Another long break,
a lot has happened, not much nice though: my ducks have gone!
One morning they were attacked by something, and I found one of the bodies later on, and another one is in the bush somewhere. And the rest either have run away, or didn't make it either. Absolutely devastated! With a heavy heart I salvaged the one, the attacker had only eaten the neck. While handling it, I was choking, as I hadn't been able to caress them while they were alive, and I didn't realize just how fluffy they are!!
Now live traps for cats and a stoat trap are set, but so far no luck.
When I called the breeders they were of course less upset, and offered their support and more eggs for next spring!
And then the cursed flu came into our house. First it got Hubby and my daughter, and then me, and as the holidays are approaching my boy is coming down with it! What an evil virus this one is: totally debilitating, fevers, hacking coughs and tiredness. I keep telling myself, as we're surviving it without any medications, other than Paracetamol, our immune system is getting primed to withstand this one! You got to try and find that silver lining or else it would be just too depressing.
On the bright side, the rest of the animals are doing fine, hens are moulting, rabbits would like to breed (hehe, not yet girls) and both the goats have come into heat, so the next time Poppy, the bigger and gentler one of the two, will go for a date to a buck in Martinborough. And in 5 months time I will have to deal with goat babies and milk! Hopefully.
In a sense it's comforting preparing for the next spring, it'll mean life goes on and something to look forward to during winter. And on that note, my herbal seeds that I planted a week ago are starting to sprout, so by spring time I should have a whole bunch of big green stuff to put out. I got 20 medicinal and culinary ones, and they will go into an enclosed garden in the goat paddock, so that the goats can nibble on them through the fence. Close to the manure, and the goats can eat whatever they need, when they need it.
As for something to look forward to: I started another batch of Camemberts, two this time, so one will have a chance of aging properly!
TTFN,
ta ta for now.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dear Diary!
I'm sorry I've neglected you for so long, but have been BUSY.
Still am, but things are getting slowly under control again.
The weekend in town ended other than planned , but highly delight- and restful! Girl power rules!
And this weekend we finally moved into our new bedrooms. Which meant dealing with endless piles of fluffballs coming out of all the nooks and crannies. And shifting smaller and larger pieces of furniture. Not to mention trying to settle the kids into new routines, which I have to work out still. Also, last week I had Schlachtfest, 5 chickens and 4 bunnies ended in the freezer.
Dirty work, but yesterday we had another bunny roast for Sunday dinner, and it was scrumptious. Especially since the kids had declared they weren't going to eat bunny anymore! Well, that was what we were having for dinner. And as soon as it sat in front of them, all succulent and tasty, they couldn't stuff their faces fast enough!
This week I will work on getting order established, kind of that is, hey I'm still me, and then continue working on the goat places: finish the fence and get the roof started. Today I put the goats down by the chickens, we've got Old Man's beard and thistles there, not to mention the high grass, and they are having a high ole time.
Got two interesting phone calls from a couple of Rouen duck breeders, and my boys are now the last progeny of a show drake. Therefore "important" breeding stock. I better make sure nobody mistakenly gets them for dinner!
That's it for today, short and sweet, feeling absolutely exhausted, but in a good way.
Still am, but things are getting slowly under control again.
The weekend in town ended other than planned , but highly delight- and restful! Girl power rules!
And this weekend we finally moved into our new bedrooms. Which meant dealing with endless piles of fluffballs coming out of all the nooks and crannies. And shifting smaller and larger pieces of furniture. Not to mention trying to settle the kids into new routines, which I have to work out still. Also, last week I had Schlachtfest, 5 chickens and 4 bunnies ended in the freezer.
Dirty work, but yesterday we had another bunny roast for Sunday dinner, and it was scrumptious. Especially since the kids had declared they weren't going to eat bunny anymore! Well, that was what we were having for dinner. And as soon as it sat in front of them, all succulent and tasty, they couldn't stuff their faces fast enough!
This week I will work on getting order established, kind of that is, hey I'm still me, and then continue working on the goat places: finish the fence and get the roof started. Today I put the goats down by the chickens, we've got Old Man's beard and thistles there, not to mention the high grass, and they are having a high ole time.
Got two interesting phone calls from a couple of Rouen duck breeders, and my boys are now the last progeny of a show drake. Therefore "important" breeding stock. I better make sure nobody mistakenly gets them for dinner!
That's it for today, short and sweet, feeling absolutely exhausted, but in a good way.
Friday, March 4, 2011
What a shaky lil' isle I'm on!
This has been another shaky week: Wellington region had two little 4.5 and 4.7 shakes in the last few days. Nothing unusual, but my insomnia made me acutely aware of them happening: normally I sleep through anything less than a 5.6 quake!
So, as this week is winding down, kids have been fed, Friday drinkies are being drunk, I feel settled enough to have a little ponder about what's been happening.
The frequency of the recent quakes, Wellington and Christchurch, have been prying on my mind, subconsciously, depriving me of much needed sleep and making me walk in the day time like a zombie. Not to mention making me forget all the birthdays happening. But I apologized and congratulated everyone belatedly.
The routine required of taking care of the children, household and animals is driving the surreality of the situation home even more: life as they knew it has stopped down south, and here I'm keeping going same old same old!
And that means butchering more rabbits and chicken.
Blood shed!
And I am SOOOOO not in the mood for that.
Mind you, it's not my favourite past time at the best of times, but needs must....
So, what do I do? Plan a night in town, two actually, and I'm hoping to get thoroughly entertained and plastered for one of them. Also, a hair cut might be on the agenda, and some good ole goss with my best friend.
And as shallow as it reads, it does make me feel heaps better, in fact so good, I'm going to go and set up my drum kit again and bash the living day lights out of it. Just for fun!
I love to live in the country, all the pastoral beauty I see, but once in a while this drummer punk girl needs to get let out. So, even though I've done a heap of country living stuff, baking cakes, helping to clean the beach, making Camembert and Quark, I'm really looking forward to unadulterated town/music/debauchery time.
And if I get some great vids or pics I might even share those on my other blog. 'Cause it'll be of/with a new band, whose drummer and singer I know and appreciate immensely. But that'll be for the other blog.
So, for now, no pics of country pursuits.
I can see myself shiver in an......ti...........ci..................................................................pation!
So, as this week is winding down, kids have been fed, Friday drinkies are being drunk, I feel settled enough to have a little ponder about what's been happening.
The frequency of the recent quakes, Wellington and Christchurch, have been prying on my mind, subconsciously, depriving me of much needed sleep and making me walk in the day time like a zombie. Not to mention making me forget all the birthdays happening. But I apologized and congratulated everyone belatedly.
The routine required of taking care of the children, household and animals is driving the surreality of the situation home even more: life as they knew it has stopped down south, and here I'm keeping going same old same old!
And that means butchering more rabbits and chicken.
Blood shed!
And I am SOOOOO not in the mood for that.
Mind you, it's not my favourite past time at the best of times, but needs must....
So, what do I do? Plan a night in town, two actually, and I'm hoping to get thoroughly entertained and plastered for one of them. Also, a hair cut might be on the agenda, and some good ole goss with my best friend.
And as shallow as it reads, it does make me feel heaps better, in fact so good, I'm going to go and set up my drum kit again and bash the living day lights out of it. Just for fun!
I love to live in the country, all the pastoral beauty I see, but once in a while this drummer punk girl needs to get let out. So, even though I've done a heap of country living stuff, baking cakes, helping to clean the beach, making Camembert and Quark, I'm really looking forward to unadulterated town/music/debauchery time.
And if I get some great vids or pics I might even share those on my other blog. 'Cause it'll be of/with a new band, whose drummer and singer I know and appreciate immensely. But that'll be for the other blog.
So, for now, no pics of country pursuits.
I can see myself shiver in an......ti...........ci..................................................................pation!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Supper time!
It's been a stressful week: worrying about the people of Christchurch, my brother-in-law and his family and very good friends in particular and waiting to be able to talk to them.
Having the kids at home with colds, coming down with one myself and trying to maintain a sense of calm and control despite wanting to break down in tears any second of the day.
OH ("other half") getting ready for the start of the uni year AND his product launch! AND his birthday!
So, today, after a quiet and fruitful day the family is having a round of herbal teas: Peppermint for the boys and Chamomile variations for the girls! For some inexplicable reason I find that totally cute and worth treasuring.
And here's the cake, my version of Black Forest Gateau:
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mixed Feelings
In the last 12 hours I received three phone calls from my family checking we're alright after the earthquake.
My family operates on the principal that if we don't hear anything from you we assume you're doing fine! It's taken a major natural disaster for them to pick up the phone and call.
If the situation weren't soo damn scary, frightening and sad, it would be funny. But as it is, I feel sad, because in the case of a disaster hitting us, they wouldn't be able to get hold of us for ages. And would miss out on all the latest happenings in our lives.
I suppose writing here will give them a chance, but still, it's kind of second hand.
Despite the added pressure of being sick myself, I feel kind of relieved to have the kiddies at home because of colds. Feeling very clucky and wanting to keep them close. We've gone through emergency procedures, and checked on the medical emergency kit. So, doing what I can to be prepared.
And waiting for the Big One for Wellington.
My family operates on the principal that if we don't hear anything from you we assume you're doing fine! It's taken a major natural disaster for them to pick up the phone and call.
If the situation weren't soo damn scary, frightening and sad, it would be funny. But as it is, I feel sad, because in the case of a disaster hitting us, they wouldn't be able to get hold of us for ages. And would miss out on all the latest happenings in our lives.
I suppose writing here will give them a chance, but still, it's kind of second hand.
Despite the added pressure of being sick myself, I feel kind of relieved to have the kiddies at home because of colds. Feeling very clucky and wanting to keep them close. We've gone through emergency procedures, and checked on the medical emergency kit. So, doing what I can to be prepared.
And waiting for the Big One for Wellington.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Note to self:
watch the girls in 29 days.
And get the cages ready with clean dry hay.
All three had escaped, we think a feral cat might have pushed the run open, and spent I don't know how long in the open. And we have a resident wild rabbit, called Trevor/Trevorina.
BUT, eventually we caught them all and they're back under lock and key.
I don't really want to have babies from the wild, they don't put on as much meat, but I suppose I just will have to wait and see.
At least they are not in the wild anymore, I would feel absolutely atrocious contributing in this way to the rabbit plague.
Out for today, trying to cope with the helplessness following the latest big earthquake in Christchurch, fortunately all family and friends seem to fine for now.
And having sick kids at home, which is actually kind of a blessing: life goes on as far as they are concerned, food needs to be prepared and battles mediated. And boredom alleviated! Not to mention all the animals on the farm of course still want their share of food and attention.
As a friend said: "Surreal"!
All my best wishes for the people in Christchurch and their families.
And get the cages ready with clean dry hay.
All three had escaped, we think a feral cat might have pushed the run open, and spent I don't know how long in the open. And we have a resident wild rabbit, called Trevor/Trevorina.
BUT, eventually we caught them all and they're back under lock and key.
I don't really want to have babies from the wild, they don't put on as much meat, but I suppose I just will have to wait and see.
At least they are not in the wild anymore, I would feel absolutely atrocious contributing in this way to the rabbit plague.
Out for today, trying to cope with the helplessness following the latest big earthquake in Christchurch, fortunately all family and friends seem to fine for now.
And having sick kids at home, which is actually kind of a blessing: life goes on as far as they are concerned, food needs to be prepared and battles mediated. And boredom alleviated! Not to mention all the animals on the farm of course still want their share of food and attention.
As a friend said: "Surreal"!
All my best wishes for the people in Christchurch and their families.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Relief is....
...when the elbow brace arrives in the mail.
...when the kids are off to school, animals fed and a hot cuppa waiting.
...when an escapee rabbit is spotted AND caught.
Now the ultimate relief would be to walk into the kitchen and see it magically done.
A nightmare morning turning into a blissful evening.
Napier harbour view at night.
...when the kids are off to school, animals fed and a hot cuppa waiting.
...when an escapee rabbit is spotted AND caught.
Now the ultimate relief would be to walk into the kitchen and see it magically done.
A nightmare morning turning into a blissful evening.
Napier harbour view at night.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)