Goodbye Winter

Spring is here at last and it's time to say goodbye to winter. 

 

For starters, that means clearing out the freezer of all last year's fruit and veges to make room for this summer's crops.

The pumpkin soup for lunch with nice homemade bread on the last few cold days;























the boyseberries into jam (should go nicely with scones and cream for our visitors this week);
raspberries into sauce and the last zuchinnis into casseroles.














It's also time to pick the winter veges. Remember the peas and broccoli that went in in June. I'll need some helpers to help pick all those peas.

Here are the sunflower seeds that Jamie planted.
They'll be ready for the children's garden at the cubby pretty soon.

 Look at these gorgeous little kids from next door to Uncle Cam's farm. Just a few days old.

 
 
 
 And two sleepy girls in the morning sun

This year's knitted rug is ready for use. Mostly done while watching TV. Just goes to show how much time we can waste if we just watch!!!

I call this one my 'Licorice Allsorts' rug.

Blossoms appearing on the Faraway Tree and colour everywhere in Nanne's Garden

A 'Herd' at Last

Mez has a mate at last. Little cutie Cindy, the Welsh pony. Lots of fun days ahead for little (and big) girls.

 

Friends forever

Busy Little Chooks

Chooks have such a busy life.

Start out with breakfast

followed by a nice dust bath (stand back or you'll get sprayed)














then a good preen to get all the feathers looking good
(pardon my fluffy butt)

bit of a sun bake, for my suntan

lay eggs for the family (still waiting for the 4th egg)













look for worms and bugs....

eat 'em

so busy, buzzzzzzzzy

 ('scuse me, I need a nap)
 
 
 
 

While the chooks are dozing, here are some other photos of Nanne and Pa's garden:

 
     daffodils

















Pa making a nice new front gate
           old plants out

some new plants in

                                                       GRACEHAVEN front gate.   Nice eh?

'The Chop'

Winter is a time when a lot of things get 'the chop'. Here are a few that have been happening in Nanne's garden.

First of all Pa has been busy chopping wood for our fireplace. A friendly farmer from church told Pa he could have free firewood if he wanted to pick it up. Pa was straight off with his chainsaw and trailer. Here he is getting the job done at home,

and here is the result. A lovely big pile for keeping us warm on wintery nights.








There was also a big pile of sawdust when he had finished,















so the chooks got a lovely new 'carpet' in their chookhouse for all their hard work laying eggs for the family.













The fruit trees got 'the chop' this week, a haircut to help them grow better in spring. You can already see the buds forming on the branches. Later they will be flowers, then fruit (nectarines...yum!)












The roses got 'the chop' so they make more flowers in summer. You can see the new shoots here too.












Even Mez got a haircut this week, and a tail cut, so she looks smart for Riding Club. She really liked being fussed over.





























And lastly, I have had 2 naughty chooks jumping out of their yard, a lot, so finally I said "RIGHT!  time to give your wing tips 'the chop' ". Problem fixed. No more jumping out, as they can't fly as well with clipped wings.

What's Pretty in Winter

If you look carefully there are lots of pretty things in winter, especially in my garden. I love early mornings best, so here are some things I saw today.

Magpies preening in the early morning sun with mist in the background. They were warbling too, which I just love.












Chooks having porridge for breakfast.















Mezzie dozing (even pretty with a droopy bottom lip!).















Bright red-hot-pokers on the front fence.

Lukedendrons out the back and pansies at the cubby window.




















Pretty white daisies and a well-used blue watering can.













Baby calves in Ruth's paddock.

















The first bulbs... jonquils,


Gorgeous! Thanks God for showing me  
all these pretty things. They made my day.

Kids and school holidays

School holidays means kids at Nanne and Pa's place, and don't we love it.



Kids in cubbies and in the chicken coop













kids on bikes and billycarts
















kids in the kitchen (Sammy the lemon cordial king)














kids in the garden
kids in gumboots















kids knitting

















kids messing up the place and all too soon back at school.















The lads!


















Some may see it as just baby-siting. We see it as investing, way more important than the bank account or super fund. This is true treasure... grandchildren, where we touch the future