Baby Thomas, our orphan lamb

Here is Thomas.

He was going to be 'snowflake', but as he is a boy our little girl decided he might be a Thomas instead.

We just picked him up today, but the farmer thinks he may be about a week old as he is so big, and timid.

Either way he was a stray all day, and so we have the opportunity to raise him.

Most orphan lambs will be ram lambs, as they are generally larger, yet weaker, so are more likely to have been difficult births, and so get rejected.

There were tears when she found out he was a boy! Oh dear! But now he is very loved even so.

The boys want one now, so I've said if they ever get another, we'd be grateful.

As you can see he is in a jumper. The last thing I want is for him to die of cold, but as he is so big, it already looks small. He would naturally snuggle up to his mother for warmth, so a jumper is nice.

He is a really good feeder. We'll start him on six small feeds a day for now. How luxurious compared to human baby timetables!

Welcome Thomas!

Start of Spring

I found a few quiet moments this morning while the children were busy, or tickling their Daddy to get him up. I went outside and watched the dawn.

The hens were waiting for a post breakfast treat, the birds were chirupping in the trees, and there was some mist over the distant fields.

I loved the way the edges of the clouds were orange while their bodies were a purple/grey.

I also felt strangely connected with that bird in the bush top there....

It wasn't making a sound, just sitting puffed up in the upper branches watching the dawn with me.

And then the sun rose, and I could feel its heat...

In the west the clouds changed color with the sun too, then burned away...

I really like stolen moments like these.

It is so warm here now. We haven't used the night storage heaters for three days now, and its lovely to be able to open doors or windows without feeling like our heat is escaping!

I might try to sort the garden out a bit today. I'll start some seeds off in trays just in case we have another frost, also I'm not sure whether the hedgehogs are awake yet to eat our slugs. Pesky things.

Edward's Jumper

So here it is, just a sleeve and a collar left to do!

I'll be so glad to get his jumper finished, as I have so many other projects I want to do.

It was lovely in the south island seeing all the merino sheep so very well clad in their huge coats. I would love to keep them here, but I think the weather is too wet, and their feet may well suffer, also as we are renting we can't. But one day....

Also we have put our names down to adopt an orphan lamb from this season for the children to raise for calf club. 

Calf club is a very special institution here in country schools. Most families have something to do with farming, and this is recognized and appreciated early on with a little agricultural show for children.

The children can raise a lamb, a calf, or a kid, and then show them at the contests. For older children it is quite a thorough test of their knowledge about the animal, and the care it has received, and will need, including all vaccinations and dips etc.

For the youngsters it is all about loving the animal, and hopefully controlling it on the day. There always seems to be a bull that runs off at every event. Quite terrifying as they grow fast!

Friend and Girly, are our previous lambs pictured above. They did very well in the most obvious pets category!

So hopefully we'll get an orphan Romney to look after. Of course each child wants one, could be trouble.....

Potting

I've always loved clay, and find absolute beauty in hand thrown pots. Far more than any made pot.

After our first was born I started an evening class learning all the basics, and I really enjoyed it.
When we moved here we saw an old kick wheel for sale, so we bought it and I had some happy hours creating various utensils on it. When I was pregnant with our second I found I couldn't kick the wheel anymore without my leg cramping up, and then after that my life has been rather busy, and even if I had the time, I would just want to sleep.
But over the last few years I have been able to dabble once again on the wheel. However, whenever the children see me on the wheel, they too want a go, and usually it has just been a fun session together.

We have even fired their little pots in the bottom of the bonfire....

Blackened, but waterproof. A pinch pot.

But now we have the two in school, and our youngest in preschool for a couple of mornings I have decided to join a class once again. I went this morning, and so much came back to me!
I made lots of wildly different (hopefully) mugs, and am able to try all sorts of glazes and slip techniques.

It was a wonderful morning!

I hope to either take my camera, or even bring some pieces home soon. The next month of Tuesdays is going to be fairly hectic though... I don't want to commit to too much, as I have over stretched myself before, and thats no fun.

But for now I hope to enjoy more classes, and make some mugs and cups and beakers, and bowls for our family to use.

In the future I can make things at home and they will fire and glaze them there too. Very exciting.

More Wanderings

Here is a Kea. They are the only mountain dwelling parrots, nesting on stoney ledges high up.

They are a beautiful green, and when they fly you get to see the flash of red feathers under their wings.

Being parrots, they are very intelligent, and are extremely curious birds. They are often bouncing about on top of cars, ripping off bits of rubber with their strong beaks. You have to be very careful what you leave around! And feeding them is quite detrimental to them, as they get quite high on sugar etc and go a bit nuts, squabbling too near to people.

I meant to take a photo, but pressed the wrong button, then when I was ready the Kea flew off.

On one of my mountain walks in the snow, I saw other tracks....

The Keas were here first!

When they call, the sound actually sounds like 'keeeeeaaaa' I presume that's how they got their name.

Cool birds!

Planxty Irwin

Here is a planxty, which is a tune written in honor of someone.

It was written for a Colonel Irwin in Ireland, by a chap called Carolan.

He's something of a legend in Irish harp history, and led a remarkable life traveling round the country on a horse writing loads of songs for people, to make a living.

He was left blind after smallpox, and only started to study the harp after that, at about 18 years old.

I think that is quite impressive, especially as this was some time in the 1600's.

Apparently hundreds of tunes are said to be his, although there are only a few actually confirmed. Most of them would have had lyrics too, but these seem to have been lost in the mists of time.

What a dude.

Yes I'm in the bathroom, as I thought I might not be noticed, but as you can tell, about half way through my little girl found me, and started to dance which I found a bit distracting. At the time I didn't think I was hesitating, but its quite obvious on tape!!

Enjoy!

From the Top of Mountains

We've just returned from our holiday, and it was so good! I hadn't realized how much I needed to get away from it all. Mmm it was lovely.

We went to the South Island, which for me is the 'real' NZ. The soil isn't so rich, so there aren't as many huge dairy farms everywhere, mainly sheep on the poorer soil. It is much nicer in many ways than where we are. You can even go for a walk without being electrocuted by all the fences we have round here!

We ended up spending a lot of time on the ski hills. I was amazed at how quickly the children picked it up!

I don't really enjoy to ski, and I've done a bit of boarding too, but really don't like it very much, so what could I do? I find it all a bit pointless - ok it is excellent exercise, but what I really enjoy is walking. So I donned my boots, and decided I was going up the mountains as well, but differently.

I felt so free and happy as I trudged up first on mud, then ice, then snow right to the top of a mountain called Treble Cone. I even got to see the children skiing past me at ridiculous speed as I went up. I only got one comment from a skier too! The summit is about 300m vertically above the ski area, so those last 300m were so wonderful, really quiet, and peaceful.

I got to the top, 2088m to a fabulous view of the surrounding mountains. I took this video...

But it isn't working now. Anyway, you can see some of the view. As I sat there, I noticed the clouds changing, and coming closer. I though that wasn't going to be so good, so I started down, and just as well, because only a few steps down the wind blew up. It was extremely cold. I was at about -6 at the top, but this wind just froze my earlobes, and made my eyes water terribly. I wiped my tears away, and they instantly froze to my glove.

So down I went, happy.

I'm so glad to have found something I enjoy so much on the mountains, and being a ski area, it is all fairly safe.

I love the peace and stillness that walking allows. I also quite like being on my own some times. 

Its amazing what you can learn at the top of a mountain.