Flo - RIP

There was a sad start to today.  I knew Flo had a sore tummy last night and I went out just after 7am to see how she was but alas she had passed away in the night.  I feel sorry for her being in her kennel by herself without being comforted.  She was 9 years old.  Below are some snaps of Flo and I out and about.

Lucy, me and Flo

Flo, Dash, Me and Lucy - girl power!

Flo running one way and the sheep the other!



Working together last spring

... and another

So, now I am down to one dog, just before docking.  Lucy moved onto a smaller block with dairy heifers to look after on a part-time basis.  I have inherited Pearl from Mal, who we have had ever since we moved to this block, making her about 8 years old.  Flo was our main yard dog. 

Request .... if anyone has an older dog that we suit me, we would love to hear from you.

Despite Flo being big and a bit bolshy, she will be sadly missed as she was a good kean dog (too  kean sometimes) and had a lovely nature.  Before coming to me, she lived a good life out the back of Tahora with a family now immigrated to Tasmania.  She would work for anyone, but probably more so in the last 6 months had become quite loyal.

May you rest in piece Flo.

Extra additions and a trip to Raglan

The rain has certainly limited the tasks that we are able to do.  The ground is feeling pretty water logged and we have created mud tracks in a few places but are lucky that we are not feeding out and creating more mud.

The week has revolved around necessary stock work, fencing and a bit of maintenance.

Mal headed off farm on Tuesday and left us to do the lambing beat.  His last words were "don't bring home any lambs".  It was my intention not too but that is not how things turned out.

After we had put Alice on the school bus, we headed to the other block to check things out, mainly from ridge tops with a pair of binnoculars.  Not far in along the track we had to lamb a ewe, unfortunately the lamb was dead.  Heading further along the track, over a small slip, we spied a ewe with a bearing but decided she could wait until our trip back.  Negotiating the few newborns on the track, we entered the pine trees.  Then sitting by the fence in the trees was a lone ewe lamb (Dora).  Then I parked up and went for a stroll to check on a ewe and happened to stumble across a new born lamb left on the track and no mum in sight (Deigo).  Whilst I headed out in one direction, I looked to the hillside and saw a ewe who I thought had triplets, and told Katja to look.  But alas I was mistaken, it was quads.  In her haste to depart the area, she left one behind, who I decided could come home with us (Kleiner Boots).  So with our hands ful, we headed back.

Katja, Dora, Kleiner Boots and Deigo by the pines

 On the way back we tried to catch the bearing, but with my dog not playing ball, we went on a goose hunt with no success.  In the meantime, I came across another ewe trying to lamb, but unfortunately not a good ending for either party with the lamb obviously being stuck for a while.  Managed to get it out but no-one survived (and I had to escape for the dry-reaching).  The next we returned to get what colostrum we could from the ewe (nearly a litre) which is now frozen in cubes.

The team at home - Pearl, Dora, Kleiner Boots, Katja and Deigo

Kleiner Boots is rather small, coming to the top of my redbands.  We should have weighed him but hopefully you get a glimpse of how small he was.  Unfortunately Dora's story is not so good either.  Managing to give her a feed, by mid-afternoon she had gone down hill (possibly no colostrum) and my evening had passed away.  In the meantime, Deigo had picked up and Kleiner Boots (who was a day or two old) was doing rather well.

On the weekend we decided to venture to Raglan, the cheesemaking for the day had to go on hold.
We collected some sausages and chips and headed to the beach for lunch.

Having lunch at the beach

Raglan certainly put on a nice day for us, with lots of sun and no wind.  As a bonus, there wasn't a lot of people around either.  With the tide going out there was plenty of wet sand to build a castle and moat.  I didn't think the water was that warm, but the kids thought is was ok for jumping waves.

Alice, Katja and Rachael with their castle

We then headed into town for the obligatory ice cream that you have to do at the seaside before heading off to Bridal Veil Falls.  This was my first visit and now I wonder why it has taken me so long to get there!  The 261 steps down to the bottom were well worth the walk, as we were rewarded by the 55 metre drop, with water cascading into a large pool at the bottom.

Bridal Veil Falls

It was enjoyable day of the farm and was nice to have such a fine day to do it in.

A week on and a new addition

Katja has been with us a week now.  Starting to get settled into routine, but the wet weather and the change round of jobs has been a bit disrupting.

Last Wednesday, on Alice's birthday, we had a new addition to the family.  Her name is Blueberry.  Last year we had Buttons and Strawberry, and since Strawberry Shortcake is one of her favourite, Alice is following tradition with names.

Blueberry and Katja, having just arrived home seeing Alice off the school bus.

Katja and Blueberry starting to get to know each other ... or just hungry!

Alice has started the walks and training programme with Blueberry already

Blueberry's story is that she is one of a twin and a ewe, yet to lamb, had stolen her from her mum.  With pet day looming, Blueberry made it to our ranks. 

Apart from that we have had some stock movement, mainly heifers.

Katja holding the gates open for the heifers to go through.

Yesterday between showers we managed to get this mob down the road to another block.  Before we did that we took a 'poo' sample and did a FEC test (faecal egg count) on the heifers.  We could only show pictures of eggs in the book, as there were none to look at down the microscope.  It was 90 days from their last drench, and as they mature, we would expect less likelihood of worms (parasites), but we will keep tabs on the heifers doing strategic FEC counts.

Today the cows got shifted and a new break set up, then it was onto fencing (subdividing a new grass paddock).

With the rain we have been having, the waterfalls are peaking.  Photos taken today by Katja, showed even more water going over and looking quite spectacular.

Te Herehere Falls

Small waterfall back of home block

New student arrives

On Monday 6th August, Alice and I headed to Auckland airport to pick up Katja.  After 15 minutes of waiting, we met her in the arrival area and then headed home.

Katja is from Technical University of Munich and will be with us for 2 months.

Yesterday was her first day out and about after a big catchup sleep.

At 11.00 am we had 34 dairy cows arrive, which will stay with us for 6 weeks.  So, we watched them being unloaded and then put them away in their paddock.

The cows getting off the truck.

Taking the cows down the lane

Alice going to get the cows ... they missed their open gate.







We then packed up and headed to the other block to catch up to Mal, who is subdividing our new grass paddock.  Whilst down there we put up an electric fence for the cows to go to and took another one down.  On the way we stopped at the waterfall.

Katja and the Te Herehere Falls

The rain came ... there wasn't enough room in the fireplace for us all, so some of us got wet!



Then it rained  on us, but there wasn't enough room in the fireplace for all!

The next goal, was to get Katja used to driving an ATV.  In one of our flat paddocks, we took Katja through the steps of starting and stopping the bike and then allowing her some space to practice driving.  Will continue to do this whilst here as safety is important.

Katja having her first ATV driving lesson in one of our few flat paddocks.

We all came home wet ... warm showers for all.  We had heavy rain overnight and tipped out 22 mls this morning.

Alice turns 5

The focus this last week has been Alice turning 5. 

Alice has been going to Te Akau school Wednesdays and Fridays since the beginning of term, along with 3 other girls starting at the same time. 

Friday a week ago, they had a combined mini-Olympics at Waingaro School.  Alice participated well and enjoyed her day. 

Alice representing Jamica at mini-Olympics

On 4th August, Alice had a party with her friends at the Naike Community Centre.  We were lucky with the weather and had a great day for everyone to play outside.

The birthday cake

The sack race... had to get to the end then pick up 'egg and spoon' and race back to start line.

Treasure Hunt in the sandpit ... still two treasures missing!

Today is Alice's birthday.  She gets to take some new things to school such as school bag, lunch box and drink bottle.  Her other treat for the day, is that she gets her first ride in the school bus.  She has to walk down our drive and wait for the school bus which arrives at 8.10am.