Well the weeks as usual are flying past. I have been busier than I expected as the last few days I have been driving Jonathan out to the farm every day to assist him with feeding and checking on all the animals. Amy unexpectedly has landed up in hospital and I am glad I have been able to help. yesterday was a bit of a challenge as the vet/dentist came out and had to check up on and gridn donkey teeth. Quite a challenge - she used a power drill with a long stick piece with a gridner on the end and with assistacne from her helper and joanthan the donkeys were mostly good with it. One seemed to have a sixth sense about vets and didnt want to get his halter on so that we could lead him to the vet but we got there in the end. Amy was directing operations from her hospital bed ( no decent diagnosis as to source yet but a major gastric/bowel infection which was causing huge pain and vomiting etc. She is on the mend hopefully). Trying to make her rest will be difficult.
Haymaking was very successful this year - 351 bales and they sold 90 straight from the paddock which saved at least one trip and stacking. Kids were helpful on the second day - picking up all the loose bits which can be onsold in bags for people with rabits or guinea pigs. Jonathan estimates he lifted and stacked 2 ton of hay bales - helpers did the rest. I rolled a few downhill to an easier pick up point but didnt volunteer for the lifting.
Weather is very windy and wet with gales and squalls this week but last week was great and so I had the chance to take the kids out to the beach at Himatangi and they got to try out their Boogie boards - hard to get them home again - i thought four hours in the water was enough. Nana was tired. hopefully it will be sunny again next week and we can go back for a repeat performance.
The weekend before I had taken Callum with me on a road trip to Tauranga to see my cousin Linda and visit a textile art exhibition. Callum had a great time in the surf - very hot and gorgeous weather for being at the beach. I loved catching up with Linda - she is one very lovely lady and we were made most welcome. It was also a pleasure to have one on one time with Callum. we stayed in Kawerau on the way back - beside the Tarawera River - lots of memories of long ago canoeing trips to the river!
Then Robyn came down for a few dog shows in the local area and stayed here with two silkies - Tui was very good - the silkies gradually settled and stopped being bossy. Nice to have a visitor. She borrowed my campervan to stay overnight at the dog show venue. There were lots of people there with very fancy motorhomes and dog trailers - huge change from the old days when we used to go.
I also went to a Sewing day with about 10 other ladies - fairly quiet - it was about getting on with your own project rather than just a gossip session - nice people. They made me most welcome. I look forward to going again. We used a local community centre and there was lots of space and plenty of tables to put work on.
Christmas and New Year seem a very long time ago. It was a quiet Christmas but very pleasant. Amy's parents were up and so we did have a traditional dinner ( Jonathan insists on his turkey) and then did it again the next night on Boxing Day when the children came back.
I havent got much other sewing done this week but kids come back tomorrow so it might get even busier.
BAck to work Lizzie - need to plant some spaghetti squash which jonathan has raised from seed ( getting a bit like his father methinks).
