Stones and Old Bones

It was my birthday last Saturday. I usually spend an enjoyable misery fest but for the past two years have decided not to sweat it and just go with the flow. This year I was busy painting for a Christmas sale so didn't really have time to think about it all so was particularly surprised when Gine arrived in the morning with a beautiful bunch of burgundy peonies. We had a cup of herbal tea together before she left to visit a sick friend of ours down the road. I also had several phone calls from friends.

On the Sunday my brother and his wife called in and brought with them a chocolate mud cake. We enjoyed this sitting outside with a hot drink in the sun. They had agreed to visit a day late so they could drop my entries for the sale into Hastings on their way home. I also had a belated happy birthday call from a friend plus on Monday two late cards arrived so I was pretty lucky.

Monday morning my friend John arrived early at 9.30am with a load of blue gum firewood for me. He also brought two large buckets full of small stones for jewellery making. I get more excited about this than if I was offered a diamond ring which is pretty sad really when you think about it. He had a look at Tobermory goat and told me to expect him to pass away in his sleep sometime soon as he has the look very old animals get when they're not much longer for this world. However as he's still enjoying his carrots and a scratch on the head I'm not going to worry (Toby, not John that is).

Ian came yesterday to continue cutting back the hedge. This has proved a much bigger job than we first thought as it's obviously not been trimmed for years. At the moment it looks a bit woody but there are new leave sprouting away from the older branches so it should soon fill in.


And Kit's previous owner has sent photos of her so I am finally able to show what she looks like. She certainly loves getting into some strange places.

Red Clover Taking Over

The Otane Arts Open Weekendearlier this month took alot more out of me than I expected. I was so tired and sore last week I barely did a thing beyond the essentials. Demelza thought it was great as she got to lie beside me alot which apparently is her idea of heaven.

Meanwhile the weeds were busy growing. Especially along the gravel driveway where great bushes of red clover were flowering. Remembering the saying "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!" I have been doing 15 minute weeding stints and am finally seeing some results although to an outsider it looks like a neurotic mole has had a nervous breakdown. Anything is better than spraying which keeps the weed and flower fairies happy too!

The broccoli fairy must be happy with me as I was finally able to cut my first broccoli last week and have another ready to go already. Tasted so much nicer than the bought variety and I knew it was healthy as I haven't put any chemicals on my plants. There is also one bush of silver beet ready to cut as well.

Jeff from Smedley came yesterday morning to say my landlady asked him to put some sheep in my field to "knock the grass back". Around fifty black faced suffolks have been in there which isn't that great as I only have a small bowl for water so am constantly refilling it for Briar and Tobermory. Can't say much since Jeff helped tie down the hen house a few weeks ago but will look at finding someone who is willing to pay to graze here so I can bring in some extra cash.

Party Animal and Farewell the Rat Mansion

I was invited to a party on Saturday night. Rachel, Korbus and the kids picked me up on their way past and we first went to Gaye's where she cooked the most beautiful vegetarian meal of potato wedges, carrot and asparagus covered with cheese sauce and cold pasta mixed with mayonnaise, oregano and parsley. There was also much hilarity when Gareth turned up wearing genuine leiderhosen complete with hat! Very brave as it was freezing cold and he had bare legs but he is so excited that his wife Gina is back from Germany that he decided to wear the costume in her honour.

By the time we arrived at Esther's it was too dark to see her alpacas. Gina was already there as she was guest of honour. Gaye and I sat together on a sofa for the evening and enjoyed being waited on hand and foot. Esther gave me a plate of different cakes to sample including a Swiss one that I cannot pronounce but it has hazlenuts in it. She gave me a huge piece to bring home when we left at 11pm.
I thought of Esther again on Tuesday when I finally got the photos I took at her place last month. This shot is of "Winter" who is the shy alpaca and also a bit of a kicker. Lovely long eyelashes though.


This is "Pollonius" who I notice has a bit of a grin on his face. Not sure what for but he looks very happy with his lot. I love the colour of his fleece as I have spun some of this shade before and it's really nice to work with.

This is "Trucie" or Trucie Baby as he is generally known. He is the Suri alpaca who kissed me so of course he's my favourite. Many of the shots I took would make great paintings although in nearly all of them the alpacas have their ears back.

I was so tired Sunday I ended up having three naps during the day. It was freezing so I lit the fire which helped make me dozier. At 10am Richard, his friend Tony and Tony's son arrived with a car trailer to finally remove the old bomb. It was no longer road worthy so they had to winch it onto the trailer which took a long time. Tony's son was only wearing a long sleeved t shirt and was shivering so I brought them inside for a cup of coffee. They left at lunchtime and I spent the rest of the day looking out my bedroom window at the empty space. I can even see the garden from the front gate now. Gaye actually rang to say she'd just seen them towing the car past her place and to congratulate me on my empty drive! That's the sign of a friend if ever there was one.