The month started on a happy high. We took the ferry and road-tripped up north, visiting family and friends and sightseeing. We'd had 2 botched-by-covid holiday attempts previously, and this time weren't taking any chances with (incredibly expensive) flights. We drove from Wellington through the Wairarapa and Rimutaka ranges, passing through Featherston, Greytown, and Carterton before stopping off in Masterton. The ferry was late (seems my travel jinx works with ferries too) so much of the drive was in the dusk and semi-dark. We really liked the glimpses we got of these places so will have to go back to the Wairarapa one day. Then we had a couple of lovely nights in Napier, doing a town tour, an aquarium visit, and spending hours in the in-room spa pool in the upmarket-for-us motel.
From Napier we made our way to lovely Thames. We had a gorgeous day with Shena and Doug in Paeroa, visiting the town's antique shops and Waihi town and beach, and a meal out with our very first New Zealand friends Hilary, Marty, and Max. And we finally took a drive around the Coromandel - something we've been wanting to do since we arrived. Up to Coromandel town, across to Whitianga, a walk down to Cathedral Cove, and then back to Thames. Such a stunningly beautiful part of the world.
We headed home via Hobbiton, which was touristy but very enjoyable. Our final stop-off was in Turangi, south of Lake Taupo, then over the desert road and back to Wellington. We covered quite a few kms but at a relaxed pace so very much part of the holiday. It was really good to take time away from the property, hopefully the first of many more.
Spring is in full flow with its abundant weeds and wind. Thanks to my garden fairy, Laura, things are pretty tidy in the vegetable garden. We have lost some seedlings to rabbit damage and late frosts, but mostly the veges are looking very promising. Madame Cholet is hosting 3 tomato plants, 2 cucumbers, 2 peppers, and 2 rows of rocket (which I graze on every day). Still in pots but soon to be planted into her beds are heaps more - aubergines, melons, chillis, peppers, and basil.
Added to the outdoor garden beds are broad beans, Borlotti beans, Aztec corn (germinated by Karyn), pumpkins (Baby Bear), peas, snow peas and tomatoes. These are all rabbit-protected with plastic mesh, which hopefully can be removed in a couple of weeks once their roots are better anchored. We lost several brassicas to rabbits, but more seedlings are in pots waiting to be planted out, and this time they'll be better protected.
The strawberry bed and 4 of the small metal raised beds that housed herbs have been sprayed out with yukky toxic weedkiller. They were all totally overgrown with deep-rooted weeds and spraying seemed to be the only last resort option left. Before spraying I'd transferred the strawberry plants into a garden bed, potted up some of the 3 mint varieties (Common Mint, Peppermint, and Spearmint). They can be re-planted back in their original homes once those resilient weeds are gone. 
The livestock are loving the pasture growth. The lambs are bonnie and bouncing, and very robust. Posing in the picture are Margaret, Ann, and Camilla, still young enough to also be very cute. The cows are huge, and the girls showing signs of being heavily pregnant, Nike in particular. We don't have a great track record of calving here, and that preys on my mind from time to time when I'm not excited about the pitter-patter of tiny hooves.
Flowers are popping up everywhere - lots of whites and purples. It's lovely to see the flower beds filling up with plants that aren't weeds (though there are plenty of those too). The ceanothus is heavenly and the Mexican Orange blossom is always a delight. The white hydrangea is full of life along with nodding white irises that are showing off. The native clematis that I nearly accidentally killed in a hedge-trimming event is now absolutely thriving, with heaps of happy flowers climbing up the decking post and along the chain. Colourful fruit blossoms have come and gone too, and tiny fruit-lets are forming.
Bees are also enjoying the spring. One of the hives behind the barn has got the Mason Jar honey box in place. As soon as I put it on, curious bees immediately started making their way in. I melted a small layer of wax into the bottom of each jar, not sure if this is needed yet. Fingers crossed they fill the jars with spring honey that I can harvest by the end of the year (and thereby not be required to get it tested for tutin). There are 4 colonies altogether out there. Three are originals from last season and the fourth is one of the splits I made last month. Jane bought 2 queens and both splits have been successful. The other colony is buzzing around her place. One of the hives I took brood frames out of for the split was queenless the previous time I looked. Oops, almost certainly my bad - I probably took the original queen out on one of those brood frames. But the clever bees managed to sort out a new queen because there's definitely some young brood in there now. Lucky for me the bees know what they're doing. I'm hoping to inherit another hive from Derryn, who is downsizing her colonies. That'll be 5 plus one at Jane's place. Hmm, a few more than my maximum target of 2...
The pizza oven has been restored to its former glory. Better than ever in fact. Not only has the repair held and its walls thickened with clay and poo, but Peter has also added a top layer of cement in the hope that this will make it more weather-proof. The rain cover can only go on when the oven has cooled down because the chimney stays hot, and this delay has meant that we often forget to go back and cover it up. Hopefully, the extra cement layer will contribute to its longevity. Billy and Lucas have been fine-tuning the pizza creation process, making absolutely the best pizzas with a charcoaly, crispy base. Yum. 
The homemade alcohol processing is ongoing. The persimmon wine was bottled and is very popular, even or nearly as good as the feijoa wine, depending on who you ask. A double batch of Nettle Beer is on the go, though I've used more of a wine-making process this year, so it'll be interesting to taste the final product and see how strong it is. Lucas has also got started with his own brews - Orange Wine (from our garden) and Cranberry Wine (from bought fruit juice). The month started on a high but ended on a profoundly sad emotional low. Maggie, who would have been 17 years old (human equivalent 119) on Christmas Eve, had been showing signs of her age for many months. Numerous days when she seemed really unwell but bounced back to her usual self within hours. Inevitably these episodes had become more frequent and with less and less bounce back. When she finally went fully off her back legs and the joyful vibrant light went from her eyes, we decided it was her time. She had a very peaceful and beautiful transition into the next world and now rests under a maple tree in a place in the garden where she spent many hours. Lucas and Billy made the charming plaque. We got Maggie as a 9-month-old puppy from the SPCA a few months after arriving in New Zealand. She'd already been there for several weeks and was only hanging in because the staff were so fond of her. She was the first dog ever for me, Lucas, Sam, and Billy, and immediately just fitted into our family. There are no words to describe the emptiness of her loss. Life is just lesser without her.
Thank you Maggie, for being the bestest dog ever. Rest in peace xxx 💕
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