Long time no see

It has been a while since I have sat down to update the blog.  A guess a lot has been happening and have largely got side tracked with life.

In a nutshell what has happened ...

• we have had yet another drought!
• we have a new expansive deck, which is great.
• we acquired a tractor at the end of last year and it has been a lifesaver when it came to feeding out all that silage over summer/autumn.
• we have shorn and scanned our ewes.  Results a little disappointing in the younger stock but MA have done well.  Overall we are 100 lambs down, which considering the drought and ewe condition we are relatively pleased.
• we have a steady turnover of our own cattle now and knuckling down into a consistent pattern.
• our sheep yards a still a work in progress.
• plans for cattle yards next priority as current ones are less than satisfactory.
• Alice won the 5-6 yr Masterchef competition at school - which we are proud of.
• Alice completed her first year at Pony Club successfully and has the ribbons to prove it.
• I'm back playing hockey after a 24 year break.  Took the muscles a bit of adjustment but have now completed my first 5km run in about that time also.
• Mal is back at the gym and bulking up.

Will endeavour if time allows to expand and update on these events over the next week or two.  It is now school holidays and I have great intentions of organising myself while Alice is at hockey camp for 3 days.

Family day out

We are in the midst of a drought, but on the whole farmers are dealing with things.  As this is at least our 4th drought in 6 years, we are getting better and better at preparing ourselves.  The officials and researchers keep telling farmers that they need to be resilient and change their systems to fit the changing climatic conditions.  In part we have done that, but what is so different from last years drought is that it is a very small part of NZ in drought conditions, therefore there are options to sell and buy in feed that wasn't there last year.  Still, the drought has cost us as a business - we have had to buy in more feed - all up we have bought 120 bales of silage, dairy farmer has supplied 40 bales of silage, dairy heifers are going home 1 month early which means reduced income for us, and means our dairy farmer has to dry off and also forfeit income.  Some stock condition has suffered, but we have managed to at least hold things.

At times like this, it is important to get off farm and talk and do other things.  Our family day out yesterday was to partake in a horse trek, on the neighbours farm. The day turned out beautiful - clear blue sky, not a breath of wind (not what farmers are asking for!).  The three of us headed off on horse back with 21 others.  This was Alice's first ever horse-trek, Mal's first ride in 3 years, and my first time on a horse in a year.

Alice on Cosmo, and Amelia who lead Alice around.  Big thanks!

Clear blue skies and views north, west and south from the top.

Quick break by the creek with Mal and Alice in the middle

3 of us on horse back - me on PJ, Mal on Farts and Alice on Cosmo

Needless to say we all survived the adventure and no sore muscles to report!  The after function BBQ and refreshment was enjoyable too.  Now we need to find a nice quiet horse for us to ride and lead Alice on!  Any offers.