Category: Landscape

The weather is getting warmer, the mud on the ground has disappeared, the grass has been growing lots, making animals and people are happy.
September came and marked the beginning of spring. Two days prior however it was the coldest night of the year with frost on the car windscreen.
February was thought to finally bring summer. What it brought instead was more rain – and storm.
On a regular basis you need to check up on your animals, fences and water systems. But what is better than combining that with a dog goat run and some picnic?
Apart from the usual winter farm activities, there has not been much exciting stuff happening. It’s been a typical winter with lots of rain, lots of mud but rather warm in comparison. It looks like nature has decided that it is spring.
The weather has turned from somewhat wet and warm to rather wet and cold. The horses have been rugged up just like the goats. The rodent infestation has become noticeable, so we started putting up more traps on top of the traps and bait stations we already had.
Within days, the hot summer weather had moved on and made space for moderate temperatures with rain and fog.
The warm and humid weather produced lovely field mushrooms to be harvested. Earlier we harvested basil, limes and potatoes.
We have not seen much rain in more than 2 months now but rather hot, sunny weather with wind. Both dries out the land, particularly the hillsides facing the Kaipara where the wind blows from and which the hot afternoon sun hits.
Lots and not so much happened. New ducklings, alpaca maintenance, Christmas, holidays and lots of animal fun.
Even on rainy days you can find a lot of beauty outside when you decide to battle the elements and get outside.
It’s been a few rather wet days. Some with intermittent sunshine but not enough to dry up the ground yet. The cats use the sunny breaks to go outside but other than that they seem to be in hibernation.