Snow! This had better be winter's last gasp!!!

Ahhhhh, such a nice day today ... NOT!!! It was cow shifting day today so of course, we had to do it in a blizzard! Most grateful to our 'up the road' neighbour John for his assistance shifting the moo'ers to their new temporary quarters 'in the clouds' (and the snow) at Lifeboat Farm.

I grabbed the camera when another flurry came through about 30 minutes ago and snapped these few pics. Fortunately the temperature outside is above freezing (about 3 degrees celsius) so the snow won't settle. I will be pleased however when it buggers off again - It may be pretty but it's freakin' cold!

The chickens, who are still completely free range, seem to think that our wood pile/messy front porch is a great roosting spot away from the elements. I'm thinkin' it's about time they spent some time locked in their run, utilising the shelter there rather than our front porch!

Thankfully we still have a shed full of hay so the horses got extra 'snow' rations today to help keep them warm, that said, from the hijinx I witnessed earlier out in the paddock, they are doing enought acrobatic work to keep the blood pumping.

As I type this the house is being permeated with the smell of slow roasting lamb stuffed with garlic and rosemary and my mouth won't stop watering. Only another three hours and we can tuck in!!!

Snow falls...

on Talisman Farm.

But the chickens don't care

Brrrr!

Now hurry up TVNZ, I want to see Mark and Heelan's dressage tests! LOVE the Olympics - Very exciting!!!

Gardening & Self Sufficiency

Nearly 10 years on our little lifestyle block and we are FINALLY starting our vege garden. It's very exciting! Our good friends up the road have been on their block for less than a year and have already have achieved so much that we really feel inspired to do something more here. If you want to follow John and Karen's journey to self-sufficiency, you really must visit their Lifeboat Farm Blog.

In an attempt to become less reliant on supermarket shopping, I have already ramped up my bread making, baking and cooking from scratch and it has really been quite invigorating!

So anyway, today's blog is non horsey for once and will be devoted to our personal first few wobbly steps towards self-sufficiency.

Initially we want to grow a few basics and our first, tentative, vegetable list consists of: Cabbage, celery, lettuce, brussel sprouts, peas, broad beans, runner beans, tomatoes, carrots, leeks, onions, suedes/turnips, beetroot, parsnip, potatoes, kumara and sweet corn. We will have 4 garden beds for these veges. I am also planning a separate herb garden and we will have a crack at strawberries and raspberries.

Today was digging day - it's hard work!

Junior Gardener - Amy

Tree climber Amy

Nick digging

A man and his tools

Jess - Canine garden helper

Tui - Visiting canine helper

Nick, Jet and Jess

Bye bye Kenzles

Today was a sad day for Nick, Amy and I as we farewelled our beautiful MacKenzie. Kim and her partner made the journey from the Kapiti coast today and, after spending a couple of hours wandering about meeting the horses and having lunch, it was time to load her up and send her on her way.

I find this final farewell the hardest part of the sale process as it is very much the severing of the cord that binds us to each other. I know Kenzie has gone to the very best home and I know she will be loved and cared for wonderfully but she will leave quite a gap here. Such a people orientated horse with such a cheeky personality - she is always the first to the gate when we go out to see them and her big white face is going to be missed dreadfully. I have seen her nearly every single day of her life since her birth 10 months ago and it will certainly feel very strange not seeing her tomorrow.

I only took a couple of photos as the lense of the camera was awfully blurry - here's the best of a bad bunch: