January 2025, another adventure begins….

Happy New Year Everyone!

2025 here we come 😊

This was taken on Xmas Eve, we were out for a hike in the morning before Luca headed off to Lemon’s. So nice to have an updated family photo, it had been way too long! 🙂

Christmas came and went in a flash. Pica,(below), is staring at her sock, (the grey one). She did this for days patiently waiting for it to be “the day”. There was a bone inside that she LOVES, she knew it was in there, but also knew she was not allowed to touch it, what a good girl 🙂

The ponies however do not show any patience whatsoever! They discovered how to open the wash house door and access their food. Apparently they have learned to read somewhere along the way! Out of the 3 food bins in there, they found their one! They were half way through a full bin by the time Rich discovered them and I have found Sophie in the house twice now! They are barred from the deck ,(hence the chain), and they are not happy about it at all, very hard done by!!

Rich and Luca have decided to “buff up” 🙂 Rich found this set up for Luca for Xmas, it is pretty funny watching them. Luca has boxing gloves that he found in an op shop a couple of years ago, so the punching bag gets good use too!

Speaking of Luca he is doing really well at cooking a meal a week, he makes a mean Mac and Cheese…

Like Vida, Pica misses him when he is not around and asks to be put up on his bed for her nap especially if it is rainy outside, it is pretty cute 🙂

In between Xmas and New Years Rich, Pica and I went on a great hike,(Luca was at Lemon’s). We discovered a route we have not found before, off our usual track, it made for a wonderful few hours, warm and misty. We came home very happy and very content.♥

As we drove up the drive to go on the hike, we met 2 couples at our mailbox with their 9 kids! They were off one of the cruise ships in Port and doing some exploring The kids were desperate to see all the animals, tree house etc so I took them down and showed them around. The animals let lots of patting happen, eggs were collected, tree house was explored, trampoline was bounced on etc They were so excited and enthusiastic about it all! After the kids and parents gave me a hug goodbye, saying it made their day, I said to Rich,we could start tours, make a bit on the side 🙂

I don’t think this will happen, it is better for it to be like today, spontaneous and so full of joy. It is really nice to see our property through others eyes like this. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget just how incredibly lucky we are, this gave me a good reminder.

Luca spent New Years Eve out with friends and did not get home until 6pm on New Years Day, from the photos they all had lots of fun 🙂 Rich and I made it to midnight – just, enough to be able to wish happy new year to the kids via text before falling asleep, old fogeys that we are!

This time of the year is always so bountiful in the vege garden with very little to do but eat the produce and wander about basking in it all, occasionally pulling the odd weed . The hens are laying up a storm, and bees are making a good lot of honey, I’m hoping for another 12kg in February.

Note the bunting, Jen made this, (scenes of animals and plants from Canada), it has traveled with us, adds a touch of whimsy I think and a daily reminder of Jen ❤

Wilbur and Kevin seem to be getting bigger by the day, they are very content piggies. Occasionally, if we don’t put the electric fence on for a few weeks, they will realize and go underneath it turning up at the front door, looking for food of course. The other day I went out and Rich was sitting on the front door chair surrounded by the pigs, ponies and chickens – very Old MacDonald 🙂

All the sheep happy and healthy, they like it under here in the shade when it gets hot, and always watching me in case I have nuts with me. The mohawk look has gone now and the last lot of shedding is happening which makes them look scruffy but I am happy not to have to shear them 🙂 I gave Luca and Rich a lesson in sheep wrestling recently so I could check their feet. I can still surprisingly do it, (must be good old muscle memory because it had been quite a while!!!). However they are big sheep for me to flip around and I am pleased I don’t have to do it often!

Anyway we have left our little farm behind for a while. I am a little anxious about leaving them all, but have left them in safe hands.

Currently in Auckland!! This beautiful old rail station is our accommodation, opened in 1930, it was the third station to serve as the rail terminus for Auckland, and remained the sole station serving the CBD until its closure in July 2003, when Britomart became the new terminus.

It was converted into accommodation firstly for the University, and nowadays into hotel apartments. I have always loved this building, my grandfather had a service station just down the road, so the area is significant to our family. To be able to stay here is pretty special.

So this starts our next adventure, more in next post…xx