Family at the Farm

We took our trailer for a ride to Kiwitea on Sunday and donated it to son-in-law Robert.  With a much smaller section and a caretaker to attend to the lawns, there is no use for it where we now live, and nowhere to store it.  But it was extremely useful when we moved up here  about four years ago, (where has all the time gone!)  We took load after load of belongings to the storage lock-up before our new home was built.  And just as many loads to the rubbish dump, with one or two loads of donations going to the Hospice Shop.  Then, when we finally moved in, after living in the caravan for three months, the trailer had been parked up at Robin’s brother’s home, tucked behind his garage.  It was finally time to retrieve it and rather than try to sell it on-line, we gave to to Robert.  He was delighted to take it off our hands,  and already has plans for it’s use in his smallholders contracting business.

Goodbye to our trailer

Daughter Nicky is very creative and showed me some climbing frames she had made for her garden out of bamboo.  And for lunch she had arranged a very tasty platter of all sorts of delights, including home made hummus.

Nicky’s cottage garden and lunch platter

After lunch the plaintive cries of “Nana, come and look at Fire Dancer” led us outside to admire the horses.  Emma was feeding carrots to Sonata and her foal Fire Dancer.  Both horses have pink skinned noses and the covers over their noses protect them from sunburn.

Sonata, Fire Dancer and Emma

Megan’s horse Levi is much taller, and was not well looked after by a previous owner.  But he now has a good life and receives the best of care from Megan.  Both girls and their Dad ride their horses in events and shows.

 

Megan with Levi

Robert had some lambs to shear and being townies, we found this fascinating.  First, grab your lamb, sit it on it’s rump between your legs, and then start shearing, deftly flipping it over as you go.  It certainly looks back breaking work – we were tired just watching!  Meanwhile, the sheep are huddled up in the corner, wondering who will be the next one to be grabbed by that mad man with the clippers.

Robert shearing the lambs

Grand-daughter Megan was the “rousie” (Rouseabout) filling the wool bag

After all that excitement the sheep and lambs  were then moved to rest and recover amongst the lush grass in the orchard.  They won’t be there too long, as several of them will be travelling to the meat works the next day.

Happy sheep once again

Later in the afternoon we said our goodbyes, and I was delighted to take home a bunch of freshly picked flowers from the garden.  We headed on our way, driving through the town of Feilding and past the imposing clock tower.  Originally part of the old Post Office which was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1942, the clock workings then remained in storage for 56 years.  It was finally restored as a Millennium project, the clock was unpacked and re-assembled, and construction began on the free standing heritage style tower.  With time ticking down the top section and copper coated dome was lifted into position on 4th December 1999. And the locals celebrated in the square as the clock struck midnight to welcome in the new century.

Feilding clock tower