Much of the last four weeks has been spent away from home. One week course in Wellington, 2 hypnotherapy weekends and a week locuming on the glorious West Coast. Here I was based in Westport but stayed in Granity, and did some work in Karamea and Reefton. The coast was wild, wet, moody and full of its anticipated charm and character. Lots of soul-filling dog walking along the Granity beach, and the opportunity to replenish my stock of magic Granity rocks. And a few $$$ to boot.
Those few $$$ are coming in handy for the studio project that's coming along nicely. The studio itself arrived and was expertly offloaded by the Hiab operator. Peter has added some concrete to the existing base, and has built the wooden support. The doors and windows have received their first coat of wood preserver. The plan is to actually build it this weekend, assuming that's enough time to find the right places for the 3 million screws and nails. It's been a wet old winter so far, and the studio wood is untreated, so we're banking on the forecast of a few dry days ahead.
The driveway is done and it's all looking pretty open and tidy. The old hedge had a severe haircut and the assortment of plants that will extend that hedge are in place. They are mostly natives, including 2 kowhai to replace the ones we chopped down. It'll be another zone to weed unless someone gets round to putting weed-mat down. On the opposite side there are now big gaps between the silver birch trees. It's looking like the autumn Mock Orange cuttings are going to make it, so will be planted out in spring in those gaps.
There have been many delightful sub-zero mornings, and as always, the interplay of the sun's rays and the frosty landscape is a true joy to behold. The peacefulness of the moment is usually broken by the mooing of the cows, demanding their breakfast. The cacophony begins as soon as they spot someone up and about in the house. If you really want to be at one with nature's peace, you have to duck and dive in the kitchen when making your morning cuppa to avoid being seen.
The citrus are really maturing and showing their potential to plug the winter fruit void. I have lemons for Africa, and more than enough oranges, clementines and mandarins. The ruby grapefruit plant leaves have been yellowing for months, despite being fertilised. It's still maturing quite a number of fruit though, so hopefully it'll sort itself out. 
The vege garden has received almost no attention, just a cursory glance to make a mental note of what's left to-do. Eeek, quite a lot really (lalalalala). The green manure plants are finally starting to flower, so will need to be cut down before they set seed. The mustard plants among them have got quite tall so will provide lots of compost volume. That'll be a back-breaking job if I don't use the strimmer. If I do use the strimmer, it'll be a messy job. Time to procrastinate on that one I reckon. I could multi-task and simultaneously contemplate my navel AND the perfect beauty of the fattening pear tree buds whilst procrastinating. Yep, there's a plan. 
The gourds are starting to look like they're rotting, but amazingly, they're not. They are slowly drying out and the surface mould should create beautiful patterns in the longer run. Sam and Molly managed to find this gorgeous old double boiler with ceramic top pot at their local market. It's delightfully old-fashioned and functions perfectly. It's now filled with some of my bees wax, destined eventually to make candles with wood wicks.
Lucas and Laura are in London, working, and now out of isolation they are also exploring the city. They have plans to return to Melbourne as their next stop, but Covid is hindering that right now. They have plans B and C but hoping not to have to resort to them. 
Sam and Molly have been patiently waiting for news of an imminent fur-baby adoption (of the Greyhound variety) and it looks like a soon-happening thing. They put me up when I did a hypno weekend in Christchurch. We had a meal in an Irish bar where there was a huge live band and of course, Guinness. Billy is working with Peter, so is in the luxury position of having cheap board and lodging that includes free transport to work. Like Sam and Molly, he's been getting into pallet construction. The gumboot rack is one of his first offerings, and there's at least one more project in the pipeline. One more month of winter and then we can indulge the joy of spring, and of course, the vege garden back in action. Mmmm. Another log on the fire please.
