From the chooks

Some friends, who are more advanced in the whole sustainability thing, gave us some eggs that had been laid the previous day by their chooks. We’ve been talking about getting chickens for months. We have the chicken coop and the nesting boxes. Our farmer friend says he has 10 or so chooks for us – so hope to get them soon. We plan to only house the chooks in the coop at night. During the day, they can roam about.

Now, this will sound real “urban girl” but I have to tell you that I’ve never seen a box of oh so fresh eggs before. Chook feathers, dirt and chook poop were literally sticking to the shells. I had a moment of “eew” and then settled into cracking open the eggs for my Bombe Alaska.

Three things were pretty obvious: the shells were more fragile than store-bought eggs; the yolks were a gorgeous golden yellow; and the whites whipped up very fast. Mass-produced eggs have much lighter-coloured yolks. The chook’s diet dictates the colour of the yolk. Poor hens that live in a cage will just eat the grain and feeds that are given to them, whilst chooks that roam freely about eat whatever is around.

I know there’s a whole science to feeding chooks that I’ll have to learn about. But bring it on. Once you’ve tasted the difference between a freshly laid, organic egg and a mass-produced egg…well…there’s no contest really.

A gift from our friends, complete with chook feathers.

Amazing golden yellow colour of the yolks.

 

Hare today; gone tomorrow

There are a number of hares on the property. They look really cute and fluffy but are obviously a pest. Largely, because they burrow huge holes in paddocks that the horses and Zeph can trip over or fall into. I’ve fallen over quite a few holes actually as one foot goes in and twists.

Whilst out walking around the property the other day, I spotted one of the culprit hares. He spotted me just as I spotted him. He froze; I whipped the camera out. Just as I snapped the photo, the hare took off and Zeph ran after him. Now that Zeph is five months old, his running speed is getting fast and he nearly caught up with the hare. The farmer who grazes on our property keeps threatening to shoot the hares (I don’t know if that’s legal in NZ but a lot of farmers talk about shooting things). So at least I’ve immortalised the hare in this shot in case he’s gone tomorrow.

 

More veges

I feel all organic. Finally, our little vege patch is full of colourful vegetables. The dainty cherry tomatoes we’ve already scoffed. When you taste a home-grown cherry tomato, you realise how lusciously tasty they are compared to the tasteless things you buy in supermarkets.

The scarlet-runner beans are sprouting like mad and the zucchinis are popping up all over the place. When it’s dinner time, I simply think what vegetables I’d like, walk out the back door and select them. Woot!

Zucchini and beans from the garden.

 

It’s howling again

One of the trees in Zeph’s secret garden was the victim of recent north-westerly winds. These hot, howling winds are enough to drive anyone bonkers. I think if I’d known about them, I would have refused to move here. Give me an earthquake. Give me rain. Give me cold weather. But strong winds I’ve always hated.

And the north-westerly winds in the Canterbury area can be fierce. Last week, we had winds that clocked around 120 kph. The windows rattle. The tall eucalyptus sway and bend. The willow tree looks like it will literally take off. Apples are flung from the apple tree.

Unfortunately, a lovely tree in Zeph’s garden was blown over by the last round of huffing and puffing. There are many trees in and around the garden but it was sad to see this one down and out. I think since September of last year, we’ve lost around five trees due to the howling winds. Everyone says it’s just a part of living in the Canterbury region but I could do without the northwesters.

 

Better get the Nikon out

I’ve been accepted into a photography course in April. I’m quite excited about this because it’s with one of New Zealand’s leading photographers. So I’m going to have to get my Nikon D40 out more. The iPhone is really convenient for taking those quick shots when you’re out and about in the garden or around the house. But if I’m not going to embarrass myself, I’d better get my Nikon out and take more photos with it.

Actually, I had it out last weekend. We took my Thoroughbred, Larry, to an A&P show. He won 1st Prize, Best Hack, and other ribbons in various classes. Here’s a few shots I took of him with my Nikon – I think you’ll agree he’s a handsome boy. Along the way though, I was sidetracked by my usual obsession – tree silhouettes and light.

I’m sure this will sound pretentious but I don’t like to process my photos. I prefer not to do any post-processing as I think you should aim to take the very best shot possible in-camera. But I’ve come around to the idea that Photoshop (and Aperture, which I have loaded onto my MacBook Pro) can really help you be more creative. So I’ll learn this sort of stuff in the course.

Next week, when it actually stops raining and the sun makes a welcome appearance, I’ll be getting out my Fujiyama macro lens and I’ll post some shots.

 

Hello! anyone there?

There are four “stallion paddocks” to the left of the house. The previous owners of the property kept stallions there, hidden away from the temptation of mares. Now, Karma and Danny occupy one of the paddocks, whilst Larry and Fernando occupy another. A third paddock is for the cows: B1, B2, Grey and our calf, Splash.

We tend to let the horses out into the laneways between the paddocks so they can graze. And it’s now become a regular occurrence for me to sight a rather large horse bending down to fit into the macrocarpa archway, staring towards the house and garden area.

It’s as though the horse is saying “Hello? anyone out there? I’d rather like some carrots please”.

Fernando bending down and peering through the macrocarpa archway.

 

Strike a pose

Hilarious. Basically, Karma is obsessed with Danny. She’s all of about 11 hands high; and he’s 15.1 or thereabouts. He towers over her. She follows him around the paddock; they eat together; they play together. And Karma mirrors every action of Danny.

If Danny turns left, she turns left. If he stands quietly, resting his back leg, so does she. I wanted her to be with an older horse (Danny is about 14 years) so the horse could be a role model for my 2-year old pony. What I didn’t reckon with is that Karma is basically a stalker!

Karma, could you just let me have some space please! Go away and play.

 

Come play with me

I will be posting some recipes soon but there’s been so much going on with the horses. It’s just a lot of fun learning about horses and watching their behaviour. I can literally spend HOURS with horses.

Larry is staying with us for a couple of weeks and we put him in the same paddock as Fernando, a bay gelding. They look so alike and are devoted to each other. Larry has a white blaze – that’s the only way I can tell it’s him. I was in Danny and Karma’s paddock and glanced over to see Larry and Fernando playing.

At first, because Larry was up on his hind legs, I thought he was fighting with Fernando. But it soon became clear that they were playing. I’ve ordered a hoof ball for the horses – it should arrive next week and I’ll bring you photos of horses playing “horse soccer”. Should be fun.

Hey Fernando: wanna play? Fernando has the blue cover on.

Ok let's rumble.

 

A&P show

A&P shows are huge here. When I first heard of them, I thought everyone was saying AMP show. But it’s A&P as in Agricultural and Pastoral. Last weekend, there was an A&P show in Rangiora – about 25 minutes from Oxford. I went with my Kiwi friend and her daughter. We spent about 6 hours there and, needless to say, we were pretty tired after all the excitement of the day.

It’s sort of like a miniature Royal Easter Show. There was a pavilion full of baked goods and arts and crafts. The First Prize ribbons took me back to the time when I was a kid and the Royal Easter Show in Sydney was a much looked-forward to event.

There were so many things to see and do: in-hand showing; alpacas; animal farms; show jumping and other horse events. The in-hand showing has me interested. This is when you take your horse into a ring and show it off to its best advantage. Seems to me that a lot of it has to do with dressing yourself up to the nines, as well as making sure your horse is dolled up too. You trot around and walk with your horse, you make sure your lead rein is held securely and that you’re by the horse’s shoulder and so on. Judges scrutinise horse behaviour and looks.

I’m thinking that Karma and I can enter some in-hand show. I have an over-the-top hat left over from the only time I ever went to the Melbourne Cup and I can make some bling for me and Karma to dazzle the judges. Karma is such a pretty pony she’s sure to take out that First ribbon.

All little girls love to go to shows and carnivals.

Mother and daughter - a touching moment as they get ready to go on a wild ride together.

Shows and carnivals are always full of colour.

Not sure I'd want to go in one of these water ball things.

Couldn't resist a photo of these brightly-coloured Pashminas for sale at a craft stall.

In-hand showing: check out the lady's outfit. Reckon I'd like to do this.

Waiting to go into the ring. I like the Western-style shirt and hat.

What a cutie!

Either waiting to go into the ring or just plain exhausted.

Hope the judges don't think my bum is too big.

Horses and riders were everywhere. I had to worry about getting run over!

One giant leap.

Show jumping is great to watch - the horses are like gymnasts.

 

Fang and Carla

I’ve introduced you to Fang and Carla before. I have a soft spot for Fang (sorry Tyler – but don’t worry, you’re still top dog in my heart). He has boundless energy and such a happy personality. Carla is a bit more surly, a touch more guarded. You have to work for her affection. But Fang is just a playful pup.

They visit with their owner at least twice a week and usually run after the farmer’s truck. But seems they’d been doing a lot of hooning around on the day they visited because both dogs were tired. So they hitched a ride home on the farmer’s trailer. It was hilarious to see them jump into the truck and steady themselves for the “take off”. Once the trailer got going, they stood up in it and balanced their way down our driveway. Fang particularly likes his photo taken – I guess that’s why he is always poking his nose in the direction of my iPhone or Nikon. I always oblige him as he’s quite the photogenic canine.

Soon he might have an English Pointer to contend with – more news on this soon I hope.

 

Oooh, is that your iPhone? Let me just compose myself so you can get a dog portrait.

 

 

You can take my photo too but I'm not getting up - it's too good lying here in the sun.

 

 

Think I'll have a quick snooze while Fang does his usual running around.

 

 

Ok Carla: Let's steady ourselves for the "take-off".

 

 

Fang always stands up once the "dog mobile" gets going.

 

 

And off they go down the driveway.