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With Matt and Sarah on the scene at Struan Farm this past weekend John had some help with the heavy lifting necessary to start the waterfall project at the pond. They were able to get the pipe and trough into place.
Now that the core infrastructure is in place, it can be prettied up with rocks and landscaping.
We're also re-filling the pond this week, so things should start looking better... (she says, hopefully?)
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Kermit the Frog's song came to mind this past weekend as I worked to paint the new front gate at Struan Farm. It wasn't easy being green.
John had decided that he'd contruct the new front gate once the white primer and undercoats were done on the frame and pickets. After that I could finish up the two coats of green.
He just hadn't thought too much about how fiddly it was going to be, painting in those tight little nooks and crannies, had he?
But I managed, as you do. One coat down, one to go.
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Looks almost like Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie, doesn't it?! Here's Jim's Hut, settled on its new site overlooking the river at Struan Farm.
The site will be re-grassed once the rains start again in earnest in autumn. It won't look quite so "dust bowl" after that. Noel arrives next week to finish painting the roof and window trims green. John will build a deck off the front in "due course."
The contractors sent us a few more photos of the journey down to the site. Here are two of the more harrowing images below!
Phew. Phew. Phew.
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We arrived at Struan Farm this past weekend to see that the contractors had managed to put in the new drive through the Cottage paddock up to the new house site, also connecting with Coleman's River Track. The sheep have already found their way.
Yikes, it's all on. Current topic under discussion is whether or not Jim's Hut can be moved down to the river. The contractors are working on it, and John is keen, but apparently the mission is not without risk to the Hut. Stay tuned!
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Couldn't figure out how to get the proper accent on "Invites" above, but the phrase means "Unexpected Guests" in French. This past Friday evening we had a knock on the door at Struan Farm. A lovely lady indicated that her family had run out of petrol, and was wondering how far away the next station was. Unfortunately the Piopio station was closed at that hour, the nearest was in Te Kuiti, 30 minutes away.
We get these knocks on the door often. There is little between us and New Plymouth, two hours away, but for a few little settlements. Sometimes it's petrol, sometimes it's flat tires or breakdowns. One time it was a lost dog, forgotten at the last rest stop. Another time a cow running down the road. Suffice it to say that lots of things happen on State Highway 3.
John was sent to the rescue. We normally have a can of petrol on hand for the mower. Unfortunately, it turned out that their caravan required diesel. And while we normally have that too, we were out and planning to restock that next day.
Discussion ensued. They accepted our offer to park in the Pet Paddock for the night. John would take them into Piopio the next morning.
We think they had a good (if unplanned) time, sleeping surrounded by the sheep. In the morning we delivered a fresh pot of coffee and a bowl of Piopio berries. Turns out they live in Sydney. Last year toured the South Island, had come back this year to tour the North.
With tank full, they were off to Waitomo Caves for the next stop in their adventure. Hopefully they will remember Piopio and a place called Struan Farm fondly!
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I'm busily making different versions of Lisa Cruse's knitted hat designs ahead of her March Embellishment Workshops at Struan Farm.
I've just finished my first "Piper Beret," made with Cascade 220 Heathers in colorway 2453. This will get felted and embellished under Lisa's strict supervision when she's here in New Zealand in March.
Here's a finished version by Lisa to give you a better idea of what this will (should?) look like when completed:
The Saturday workshop now has six of ten spots filled (only four left!) while it's the inverse situation as of today for Sunday. We have a number of participants who've decided to make a weekend out of it in Piopio and attend both workshops to maximize the learning and creative experience with Lisa.
I can provide information on reasonable accommodation in the area if need be. But if you'd like to come along best to contact me and sign up as soon as possible!
Next for me is I think "Nellie Crush."
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This weekend's project for both John and me turned out to be the new front gate for the main entrance at Struan Farm. While I beavered away painting pickets, John built and painted the structure to hold them:
Next weekend it's a coat of serene green, weather permitting.
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I received these photos by email yesterday from the contractors, taken during the final part of Jim's Hut's journey down Coleman's River Track to the hills overlooking the river. It is now resting safely at its new home base overlooking the Mangaotaki River at Struan Farm.
p.s. I think they were as excited about all this as we were (perhaps relieved, too!).
Noel and Deanna arrive the first weekend in February to finish up the painting, after which we'll finish up the interior, water tank, composting toilet, etc. John's got a little woodburning stove we'll have installed in the corner in due course, so it will be cozy in winter too!
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These pictures just in from Struan Farm yesterday. Oh my! Jim's Hut on the move to the river....
I expect we'll get another report tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed. They got it past the rocks, apparently have parked it overnight before heading down the zig zags to the graded site. Oh my! The weekend can't come soon enough! Noel the painter is coming back in a week or so to finish the painting, think he's going to have a bit of a walk or drive.....
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Thirty to be exact, for the new front gate John is building for our main entrance. First the primer coat, then the undercoat. Once the gate is up we'll then paint everything green, like Heidi's Green Gate.
While I was working away Tom Sawyer and Aunt Polly came to mind. But in this instance I wasn't being punished by having to paint the front fence. I took this project on. And it was quite relaxing and meditative once I got into the groove!
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A small group of work colleagues ventured down to Struan Farm from Auckland last week for a strategic planning offsite. Piopio's Fat Pigeon Cafe provided morning/afternoon tea and catered luncheon. Melanie outdid herself once again!
It was fun to get them to Piopio to see the property. Even better, we actually achieved what we set out to work through! Perhaps the relaxed garden setting helped.
After way too much food, a walk to the river was in order before the drive back to Auckland.
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Take two of the Perfect Pergola, Part Three got done, and looks great. So now that construction is done, I'll need to plant whatever I'm going to plant in autumn.
Grape vines at one end and climbing rose at the other? Don't think grapes have been tested out at Struan Farm as yet, and I like to go where no one has gone before. Yep, just like Star Trek!
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As previously reported, we recently had the huge fallen tree (finally) removed from the pond at Struan Farm. It had tipped over during a major storm last year, trashing one of the more serene, picturesque spots on the property. It was one of those "two steps forward, three steps back" moments that happen, especially when Mother Nature is involved. Cleansing breaths were the order of the day. Fortunately the Buddha sitting beside the edge didn't get flattened, he remained serene as you would expect.
Ahead of the removal we had to drain the pond to allow a digger and crew with chainsaws to get access to the tree. This happened months ago.
Now that the tree is out, John is thinking: maybe we need to add a rock ledge at the far end, creating a waterfall flowing into the pond? There's a small waterfall out the other end into a stream, but not coming in. Historically this area has been a mess, with fallen trees and burn pile, crying out for re-landscaping with proper native planting. It was always a project on our "To Do" list (okay, at least on mine).
First off, I need to say this is one of those projects that requires vision, because it's a shambles right now.
But we both like the idea of the sound of falling water. It's relaxing.
Hmmm, we've got rocks. Lots of rocks, lifted out of gardens over the past wee while. It would be a huge amount of work.
Does that thought ever stop us, give us pause? Not really. So while John is busy thinking rocks, I'm busy thinking landscaping for a proper habitat.
Only one major problem we've encountered so far: I can only find three of the four duck decoys that had been floating around the pond. Hughie, Dewey and Louie are fine, they've landed themselves and await water. But Tui seems to have flown the coop for a duck friendlier environment. Can't say I blame her, it's all pretty messy!
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Major infrastructure work with heavy equipment at Struan Farm over the past week, John was beside himself with excitement. This is what holidays are all about!
The existing track to the river got repaired and the huge fallen tree in the pond, a victim of last year's weather bomb, finally taken out. The former means that it's now possible for people not overly experienced in walking around a rural property to find the river, our sandy beach, and access more remote parts of the property.
I'll be making signs to help show the way. I've been advised that the river track should now be christened "Coleman's Track" in honor of the digger driver. It may become "Coleman's River Track" so visitors have some idea where they're headed though.
A more permanent site for Jim's Hut, overlooking the Mangaotaki River, has also been graded. This is the river with all those trout, waiting to be caught. The guys can't wait to get the Hut down there, I'm not so sure. We'll see how that little adventure goes!
John and I DROVE down the Track to the river on Saturday before sunset, he wanted to show me that this is now possible. It's possible if very dusty right now, gravel/metal and grass to come. But it was fun!
We had cocktails overlooking the rapids (okay, a beer for John and a glass of wine for me), then both John and Clifford went for swims, separately and together.
Now that this part of Struan Farm is more easily accessible, we'll work on a picnic site with table, BBQ, maybe even a camp site. I know, we don't have enough to do, do we?
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Sooty and Oreo seem to be settling in at Struan Farm after they were rounded up over the holidays and returned to the Pet Paddock. The muster was a bit of an adventure for Daniel, Niklas and Heidi.
Daniel and Niklas ended up holding them once John captured them in the yards. Do I need to emphasize that these guys are not farmers? One is an internet business executive while the other is a student--it's the first time they've wrangled lambs. Picture below is courtesy of Heidi, since I was still asleep at the time. I'm seriously sorry I missed it!
The two lambs tend to stick together, which we find interesting, since they aren't related. John has seen them climbing up into the chestnut tree, with the other lambs looking on. Given the height, I hope they don't make a habit of this!
I suspect given their escapades so far that there will be more stories to follow on these two....
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Come meet visiting US based knitting designer and fiber artist Lisa Cruse while she holidays at Struan Farm in Piopio this March. Known as “Ambrosia Cottage” on Ravelry, Lisa’s fabulous felted hat designs with their creative embellishments often incorporate recycled and salvaged materials sourced from op shops. Her Ravelry group has a following of more than 900 members.
Lisa has generously offered to teach two, one day workshops at the farm during her visit: Embellishment Techniques (Saturday, March 9) and Embellishments: Beyond Craft to Artistry (Sunday, March 10).
Depending on the skill levels and interests of participants attending each workshop, Saturday will focus on basic embellishment techniques such as needle felting, embroidery, beading and/or use of fabric to customize knitted/felted items such as hats, bags, cushions or garments. The possibilities are endless and for every budget. Working with swatches and various materials, participants will be able to experiment to get an idea of what can be done creatively with these techniques separately and in combination, also how to approach design. The workshop on Sunday, which can be taken separately by participants already familiar with the basics, will take these techniques to the next level.
Workshops will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with morning/afternoon tea and lunch provided. Space is limited to 10 participants each day to insure personalized attention.
Fee is NZ$125 per workshop, payable in full at the time of confirmed registration. This covers a variety of materials and tools to experiment with on the day as well as food and beverages. Please be advised that no cancellations/refunds will be possible within one week of the workshops unless we are able to fill spots from our waiting list. I'll be making financial commitments for both materials and food at my personal expense.
Participants are encouraged to bring along knitted/felted items that they might want to embellish and materials they would like to experiment with, although there will be ample and varied supplies on hand for everyone to work with.
Come be inspired and learn creative techniques you can apply to many different projects!
For further information or for direct deposit details to make a confirmed booking contact me at [email protected] I will keep you updated on news related to this event as and when appropriate.
I am SO EXCITED that I can hardly wait! It will be amazing to have Lisa with her creative talents teaching us about her approach to embellishment, including me! Best to book early if you're interested in coming along.
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No, this post isn't about The Hobbit, although we did travel down to New Plymouth from Struan Farm in Piopio over the holidays to see the movie, in 3D, fast frame. It was fantastic, and I can't wait for the next installment, but that's another story.
Heidi, Carrick, Norma and I decided to venture up to Tongariro National Park World Heritage Area one day during the holidays. I sometimes forget how close it is, but it's only two hours from Struan Farm, so an easy day trip.
Driving out we were afraid that clouds would obscure the three volcanic mountain peaks, Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe, but we managed to see all three (Ngauruhoe just briefly, thanks to wind). I learned that geologists consider Ngauruhoe to be part of Tongariro, but they look like three distinct peaks to the average person. Recently Tongariro has been active but nothing was happening this day.
It's a high alpine, volcanic landscape. We bundled up and took the chair lift up Mt. Ruapehu to walk around, see the views and have lunch at the highest cafe in New Zealand at 2020 metres, went down and visited the interesting information centre to read about the geology and flora/fauna, and then stopped into the Chateau for a quick peak.
Here are some photographs from the day:
And yes, if one is to believe the road signs, there are even real kiwis running around up here!
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I managed to inspire my friend Heidi back into knitting during her recent visit to Struan Farm.
Getting people knitting, or at least exposed to current knitting trends, is a bit of a personal crusade of mine. Most people aren't aware of the interesting, cool designs and fibers available now, so communicating about this is part of my mission.
Heidi had been a serious knitter in the past, so we could honestly categorize her as experienced but "lapsed."
I can be quite cunning if the situation requires. First, I gave her a Cashmere Bandana Cowl I knitted her for Christmas:
Next, I let her fondle some handspun alpaca yarn:
Then, I took her to nearby Riverdale Alpacas to see alpacas firsthand and tour Julie Mansell's mill, where she processes fleece and spins yarn. We were able to interact with the animals in the paddocks and fondle even more yarn. (Of course she'd seen our sheep and frolicking lambs already, which had softened her up.)
When we returned to Struan Farm we cast on and in no time she was halfway through Mel Clark's Aran Scarf pattern from Knitting Everyday Finery before she departed. (Okay, I did contribute the handspun alpaca and knitting needles, but it was for a worthy cause.) The prospect of returning to winter in Germany after a summer visit to New Zealand might have also been a contributing factor.
It was interesting for me to see that she knits and purls entirely differently to the way I do. The yarn is wrapped in the left hand around the fingers rather than "thrown" by the right, although the stitches look the same when knit. I could see what she was doing with the "knit" stitch, which she calls "right," but the "purl" or "left" stitch was much more complicated, at least for me! This technique is called "Continental," "German," or "European" knitting. There are lots of You Tube videos on it as well.
I'm happy I've managed to inspire her to re-join the club and remember the secret handshake. And the deal is that she's going to hunt down some Wollemeise for me.
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John and Heidi's son Niklas cracked into the next two sections of the Perfect Pergola at Struan Farm over the holiday period. I wasn't sure when this was meant to happen, projects like this tend to get done when John gets inspired, and I'm not meant to inquire or it is interpreted as "pressure."
John decided that it would be easier with Niklas around to help hold the boards, which was certainly the case for Part Two. Completion of Part Three got a little complicated with a debate around measurements, I think there are conflicting accounts about what actually happened with respect to the "screw up." No one is pointing fingers, but another trip into town for extra wood had to be made.
The good news is that Part Two is done and Part Three, take two, is now underway. Oh, and it also seems our Struan Farm sign for the front gate is also in the work queue, since I was consulted on the design:
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I decided to make pavlova for my visiting friend Heidi, her son Niklas, and two other German girls from Dresden staying with us at Struan Farm over the holidays.
We explained that the origin of the dessert was a matter of national controversy between Kiwis and Aussies (as with most things). Both countries lay claim to its creation in the 1920's, when it was prepared for the visiting Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. Fortunately Wikipedia credits the Kiwis!
I made Bill Granger's Pavlova with Brown Sugar and Strawberries, the recipe for which can be found here, but also added blueberries and green and golden kiwi fruit to the top. Yep, as you might expect our national dessert was a major hit!
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