More Snow

Luckily lambing hasn't started yet, and hopefully the ewes will keep those babies in for a few more days as we have snow, snow and more snow and hail.  Did I mention wind and sub-zero temperatures as well....

Forecast is for a few days of this.   It is a winter wonderland out there, but I'm sure I will get very sick of it soon.  Some of the hail and snow has melted this afternoon, and now it is snowing again, so if it gets colder tonight, we are going to have some slippery surfaces out there tomorrow.   I always was useless at skating.

Himself came home for late breakfast and shower and did a snow streak - joined by the dogs and the cat.  Everyone was tearing around the lawn in the snow yelling, barking or laughing.   It was a huge bit of fun.   Photos were taken (of course) and through social media, were disseminated far and wide, much to the humiliation of himself's 21 year old daughter ("Dad you are so embarrassing").  

Now I'll have to post at least one photo of this shenanigans.....

Dogs' Life 2

Thought a close up shot was in order.  The flash going off didn't even rouse them!

Its a dogs' life

I like to get up early in the morning (with Himself who gets up at 5), and have that first cuppa while I check my emails, facebook and the online news.   The dogs get out of their bed, Himself gives them a biscuit and they spend a bit of time outside.   They then make their way  back to the office where they assume various positions (the pictured one is a favourite), until I am showered, dressed and ready for action.   Its a great routine!

And yes, seeing this photo makes me think I do need to clean up my desk a bit but I do know what is in each pile...

Competition for farming photos

These are my favourite photos of farming scenes. I need to submit 3 for a
competition (prizes include a case of wine and Redband gumboots). I can't
decide. Any suggestions?

Favourite Photos

Frankee, last year's pet lamb, with the dogs and chooks.

More Snow Photos

Kitten's introduction to snow on a Monday morning

Old Friends

I’m writing this with a bit of a hangover early on a Sunday morning.   Not sure why I am up so early on a Sunday, that 5 am alarm just goes off in my head somewhere and up I get.   It’s a nice time to catch up on the news and things before others emerge.    But, back to the reason for the hangover.   Bidi and Rick are staying with us.  I first met Bidi back in the early 80’s in Matangi, Waikato.   We got on well then and have ever since although some years go past at times when we don’t see each other.   That’s the best thing about old friends, they can turn up after a lengthy absence, and the friendship just turns up too.   Consistently.

So, as we caught up on friends and family news, and explored opinions on recent things, gave our version of events that have occurred, we had a wine, or two.   First the pinot gris, then the red....   Seemed like a good idea at the time, not so good this morning but nothing a bit of exercise and a good breakfast won’t cure.   The roast leg of lamb with roasted vegetables went down a treat with the wines, and the banoffee pie was a real winner.   Just as well I forgot about that bottle of desert wine in the fridge.....

Thieving Animals

Connie is a lovely chestnut and really loves carrots.   I often buy those 10kg bags of carrots - second - which usually cost about $7.   Great for the horses (and not bad for the juicer either).

Silly me left the feed bin open and Connie got in and ate what was nearly a full bag.   I didn't discover this until much later, when I noticed bits of carrot all over the ground.   She had long gone, but I think she was smiling for a long time.

Just as well she is chestnut (ie orange), or I think she would have turned orange anyway!

I've just replaced the carrots and will endeavour to be more careful next time.  She's not the only animal around here who is a good thief.   Millie, the poohound, regularly steals chocolate from our wwoofers, if they happen to leave any around and their door open.   One time she stole a flash packet of german chocolate biscuits which were obviously special.    The only way you discover the deed is to see the empty packet out on the lawn....   The german wwoofers left soon after, perhaps they thought I had eaten their biscuits!!!  Unfortunately I only discovered the packet after they had left.   Oh dear.

Christchurch Rebuild but first demolish

These are some incredible photos of Christchurch as the demolition continues in the central city.  https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2FRossBeckerNZ%2FChristchurchJuly7DiggersDemolitionInTheCBDRedZone&h=gAQBuqynz

The photographer, Ross, is involved in the project to capture the history as it happens.  Not only are there the photographic memories being captured, but people’s stories are also being collected in a number of ways.   Canterbury University is doing a great job of leading some of this.    One of the best things to come out of the earthquake is the levels of collaboration and bringing the communities together – whether it is physical communities or communities of people with the same interests.   There’s also a big group of people who are looking to rebuild the gardens, bringing back the Garden of the Garden City.    All very worthwhile projects and hopefully ones that will flourish. 

Tim Wilson - Their Faces Were Shining

I leapt at the chance to get a free new book to review from Booksellers (http://www.booksellers.co.nz/) through one of their Facebook promotions as part of the New Zealand Post Book Awards.   I opted for Tim Wilson “Their Faces Were Shining” although wouldn’t have minded any of the other fiction finalists either.     The book arrived in record time (the very next day) which is quite a feat for the rural post.  Perhaps because it was a finalist in an event sponsored by NZ Post made the difference.  

Anyway, I’d just finished another book (When God was a Rabbit which I do recommend reading) so got pretty much straight into it.   It was an easy but harrowing read.   Rather than repeat myself, I’ve copied my review (which is now on the facebook page for the NZ Post Awards) here.

 There’s a lot going on in this book so be prepared!   There are also a number of reasons why you should avoid this book.   Perhaps it should come with a medical warning on its cover.  

If you have been, even just a little bit, traumatised by the earthquakes in Canterbury my recommendation is NOT to read this book, especially if you are looking for any light relief.     Some parts of this book rub those raw wounds, for instance as those people left behind react to the “Rapture.”  Being a Cantab, I found it hard not to draw parallels at times to what is happening here even though the two events and aftermath of both are very different. 

If you are earthquake affected, depressed or feeling a bit under weather, be warned that this story is gloomy, bloody gloomy.  It won’t cheer you up, make you optimistic and especially won’t give you an escape to a better place.    If you didn’t enjoy The Road, don’t attempt this either.    There’s nothing that goes right for Hope.   What a terrible name to give to your main character as you force them into such dire situations and behaviour. 

I was initially a bit put off by all the God references but in the end it wasn’t the religious aspect that really got to me.  It was the sheer volume of things going wrong in the lives of the people in this book, and the way they reacted to them.  It got to the point where it was perhaps just a little unbelievable.

While it is well written, and the characters developed well, I think Tim Wilson has been too caught up in the news and negative side of life.  I think I might list my copy on Trade Me and see if I can get something positive as a result of being given this book. 

Frosty Sunday Morning

A beautiful frost in the vicinity of 6 degrees. Very cold anyway but
beautiful.

Dog Doings

The Stalker

A Battle Within

I'm having a 'wee' battle with myself.   I'm not quite sure where this is going, but there is an internal dilemma going on within my aging body.   On the one hand, I want to continue my professional work, and am doing this, although part time.   Its interesting, its stimulating, and it pays well.    I enjoy the contact with people and while the work is not particularly taxing intellectually, it is on an emotional level, especially as I deal with people who have lost so much from the earthquake, and are feeling so miserable. 

Then, on the other hand, there is the work to do here on the farm.  This involves the running of the house, the garden, the animals and the area considered the "farmer's wife's domain."   There is a lot to do here at the "homestead."  I have unlimited choices of doing gardening, finishing my landscaping jobs, start a new mosaic project, cooking with the fabulous provisions I have, and then there is the house.  No, not just housework (though god only knows that is continual), but there is the opportunity to make improvements (although some rooms have to be on hold until EQC come to visit and tell us how much insurance we will get to fix all those cracks).   Then there are some adventures to have with my cheese making kit purchased some time back but still virgin.   And the pasta machine?    Another adventure still to have.

Trouble is, it becomes a tad boring.  One issue of course is that it is unpaid and largely unrecognised work.  Maybe this is the main problem although the personal satisfaction can be immense.  I think the issue is  more about the lack of people contact.

So, if I go back to doing more in the professional area, this means staying away during the week in Christchurch as its just too far to commute.  I would miss everything about the farm and the life here, and always want to be back here.  Trouble is, when I am here, I seem to want something else.

So, the voluntary work and the newly enrolled studies could help to keep me stimulated here at home.   Voluntary work also takes me to other places including Wellington next weekend.    I've got a bit of work to do before the board meeting, and made a good go of it a couple of days ago, making excellent progress, even if I say so myself.

I think what I really miss is the good old girlfriend contact.   The meeting in a lovely winebar having a good bitch and laugh about work and life and the various other halves.    Sounds shallow, and pathetic really, but I think a bit of girl time is needed.  

In the meantime, its take a deep breath, dress up warmly to get out to do those outside jobs in a severe frost, get dinner sorted in the slowcooker, and then head to Christchurch for an afternoon of work.  

Maybe I should just join the "count your blessings" facebook group or something.  After all, what have I really got to moan about?

Autumn Action

Just a leaf making a break for it....

Farewell Carly and Dan

This  morning we said goodbye (for now) to Carly and Dan who have stayed with us for the past two weeks.   They've been great helpers (http://www.helpx.net/), as I've been working in Christchurch and been away quite a few nights. Carly has stepped in and fed everyone, walked the dogs, done the washing and generally kept the place in some kind of tidiness (as much as you can when there are two dogs, three cats and three blokes sharing the place).    Dan got stuck in on the farm, and did some much needed leaf raking as well.

It is disconcerting to send new friends off to Christchurch warning them to be careful.  Their next helpx job is in Lyttelton.  I am concerned about them being there and have told them to suss the place out for rocks and potential issues if there are more shakes (which there will be).    I can't believe I am saying that, I love Lyttelton and indeed, even owned property there at one time (which was worth a lot of money once, but probably pretty much worthless now, given the threat of falling rocks in that particular area).

Carly said her mother would be freaking out if she knew where she was going next.   I must admit, Im worried too!  

Himself went to Christchurch this morning, and without me even saying, packed a little bag of clothes "in case he got stuck in Christchurch".   His suit wouldn't have been the thing for him to wear if he does indeed get stuck due to more earthquakes.   He packed his work boots and did talk about taking his riding helmet with him, but not sure that actually made it into the car.    I put some water in the car for him as well.  

What sort of normal is it when we send people off with emergency supplies and worry about people staying in beautiful places like Lyttelton?

Earthquakes

Yesterday was a horrid day.   The weather was fairly perfect for this time of the year and everything looked so peaceful but under the ground, trouble lurked.

The first one came through as I was sitting at the kitchen table, and while it was disconcerting, it was only gentle rolling for a short time.   Life proceeded, although I was concerned about my friends and colleagues in Christchurch.   Normally the TV doesn't go on during the day unless Himself comes home but today I thought I would turn it on and see what was happening on the news.   It was quite frustrating actually, as they had news items now and then, and in the meantime you had to watch Oprah or some other daytime rubbish.    Twitter, which I am fairly  new to, came into its own and there was useful infomation being tweeted all over the place.    Then on the TV they were interviewing Aaron Gilmore, when suddenly you could hear the panic in his voice as he said there was another aftershock.   About three seconds later it reached me, and the old house started to shake, creak, groan and crack.   I could hear something falling up the front of the house.   I ran into the office, and could see the beams in the ceiling moving - they seemed to be going different ways to the rest of the house so I ran outside onto the lawn.   Just after I reached the lawn, it stopped and it took another few second for the old house to shudder and settle back into the spot its been in for the last 97 years.

The dogs were out with our wwoofers on the farm so I wasn't too worried about them.   Not sure where the cats were.   My main concern was what had happened in Christchurch.   This one felt worse than the September one, or just as bad but probably didn't go on as long.   Our power didn't falter, so that was a blessing.   Himself and his work were all fine, everyone a bit shaken  but no damage.   

Carly came home with the dogs, and said she had been in the truck with the dogs in the back.  She had thought initially it was the dogs jumping around but when she turned to look at them as the truck was shaking, they were both lying down (which is very unusual).    She then proceeded to go for her walk with them, but couldn't work out why they didn't want to go anywhere.  She even resorted to throwing a few sticks which Bella half heartedly chased but Milly never left her side.  She gave up and came home.   

In the last earthquakes, the dogs have been quite traumatised, and never left our side for some time.   We had ended up those nights with dogs and cats and people on the bed - cosy but not exactly comfortable.    The dogs came inside and again, just wanted to stay beside  me.  Bella got under the desk and was panting, quite visibly distressed for some time.    They eventually calmed down, although Bella was very quiet all night and did sleep on our bed for a short time after the 3 am aftershock.

This morning they seem a lot happier.   Shame the people of Christchurch will not find it so easy to bounce back.   I can't blame anyone for wanting to move out of the place.   All that liquifaction is just heartbreaking.  People with no power, no water, no sewerage again.   While we leapt into action as part of the farmy army last time, I'm not sure that I have it in me to go and help again this time.   Maybe by the weekend, things might be different.   It is all just so much for people to bear.

Wwoofers

For some time now, we have had wwoofers on the farm.   Our farm isn't organic, wwoofers is an acronym for Willing Workers on Organic Farms.   We've changed that to willing workers on our farm.
We've met some delightful people through this scheme.   The deal is that they work for at least 4-5 hours, six days per week for their food and lodgings.   We find, however, that our wwoofers work most days all day.  We reward them well by feeding them fabulous meals, give them wine and beer,  (and so far, there has been no abuse of that, no drunkenness or drinking issues at all), unlimited access to internet, TV (when Himself hasn't got control of the remote), and use of a vehicle.   They work in the garden, they work in the house, but they far prefer working on the farm.   Some of them have attempting to shear a sheep, some of them have helped with tailing, fencing, weed control, dipping, drenching, shearing, feeding, moving stock, and whatever jobs come up.  

I wish I had of been able to use a scheme like this when I was travelling.   It would have suited me nicely.   Most of the travellers that come here are young but we have had a couple in their 50s and then a few in their 30s.   Recently we seem to have had a lot of British, including Joe from Ireland who stayed for three months.   We also have had a lot of french and german people.   Other nationalities include American, Canadians (great workers), Danish, Spanish, Austrian, Korean and Swiss.  No Italians so far....

They are supposed to have a work permit as working in return for lodgings is considered working by the NZ Immigration Department.    We have registered on the website http://www.helpx.net/ - its free although you can pay extra to be a premium helper.  Well worth having a look at.

Time on the farm is limited

The earthquake has changed so many people's lives.  Now it has changed mine.   I think it is in a positive way, but time will tell.   I am now doing some contract communications and community engagement work for a government department, and that takes me to Christchurch two or three days a week.    It looks like it might be 3-4 days per week from now on.   There is so much to do to rebuild the lovely city.  

I'm not going to write about my work, except to say there are a lot of politics, a lot of meetings, and a lot of work to do.   I am privileged to be able to talk to those who have been so badly affected by the quake, and every story is different.    There is so much uncertainty.

It has meant quite a change on the farm however.    I don't have the time to do all the little jobs that I should be doing.   I did have time to bury one of my chooks who died.   We are not sure what caused her death, but we all looked very suspiciously at the very, very large egg which was produced on the morning before her death.    We think it might be responsible and yes, it was a double yoker (and made a nice omlette).   I  bured her under the compost heap.   RIP Chook # 5!

The garden is growing into a jungle, thanks to the wonderful warm weather we have been having.   Even this weekend, Queens Birthday, has been fabulously warm and the green mustard seed plants and lupins I have put into my vege garden for the winter months look like they are going to go to seed!   Not sure if this is the plan, will this mean I will have little mustard plants and lupins forever in the garden?    I am intending to dig the green stuff into the soil towards the end of the garden, but if it keeps growing at this rate, Im going to need a chainsaw to chop it down.

The horses haven't been ridden for ages, and are looking particularly fluffy and happy with themselves.   Cole, always inquisitive, managed to lean over the  freshly stained timber fence today, and now looks something like a zebra.  Im not sure how long it will take for the paint to come out of his coat but it stands out well from the rest of his whiteness.  Must take a photo.....

Naming this Blog

Finding a name for the blog was, just like when you get a new animal, difficult.  It took a while, a number of adaptions, and a pile of rejects.   I remember when Bella arrived, we wanted to change her name and my friend Christine, who was staying, must have made 1001 suggestions.  Finally I had a great idea; Stella!   That was it, or was it…. no not quite, then Bella was suggested and that stuck.  Just a month or so later, I reade about the most popular dog names and there it was again, right at the top.  Oh well, it might not be original but Bella suits her as she is very very beautiful….



Bella (retriever poodle cross)



So, the name of this blog.  Initially I was going to call it Cupboard Love.  I still like that idea but unfortunately someone else has the name for their blog.   Unfortunately again, they haven't written anything on their blog so the name is wasted!    So I came up with Plan B.    Cupboard love appealed to me mainly for its meaning and history.  I was pondering what to call the blog as I went out to feed the outside animals.   The horses, Connie and Cole, were already lined up in the corner of their paddock closest to the house and as soon as I appeared, I was greeted with neighing and they really looked pleased to see me.   “Cupboard love” I said to Connie.    “That’s it” I thought to myself, or maybe I said that out loud as well.   My first memory of anyone using that phrase was my mother, who used to say it to the animals around us when I was a child.   She would say it laughingly, and teasing the animals.  I don’t remember her explaining it, but she always used it when animals would display excessive affection – which always happened at feedtime!  As I spend a lot of time feeding animals (two and four legged), I thought that would be a great name.  Not to be so we have gone for the simple and plain, Jane on the Farm.   Says it all really.

Probably the best name really, as I cannot bring myself to love my cupboards at all.  They are a mess.  A disorganised mess.   Its made even worse by the fact that in the corner of one of them is a big, damp hole that looks like it could extend through to the neighbouring shower.   I will take a photo of them to show you  how horrid they are.   New cupboards are not going to be forthcoming anytime soon.  The  best thing about my cupboards is there are rather a lot of them.   Perhaps that is also the worst thing, given they soon degenerate into such messes, despite best endeavours of many to tidy and organise.

So that's the history of the naming of this blog.   Trivial really but given Im just about to head off to Wellington for a couple of days, that's it for now!

Welcome to my blog

Many of you may have enjoyed my travel blog (http://www.jtinuk.com/) and it has been a while since the last posting there.   It's time for a new blog.   Here we go, Jane on the Farm.    It won't be about farming (although that will get mentioned), but it will be about animals, food (growing, preparing and eating), and it will attempt to see the lighter side of life (you may need to remind me of that should I stray off that objective).
Hope you enjoy it.