The working bee was a total joy. Several very good and kind people came along to shift rocks and gravel and pin down weed mat, transforming the vege garden and some of the horse arena zone into a tidy, fresh, and neatly-pathed spectacle, frankly sooo much better than it ever has been. Some of the volunteers prioritised the kitchen and made sure that everyone was well-fed and watered. Big thanks to George, Gwen, Chelsea, Jane, Al, Derryn, Robert, Tina, Phil, Raylene, Emma, Carl, Sue, Hilda, Suzie, Caroline, Jodie & Clare. I owe you all big time and am furiously making thank you candles.
The rain has been a recurring theme this winter. There’s a deluge expected again tomorrow, followed by days of rain and drizzle. Probably (hopefully) not flooding levels again, but we’re still pretty boggy. I wonder if we have a very dry summer in store? Happily, there are also signs that spring is on its way - sunshine, buds bursting, blossom, vivid green grass, and of course, those nor’wester winds.
Winter colours are still lighting up the garden. As I’ve trudged up and down the garden path a million times with wheelbarrows of gravel, it’s been absolutely delightful to check out the palette range, from purples and browns, to pinks, oranges, yellows and many greens. The pinky/purply happy flowers are viola weeds that pop up charmingly everywhere. The main flower bed is in a sorry state - taking advantage of me not getting round to spreading the pea straw by liberally adorning itself with weeds. And of course, the orchard hasn't yet been pruned and may not get a look in this year. It'll have to stop raining at a time when I'm home and without other priorities. Um, we'll see.
The natives in the bed in front of the Womb are starting to look more mature. Even the hedge plants look like they may one day be an actual hedge. The numerous cuttings of Mexican Orange Blossom are declaring themselves to be alive or dead - it's kinda good to know that before they're planted out. I may wait until autumn to do this, to give them chance to get more robust before they're battered by the nor'wester winds. The small trees in the pot are very welcome stone fruit gifts from Raelene that will one day find a home in the vege garden and orchard.
The currant cuttings are coming away beautifully and will soon be planted into their forever homes. I ditched a couple of beds (yep, another idea of Karyn's thank you) that previously housed currants and blueberries to extend the vege garden gravel paths behind the hay shed. Now there’s more room to work beehives (when I get new colonies) and there are still two decent-sized beds remaining, one for red- and the other for blackcurrants. A small raised bed in the horse arena will be planted with white currants.
The livestock seem to be back to their normal selves following their near-death flood experience. They're certainly demanding of hay, and it's reassuring to see that there is some spring pasture growth happening. The days are getting longer too, which makes it possible to feed them in the daylight after a long vaccine clinic day. A couple of the ewes are looking quite barrel-shaped, so here's hoping. I've been wrong about this too many times before to rely on my wishful thinking
The bees are pretty convinced that good times are ahead. Normal hive activity has been observable, but I learned that locally, hives are being overrun by varroa mites (thanks for that tip Karyn). Though the top bar hive has bees and brood, sadly in small numbers only. I’ve added miticide strips but otherwise, they’re on their own. I’d need another top bar hive to combine them with another colony. The other hive is totally thriving - heaps of bees and brood, and even some honey stores leftover from winter. Derryn can do me another split in a few weeks, and if I’m lucky, a swarm might come my way too. I foresee a honey-filled summer.
My lockdown birthday was serene and peaceful, on my own at home. I’m not complaining. Lots of garden time, and the joy of foraging with Maggie. Two litres of heavenly gorse flowers were picked and are now bubbling away in a demi-john. Despite the first recipe instruction quipping 'bandage the holes in your fingers from gorse thorns', this wasn't necessary. Small female hands meant that gloves weren't any advantage, and the flowers were so profuse I could be really choosy about the most reachable ones. The wine is a delectable buttery yellow that I hope will live up to its divine reputation.
As well as the mini chain saw, I also got myself a new ukelele for my birthday. I've been to classes with pal Jill and have enjoyed them tremendously, though it's safe to say I'm not likely to be hitting the showbiz scene anytime soon. Jill and me managed to strum along quite musically to 'Happy Birthday' at her husband George's party. Hopefully there'll be a group we can join when lockdown is done. Billy got me a Kings Seeds gift voucher for my birthday, so I'm fully engaged in the process of drooling over what I'll grow in my newly floodwater-nourished beds. The planning for seeds is nearly as exciting as the execution, and comes with the added bonus of rose-coloured spectacles.
There is a Billy-sized gap in our lives - he's working in Ibiza as planned. Lucas and Laura want to come and live in our sleepout until they've saved enough deposit for their own place. They're just waiting for Laura's residency. We're keeping everything crossed that the current Covid situation won't delay their plans. Sam is getting very bored working at the Managed Isolation Facility (MIQ) in Christchurch, and Molly is working from home. Peter's as busy as ever, as an essential wine bottler (!).
We're just canceling our Coromandel holiday plans - that were previously Syndey holiday plans - as we won't be able to fly into Auckland any time soon, even if we can eventually move around the South Island. Probably I'll end up doing some more Covid vaccine clinic shifts instead of holidaying. So lucky eh? What is really amazing is that here are no deaths from Delta so far; some hospitalisations but no-one in Intensive Care. We're all watching and waiting and hoping that lockdown restrictions will ease, and that life ever after will be freer and with less masks.
