Struan Farm

Being in the Know

Do you remember your father asking your mother where his keys/shoes/socks/wallet/phone (insert anything, really) were? I used to laugh at this growing up, my father expecting my mother to know where he'd left his stuff. Most of the time she did.

Now I find myself in a similar situation, which makes me think that this behaviour is perhaps more universal than I'd thought.

John misplaces his keys/wallet/phone and asks me where they are. I leave my things in the same place so I can find them when I need them. John leaves things all over then issues an SOS. My sympathy extends only so far on this score. Our standing joke is that he's a much better person than I am!

A few days ago a ladder Mike needed was missing. John searched all the sheds, workshop, etc. and couldn't find it. Now I don't use ladders. We both went down for a second look around, since Plan B was to buy a new one. I went into the tractor shed. The ladder was right there. 

Seems I have another super power in addition to a Green Thumb and Eyes in the Back of My Head: Being in the Know. It's a burden, really!

 

Our Resident Pacifist

I've posted previously about how Struan Farm's pet lamb Rosie (now a hogget, technically) has come to love fresh apple pieces as treats. She will gallop across paddocks when her name is called out and apples waved in encouragement. Pet lamb Ruby (now also a hogget, technically) has also became a fan.

Each evening Rosie has been coming up to the house paddock around bottle time for this year's pet lambs so I will see her grazing. This is my cue to go get her apple after I finish bottle duty. It's our little time to reconnect.

A few days ago when I went to feed Rosie her apple Ruby came barrelling up, pushed her aside, and demanded most if not all of the apples. Ruby is considerably larger than Rosie, but they're, well, practically sisters. So I thought they'd share, particularly when I encouraged that. But much to my surprise, Rosie walked away and left the apples to Ruby. In fact, after this incident she disappeared entirely for a few days.

I started to get worried. Our big little lamb had run away, thinking she wasn't special any more. So Daniel, Ella, Livvy, John and I took apples and went looking for her around the farm, calling out her name as we walked the hills.

John came across Ruby in the Cottage Paddock, who saw the apple and came running right over:

I finally saw Rosie running with the mob through the house paddock and called out. She was hesitant to leave the mob but did come to me. I gave her an apple and a pat, and we're back on track.

But now pet lambs Curly and Buster are also nibbling pieces of apple. And if Ruby is within earshot feeding any to Rosie is impossible.  There are more participants now in the Apple Wars. And Rosie always turns the other cheek and walks away to graze rather than get into a pushing match.  

So if there are too many other contenders milling around the paddock, if I can't feed her at the fence or retaining wall without a scrum, I now toss her pieces where she is grazing. The others don't notice, she eats them and seems to appreciate that in her quiet, dignified way. 

Pet lamb Rosie is clearly our resident pacifist in the Apple Wars!

 

In Need of a Little Christmas Right Now

I'm supposed to be ironing sheets. Not exactly my favourite job, but it's raining. And I'm about to be a bit late feeding new pet lambs Minnie and Mickey here at Struan Farm. But I found myself just needing a little Christmas. Do you know the song? "I need a little Christmas, right this very minute?" Well, I did.

I miss not having a tape or CD of carols to pop on to sing along with. That helps get me into a seasonal mood for sure. And living in a remote rural area I don't exactly cruise the shops at this time of year, buying oodles of presents. I'm missing Christmas. I want to feel that Christmas spirit.

So I went and got out our Christmas decorations. This has helped.

Still in a dilemma on the tree, and I have heaps of beautiful ornaments that I'd like to use, stored away. We won't have another droopy radiata pine, those are too saggy, sad. I won't get a plastic tree, those look too fake. Last year we had a tiny blue spruce in a pot, but that was a bit of a joke. We may end up with something recycled, entirely unconventional as a result, and maybe not this year. It's still a mission.

I'm a traditionalist. Something inside me needs the comfort of that. For years I sponsored a family each year at Christmas for the Salvation Army, went out and bought presents and food that I wrapped beautifully, piled into laundry baskets and delivered. I need to do something like that again, that's what Christmas spirit is all about. Not decorations, really.

 

The Mowing Gene

As I watched these Robertsons riding around on mowers over the weekend here at Struan Farm, and enjoying it, it came to me: there must be a "mowing gene." I don't know what other explanation there is for this, really:

Just need to get Ella and John to wear their ear muffs...

Celebrating Milestones

As I've mentioned, we had a very low key joint birthday party this past weekend for granddaughter Livvy and John. They'd agreed to celebrate their birthdays together, although Livvy dictated the cake choice: chocolate. John's birthday is more the milestone of the two. He will get his preference, sultana cake, next weekend.

Two candles on the chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, topped with edible borage flowers:

Ella and I spent the morning making homemade Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream as a surprise for Livvy, a huge hit. Think we're sending the leftover cake home with Daniel and the girls, John and I will keep the ice cream!

Fun & Games

The Te Kuiti Medical Centre held its annual holiday function in the Homestead Gardens here at Struan Farm over the weekend. In addition to a buffet dinner catered by The Fat Pigeon, they played heaps of games: croquet, badminton, gumboot toss, wheelbarrow race, "hungry hippos" (a new one on me!), egg and spoon/speculum race, three legged race, and darts (with the photo of a certain President-Elect as the bull's eye). I'm sure I've forgotten something! John mowed the Pet Paddock so that it was looking beautifully park- and lawn-like.

Fortunately the weather cooperated, the forecast earlier in the week hadn't been great. Skits happened later in the evening after dinner. Sounds like a fun time was had by all.

And yes, I did just a few flower arrangements!

A Busy Schedule

We had a bit going on over the weekend here at Struan Farm.

The Te Kuiti Medical Centre had its annual Christmas function in the Homestead Gardens on Saturday, with games and food catered by The Fat Pigeon Cafe. We also had a rather special joint birthday celebration for granddaughter Livvy and John. John has reached a rather significant milestone in life--let's just say he's received his "Gold Card." (He's being somewhat sensitive about this, so I haven't told you, okay?)  I will fill you in on these events in other posts this week.

Because I've saved the best news for last. We got a call yesterday morning asking if we'd take a pair of late season lambs. The large farm next door didn't want them, they wouldn't have been kept. And so "Mickey" and "Minnie" have arrived at Struan Farm. We all travelled over to pick them up.

Once back at Struan Farm they settled into the Pet Pen, hastily put back up by John and Ella. In the meantime, they were babysat by Cookie, Buster, Curly and Tootsie, who weren't too sure about having new lambs on the scene. Everyone will be the best of friends eventually, I'm sure. We're having a few teething pains, since these are lambs that were with their mum for a day or two. They need to learn to drink out of a bottle, and are dealing with some separation anxiety too. 

Lots of cuddles and a few quiet talks will definitely help!


 

The Mystery of the Lavender

There's a bit of a "situation" to report by the water tank at the new(ish) house here at Struan Farm. The lavender I planted around our water tank last year, the plants that flowered so brilliantly last season, are doing something rather odd. Only half of them have flowered, those on one side of the tank. While the others appear to be alive, still, there's little sign of flowers. Hmmm, wonder what's caused this? I thought lavender was hardy, tough as boots, and have never had a problem growing it before now.

 

After doing a bit of research I've learned the following: (i) lavender doesn't like acidic, clay soil, which I've planted it in; (ii) lavender doesn't like too much water, and we've been getting quite a bit of rain; (iii) lavender likes the sun--the plants on the sunnier side of the tank are blooming, while those on the darker side really aren't, and don't look happy. I'm wondering if I put something on to offset the acidic soil (dolomite lime...) this might help. 

On closer inspection, I've noticed that there are some wee blooms struggling along...

Lavender was a symbol of "mistrust" in Victorian flower language. Apparently in the Mediterranean where it grew originally asps tended to hide in the plants, so they were approached with great caution. On the other hand, bees love the flowers, so they are wonderful to have in the fruit orchard, that is if they do flower! I will try to help these along.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

To quote Gertrude Stein, things are what they are right now at Struan Farm. The roses are blooming profusely!

The gardener (ahem, that would be me) needs to get started dead heading or there will be fallen petals all over shortly.

The Cottage Finds Itself Again

With thanks to local Te Kuiti artist Jill Ikin, the Cottage at Struan Farm has its identity back! I was introduced to Jill by Sue at Creative Spaces after Zenna at Oops.A.Daisy suggested I talk to Sue. (As you can see, it's sixty degrees of separation here in Piopio/Te Kuiti.)

Since I loved the simple, rustic look of the original, Jill replicated that.

Thanks Jill, Sue and Zenna, it looks really great. And I'm sure this one will last another 15 years!