me.

One particular victory this first day on the farm: I took a short walk and came up to the house faced with a line of chickens. The rooster, in particular, was really eyeing me, and had been trying to corner me all morning. He’s also eyeing Ben as competition for his lady hens. Well, you’d be proud to know that I marched on through those chickens, head held high, filled with the confidence that comes from facing one’s mortal enemy, eye to eye.

We’ll see how the rest of the week goes.

One thing that I’ve already been reminded of is how generous Ben is to live in Kansas with my family and I. I know he misses his family and friends, and then there is the beautiful place to miss, too. I’m so grateful.

Also, I love tea. Why does the tea taste better here, though? Suzanne just told me that it is because it is made with rain water.

By the end of the week maybe I’ll be butchering rabbits. Not….

Love,
Robyn and Ben