Us….
We are having a run of gorgeous days!
Yesterday Rich, Pica and I went on a hike. We came upon a new trail off Mt Cutten while out there, so the day extended out much longer than expected, but it was a wonderful find! We arrived home exhausted but happy, and all slept very well last night!
Six years ago when we first started to climb these trails there was very little signage and we would often get a little lost. Over the last few months the Tuesday Trampers Club has discovered them and this has what has happened, so wonderful!!!!
If you look closely below you can see Rich waving in the distance. Mt Cargill (a Dunedin landmark and another site of our hikes) is in the distance…
This is where Rich was standing….
A sculpture by Andrew Drummond dedicated to Len Lye on Mt Cutten
Len Lye (5 July 1901 – 15 May 1980) was born and grew up in New Zealand. Time living at Cape Campbell lighthouse and in Wellington gave him a lifetime interest in the patterns of waves and the power of nature. He left school at 13, because his family could not afford to send him to high school, and apart from some part-time art classes was self-educated as an artist. Len spent his adult life in London and New York. From the 1960s, he had increasing contacts with New Zealand artists and made return trips to the country in 1968 and 1977. Len Lye was a pioneer of experimental film and kinetic sculpture, and is now regarded as one of the 100 most innovative artists of the 20th century.
We stopped here for a break. Rich caught up on his hockey game ( and was thrilled by the outcome 🙂 ), took in the amazing views, had a snack, then headed over the back of Mt Cutten on the newly discovered trail…
On the way back stopping at the lake to rest and for Pica to take a swim, no matter how tired she is,when water presents itself in she goes…
and the trail back to Blueskin Road (our road) with the harbor in the distance. Rich and I always marvel how lucky we are to have this right at our backdoor.
Last weekend, Rich and I took a trip to Tapanui. I had found some Plymouth Barred Rock pullets! I had been looking for some for over a year to add to the flock. They, like the Orpington, are a heritage breed and dual purpose, (meat and eggs). It has taken this long to find a breeder I like. It was worth the 4 hour round trip, they are great! Ten friendly, healthy, happy little girls. I call them my little raptors as they look very dinosaur like at this age…
I kept them in the brooder pen for the first few days to adjust to their new surrounds, but they are out now free ranging with the other girls and so far so good. The pecking order is going without too much issue. I think because they are so young and there are 10 of them, the older girls are not picking on them too much. It helps too there is so much space, so no fighting over territory. Anyway I am thrilled to finally be at 20 hens, looking forward to when these girls start to lay in the spring.
Slowly but surely, this property is allowing us to eat more and more of our food produced from it..
These pears were the last off the tree, I made a pear cake which I added butterscotch and cream dressing to. A success! The kids and Rich devoured it and came back for seconds, I know I have nailed it when this happens 🙂
Speaking of the kids, they were at the beach the other day and Lemon sent me these, gorgeous!! 💕They head back to school tomorrow, this holiday went way too fast! They have a lot on this term and having a big old sleep in this morning in preparation 🙂
Rich has done an amazing job at clearing this area, the chooks willingly helping out too. We will sow seed here like we did in the front paddock and Rich is going to fence it all the way down to the bottom boundary. Using the electric fence here worked well, but it will be good, now we know how successful this area works for pigs, to make it permanent. I will be getting 2 more piglets in the spring.
The pasture in the front paddock ,(below photo), is nice and thick now, so looking to create the same in the above area.
Rich also completed the step! It is the little things like this that helps the day to day so much!!! It is very appreciated by me 💕
As we head into the last days of April and towards winter, we all bask in the sun as much as we can, and Vida is no exception. She always manages to find the best place to catch those rays 🙂
