Friday, July 30, 2010

Chickens for the Chop

Ever since the beginning of winter our chickens just haven't been doing their job.

We only have 7 hens now (since one got snaffled by a ferret, see earlier posts!), and we have been lucky to get 3 eggs a day, if that.  So, we have decided to give them the chop and put them in the pot.

A couple got a reprieve tho!  I took them to Little Wonders, for a new life with the kids.  Into an old guinea pig cage they went, new straw, made a bigger door then let them out.  The kids were great, really interested in what the chooks were doing scratching around the playground.  They helped fill water containers, fed them some of the lunch leftovers and had their photos taken with them.

The chooks rose to the challenge.  They were relaxed, happy, and got straight down to the business of being a chook!  no eggs yet, but watch this space.  The kids will be so excited if they get an egg or two!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

It's been a real mixed bag

Not only the weather!

First it was cold, freezing fog, frosts, snow and miserable.  Now we are having a week of "Psuedo Spring", it's warm during the day, (well if 10C is warm), and it feels kinda balmy.  The garden is in a false sense of security, the buds are out on the roses, and even the artichokes havent died off completely.

I pruned the grapes out the front, which involved a bit of wishful thinking.  When we "rescued" them, they had had their main arms cut off, so I am having to imagine which of the shoots sent up last year will become a permanent branch.  Anyway, I did my best...

The roses also had a look in.  I have pruned 2 of them, the 2 that are going to be moved.

Garlic has shoots up, and the onions (despite their teeny tiny size) have not died!  which has to be good...

Things have been pretty busy here, which is why I havent posted much.  We said a very sad goodbye to Luan, who went back to Brazil (with dreams of NZ still in his head) and said KiaOra to Majan from Germany.

Also, Mark is now working away during the week, leaving me with 5 kids to look after, as well as working about 25hrs per week!  jeepers, I am stuffed by the end of the week!