A-maizing!

 This is our forecast for the next 3-4 days with a heavy rain warning included so I guess there will be no boating on B's day off which is Monday every week.  

The photo above is probably the last rainy day shot I got in Spring 2019 of a maize field in Wellsford. Maize is usually a very popular product to grow here in NZ by farmers on dairy farms adding value to the farm's feed supply as well as extracting soil nutrients from high fertility effluent paddocks and it's used as a break crop in the pasture renewal process. After the maize has been harvested the farmers sometimes let the herd in the pull up and eat the leftover roots.

Last night we were watching the American elections and feeling sorry for the people - what a shenanigans. I can't believe people want to riot if their candidate isn't elected - I guess I better stop complaining about our political system. I was talking to some cousins and we are wondering why someone younger with more modern ideas doesn't step up and run for president, why not a female? Why does it have to be 2 old men? 

And it's our Guy Fawkes here today but due to the rain I think it'll be very quiet which is a good thing, I'm all for public displays - there are just too many idiots around. We don't bother buying fireworks anymore, most of them are pretty cruddy budget ones being sold.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Tractors and containers

We were out at Ruapekapeka Pa a couple of weeks ago and this farming scene caught my eye.

Out in rural NZ this is a common sight. Many people use empty containers like sheds to store farming equipment in. Parking a tractor on the hill next to it is a wise move especially if we get lots of rain.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Nosey farm animals

So nice and sunny today - a perfect Spring day. Day 2 of my 2 days off so the other half and I were out and about enjoying one of our walks. This one trekked past some private lifestyle blocks - this one had a few sheep dotted here and there but this baby who looks to be about 18 months old watched us, came up to the fence and mooed while sunning herself in the sunshine.

Once her friend saw she was getting attention he ambled up as well and stood there staring at us. Such nosey friendly creatures though.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

We got it!

Photo of some people playing in snow in a farmer's field - Ruapehu - Winter 2017

Big news here. The other half travelled the 6 hours north to Kerikeri yesterday to view a house and we ended up getting it so our move looks like it's going to be in 2 weeks time. I've been collecting boxes from my work and will start going through things and starting to pack this weekend. It's always a good opportunity to get rid of things I don't need but don't want to move house too often as it's very tiring.

Winter has hit here. Usually each morning I try to get out for a 20-30 minute run but yesterday at about 9am it was still 3 deg celsius so I waited until an hour or so later on.

Hope all is well with you. Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Farmland at the Houhora Heads

This is Autumn in the far north of NZ. Houhora Heads is on State Highway 1 on the way to Cape Reinga. An old water hole sits in this paddock for the cattle to drink out of.

Unfortunately here in NZ there are various farms that are in a bad way, some sort of virus is affecting cows so sadly they have to be destroyed. It must be terribly stressful financially to have this happen.

As for us, we may have some news to share shortly...

Old farm silos in Matakohe

I just love countryside - these old farm silos and barn are located in Matakohe, on the Kauri Coast in the Kaipara region of Northland. It use to be a regular feature when I worked up this way a few years back.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Visiting a best friend at Tihoi

Today we drove nearly 2 hours to visit one of my best friends who lives out at Tihoi (pronounced tee-hoy), she lives on a farm but has decided to sell it and move closer to the city.

Our ultimate goal was to help her sort out what she needed and didn't need so after the teens and both the other half and myself shifting bits and pieces around in the garage we set off inside to fill up rubbish bags.

The neat thing about her farm is that it's so quiet, it's about 20 minutes drive from Taupo. Happy chickens, happy dogs and a happy horse.

 

My daughter is a horse fan so after a bit of teamwork between her brother and herself she was off for a short ride.

Good day in all. Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

A farm scene worth remembering.....

Last weekend on our camping/wedding excursion to Hamilton, this was part of the view we saw from our caravan in the middle of the paddock. A farm tractor, cows in the background enjoying munching the grass - this is the sort of scenery I feel comfortable in. After living in a small rural town in Northland, NZ for 8 years this is something I'm use to....hope you have a great weekend :-)