Joe had plans to start on his veggie garden and the quest for self sufficiency was back on track. Then I had a chance to take on a couple of goats for milking. One saanen called Mo and a toggenburg called Annie, both young does, never kidded before and they were free to a good home, so long as their mate Johnny came too! Which is no problem as he had been wethered (Look away guys...to wether a ram sheep or buck goat, a small rubber ring is placed around the testicles. It's a bit uncomfortable at first and after a couple of weeks they shrivel up and drop off. This ensures you have no unauthorised breeding going on!)
Any way, back on topic! Joe said I could have the goats but something had to be sold! So I decided that a couple of cows had to go. We had already decided Cathleen the Welsh Black was to go, as she was quite a handful. But it was a heavy heart that I had to let Aggie, an Angus cross, go. we decided to stick with a dexter herd as they are smaller cows ideal for lifestyleblocks, and as we have 3 of those and all female we already have our herd.
Aggie sold quite quickly and the new owner also decided to buy Cathleen too. So that was a relief. However Cathleen was due to calf fairly soon but we had no idea of the dates, she had gone elsewhere to see a bull.
Aggie
Cathleen
As it happened she decided to give birth in the neighbours yards the day before being picked up by the transport truck! And I was away at the beach! All was fine though and they are now at their new home. I do miss Aggie though, she was a lovely girl.
One more animal had to go, Dolly pig! The Kune kune. Her dad is Bert our boar, and it was going to prove to be a problem keeping her away from dad, so she went to a fantastic new home at a friends place, and she has settled really well, and very soon will be seeing a boar herself!
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At the end of the month, were the school holidays and Michael and I went away to the beach with friends. We stayed at Waihi Beach in the Managhs Bach. It's just a short walk to the beach and the Pacific Ocean. We had been going regularly at this time before each year, but we didn't manage to get there last year, so it was really nice to go away for a few days. As usual the crafts came out and Karen and I crocheted to our hearts content!
The boys rested......
and ate.......
and played balls games in their PJs......
They did get dressed occasionally and actually did a bit of kayaking...
They even got buried alive...but they escaped!
Mayor Island
Pohutakawa, NZ's Christmas tree
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