Broad bean harvest. Lennox set up this operation, he is a boy of form.



We have discovered who the strawberry thief is. It is not a blackbird.

The littlest Prince, and the cow.


Timo mounded his potatoes while the other two were as happy as two little piggies in stinky muck.


Princess Caoimhe:


And the poor pest that Timo caught in this box trap that doesn't instantly kill things. It was put to an end in the most humane way possible involving a gun, yes, that's right, a gun. I personally am feeling a little uneasy about the fact that we now have a gun in the house. However, Timo is getting plenty of education in safety and target practice with Jeremy. He's building skills to go rabbit shooting in Hawea to continue his good pest control work for the environment.

Post-breakfast, "cheese".


The weather has been mostly raining lately, this was a morning of writing books of silly nonsense:

Loves to draw:


The great walnut shell boat race:

Helping a sparrow out:


Caoimhe's drawing of 'Pinky Pie' a toy pony with lots of wild hair on loan to her from a friend


Timo's trapping in the bush at the back of the property is proving successful: Rattus rattus, and a big one, body 17cm, tail 18cm. Another small one caught this morn.


self-drawn pirates:

Timo and Caoimhe listening to Frank (our wwoofer who has been with us for a long time and this is his 3rd time here) on guitar, and Granity Playcentre children and Years 1,2,3 and maybe 4 from Granity School.

Caoimhe and her good friend Riley.

Windy Sunday

Making samosas for tea which we are now eating with Lolo's chutney.

I was too tired to take them to the park to fly the kite so we decided to make our own smaller versions.
It was more fun for them than flying the one big kite high in the sky.
Lenny was happy to run around pulling a piece of string attached to a serviette:

7am this morning checking the eel net: There was an eel in there at this point and moments later it managed (with Timo's help) to escape. Timo was pretty upset about it but now he knows to listen to instructions about not messing with the net.

New books:

Two great books we ordered from the Gecko Press in Wellington (thanks to Grandma Prue for enabling this), a good quality press of some great children's picture books from around the world and NZ:

The Fierce Little Woman and The Wicked Pirate by Joy Cowley:


I haven't seen this book since I was a primary schooler so it was a great discovery as this was a memorable book for me and I thought T and C would love it too and and sure enough, they do. Books arrived on Thurs and have been read at least 6 times since. It's true to the quote via Gecko Press, "an absolutely delightful picture book, this is a story to be read again and again and again. (Be warned!)". After I read it the first time there was a pause and then "can we read it again?"... and again? ...


And Dinosaurs Galore by Masayubi Sebe.


A fun, interesting, colourful and intelligent puzzle book. Says recommended for ages 7+ but Timo and Caoimhe are quite enthralled with it so I would say it's good for slightly younger also.
The Children's Bookshop in Kilbirnie says, "created to develop cognitive skills and problem solving, the emphasis on making the whole experience fun".

pictures from some areas of the spring garden so far:

raising seeds and plants, all of which are listed down the side panel on this blog:


corn et al ready for planting:


start of strawberry and herb patch:

beans growing, cannelinis did not like the wintery weather last week, they almost died, other bean varieties all fine:

another successful patch sowed mid-winter:

garlic galore:


fukuoka inspired changes to parts of garden:

a potato patch:
seed collecting with latest chicken dome:

broad beans and potatoes with netting for wind protection and new patch for growing things on vine:


cabbage and other brassicas planted mid winter doing really well and pest free (white cabbage moths appear to only lay eggs on young brassicae plants):

seeds on the go:
hot house ready to go with a few tomatoes on the go and other things have already eaten by slugs and snails, this is one of the effects of mulching! it provides a nice home for pests:

peas and things:
seedlings doing well:
latest attempt to combat slugs and snails with limechip around perimeter of the covered garden, it really is disheartening when you grow plants from seed and overnight they are eaten completely. This is working well so far, have planted marigolds all around also:

Not raining this morning

Working, discovering and learning together in the garden:

Found this big mother nurseryweb spider carrying her large egg sack around. We learned quite a bit about their life, another project:


Been weeding:

Bug boy:
Timo also found what he thought was a newly emerged from the earth cicada. This year whilst gardening we have come across various stages of the cicada in its fascinating life process involving living under the earth as nymphs for probably up to 5 years. There is a type of cicada species that lives underground in North America for up to 17 years!


Update with Geoff in Mongolia: Geoff is building a house in Mongolia so won't be coming back to NZ and Timo has taken over the business. He didn't expect to be in the position of running the business but he's up for the job.

it's a rainy day

Telling about his project with Frank.
His next writing project is to request the library purchase the book 'Poo Bum' (yes, there really is a book called this and Timo really wants to read it) by Stephanie Blake.

Maybe preparing for the concert on Friday we are organising at Granity Playcentre and School. Frank is performing and we are in the process of working out Timo and Caoimhe's part of the performance. It may involve a carrot clarinet.


Timo telling us his story about Geoff who has gone to Mongolia for a year so Timo has to take over his business while he is away and he is going to be working until midnight every day. He got straight to work on the farming. He has been very busy since we got the tractors and trailers from the toy library. Have hardly seen him.