This month has disappeared in a puff of smoke! Christmas has snuck up on me! Our little travelling Xmas tree has been pulled out yet again; I am rather fond of it; have to say 🙂 Luca’s 17th birthday came and went. Seventeen for some reason seems so much older than sixteen… He will miss …

Here we are last day of November 2025! Summer is starting well in this part of the world. Plants that have never flowered before are suddenly coming to life! We embrace outdoor living rather feverishly I have to say, opening the house up fully feels wonderful! Meals and coffee on the deck reinforces the holiday …

Tweedledee and River like to hang with me when I am having early morning coffee up at the firepit, easing slowly into the day. They are the last ones left of my original flock; old for hens, at least 10, both of them healthy and happy. I know this could change any day, both are …

I took this from our front gate at 7am as I headed off to work recently. “Gratitude is the pause that notices the view” a very apt quote for this scene I thought 🙂 How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world. For however long it is, I am …

We are having some amazing days; the one above reached 26 degrees! The sky was so blue!! Definitely a hammock type of day! The vege garden is already flourishing, seems earlier this year, or maybe I am more organised than usual….. I am expecting a good asparagus crop this year, was thrilled when I saw …

My flower garden has really come into its own after years of building and nurturing, it is so pretty 🦋 The last of the gravel has been put in, resolving the mud situation. Feeling pretty happy about that! The girls have decided the vacant pig house is a great place to nest and are laying …

We celebrated Father’s Day with a brunch at Augustine’s on the Saturday. A farm cafe in Portobello – delicious! AUGUSTINES OF CENTRAL This was a Lemon recommendation and was a great one, we will be back! Thanks Lemon❤️ Then on the Sunday Luca made breakfast for everyone, (there was a house full), scrambled eggs and …

A major project is now done! Rich is in the process of building the 3 gates and Luca is staining (quite the job!!!). We are thrilled with the outcome and function; it has opened up another 1/2 acre of pasture for us. I am starting to look for breeders for piglets, thinking I will go …

Two celebrations this month!!! Number One Rich became a certified KIWI, yep, he now has his citizenship! We are so happy about this, it has been a long journey. Us all having Canadian and New Zealand passports now, makes life much easier when travelling, (no more dual line ups in airports!!!!!!), and of course the …

Tui Cottage Farm – with Port Chalmers and its harbour entrance in the background. This month there was an article written on our little village here at the bottom of the world. When we discovered it, we too thought it was special, seems others agree 🙂 ‘Nowhere I’d rather be’: Why people just don’t want …