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