FLOWERS

I always like to have at least one vase of flowers in the house, usually on the dining table.  Just as the vegetables we eat change with the seasons so do the flowers in the vase.

This week's vase consists of Buddleia flowers, Alstroemeria, Yarrow, Garlic Chive flowers, Lovage flowers and a dahlia and I am pleased with the result.

KUMARA (Sweet Potato)

 For the first time we planted kumara in half barrels as there was no room in the garden as we had potatoes growing.  (Last year we harvested the potatoes a bit early in order to plant the kumara).

We knew that they should be left growing for a while longer but one was starting to turn yellow so decided to harvest today and check how they were.  

We will leave the rest for about another month but are happy with what we have (Just under 2 kg.)

We removed the tops and could see there were some kumara there so managed to tip it over.

This was our harvest - I mashed some in with our buttercup squash for lunch. No food miles involved.

AUTUMN

On Wednesday we got our second load of firewood and got it stacked away.  It was just over 1.5 cubic metres and is offcuts from a nearby mill.  Various sizes which suits us fine.  Usually we stack together, me loading the wheelbarrows and Doug emptying them but this time I got the smaller pieces and stacked them in containers while Doug dealt with the larger pieces and this worked well.  As usual we stacked it when it was delivered.

We ordered a third load plus some lengths of timber for Doug to make picture frames and were expecting to wait a week or two for that to be delivered but got a call the following afternoon and had the delivery.  As it was late in the afternoon we just stacked a small amount and did most of it on Friday.  We were both tired at the end of it but it was a good tiredness.  The timber delivered for Doug was Redwood.

                                               Just a part of the timber stacked in the shed

The containers of the smaller wood stacked three deep in another shed.  I was running out of containers hence the polystyrene one in the front.  There were also about half a dozen containers of the very small wood at the bottom of the first photo.

It is really starting to feel like autumn and this morning when we got up at 6 a.m. to go to the Market it was quite chilly and dark.  By the time we arrived at the Market it was light.   Our vegetable garden is starting to wind down with only a few beans and tomatoes left now apart from one Russian Red tomato that is just starting to turn colour so we bought quite a variety.

Today we bought leeks, a couple of Buttercup squash, a small broccoli, some figs, a bunch of bananas (we have three bunches on ours but they are not ready yet), a new to us variety of plum, some Asian aubergine, blueberries, Reed avocadoes, 500 gm. tomatoes and a tray of free range eggs.  Our diet has already changed from our summer diet.

FRONT GARDEN.

It must be a couple of years since Doug cleared out the invasive Alstroemeria from the back of the front garden.  Since then we have been moving plants around.  We now have Michaelmas Daisies along the back and the bees just love them.  They are getting a bit past it now but still make a good show.

TAHI

The property that is now called Tahi was bought twenty years ago and as a run down 320 hectare cattle farm.  Since then it has been transformed into a rich ecosystem. Thousands of native trees have been planted, pests dealt with and rare species have returned 

It was open to the public yesterday (Saturday) so we skipped our usual trip to the market and went out there.  It is 27 kilometres away on a very winding road.  There was an article in our local paper which you can read here.  The main income is from honey.

Everything was very well organised and we were able to get on a walk at 10.15 a.m.. which said it was through bush.  Unfortunately, before the bush there was a long walk in the sun and it was really hot  so we only walked to the bush and not through it.  We walked from just by the coast on the right to the blue X.

The pace of the walk was quite fast and I only managed to get these few photos.

We then went on a van tour at 1 p.m. Everyone was very helpful and all so proud of what has been achieved.  

We had just arrived home when the phone rang and it was someone from the walking group who had been out fishing and wanted to know if we would like some fish.  They were willing to bring it to us but that seemed over generous so we drove out and picked it up.  We enjoyed some last night and the rest for lunch today.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

It has been a bad year for Monarch Butterflies and Doug has only released about 50 this year so it was great when there were five to release this morning.  

We released them early before heading out and had a busy day but more of that later.

TODAY'S WALK

Fifteen of us enjoyed our walk today at Tamaterau.  The walk starts with a reasonable climb then a walk down the road to the beach and back along the shore to the starting point.  Once again we took our own refreshments and found a picnic table in the shade to enjoy it.

Once again Mr. Google has put the photos in the opposite order but never mind.

PATAUA SOUTH

 It is a long time since we went to Pataua South for a walk with the walking group but today was the day.  Only nine of us on the walk but the day was perfect.  Some cloud to start with and a cooling breeze.  We walked over the long pedestrian bridge to Pataua North and these photos were taken from the bridge.

We then walked alongside the Harbour.

For some reason the photos are coming last to first so I am grouping them together.  We then walked to the ocean beach.

The beach

and the houses alongside the beach

On the way back another view of the harbour

We had all brought some refreshments so there was more than enough to eat and drink. The view back to the bridge from our picnic table.

On the way back home we took a side road that led us to the other side of the harbour with a view to the  path we had walked on the other side and the sea.

We got home at about 1.40. It is now nearly 7 pm and raining so no need to water the garden.

LOG SPLITTING AND BUSH WALK

It was March last year when someone set fire to the Cypress tree in the park behind us.  

We ended up with about half a dozen large logs that have been drying.  A couple of days ago Doug got out the log splitter and set about splitting them.  They were full of knots and he ended up using a chainsaw for some of them but persevered and got them all split.  

Yesterday morning we moved all the split wood to the firewood shed.  It has been hot all week (27 degrees) so in the afternoon we went to A.H. Reed Park for a walk in the bush.

It was lovely and cool in the bush, just what we needed.

THE WEEK

Well, although the rain held off on Sunday, it came on Monday.  First thing it didn't look too bad and 5 walkers turned up just as the rain got heavier so it was decided to drive the short distance to the cafe and just skip the walk.  The days go so fast I have trouble remembering but I think it was Tuesday that the temperature went down to 18 degrees Celsius and we lit the fire, it wasn't just the cold but the rain that came with it.  

The rain was much needed but didn't last long and yesterday, Friday we were back to sunny 28 degrees.  Rain forecast for today but it is only just starting now.

When we got up at 6 a.m. it was fine so we headed to the Growers' Market where I bought avocado, peaches, onions, carrots, 9 sweetcorn, 2 dozen eggs and a perpetual lobelia which was not on the list but I am sure we can find a place for it. No need for bananas this week as we have just picked a bunch.

We then did our supermarket shop, came home and put everything away before having breakfast.  I then did some gardening and a couple of loads of washing as the forecast had changed to rain late afternoon while Doug cooked up some rhubarb and apple.

When I bought the sweetcorn the vendor wanted to know why I wanted 9 sweetcorn and not the obvious ten, this is because 3 cobs fit nicely in my saucepan for blanching. Anyway, I got the corn blanched and off the cobs and did a few other odd jobs.  By this time is was about 1 p.m.  I had got some fillet steak out of the freezer last night for our lunch but didn't feel like cooking the vegies to go with it so I creamed some corn and Doug cooked the steak and a large tomato on his grill which we had with avocado on toast.

The rain is just starting lightly and I have picked some more beans,  tomatoes and an apple cucumber.  Most of the washing is dry and put away and the odd bits are on a drying rack.  

When we go out it seems as though Blue, the cat, takes his role of being in charge very seriously as he is always exhausted when we get home.  He was sitting waiting under the punga, had something to eat and has been asleep ever since.

Hopefully, the forecast of rain is correct as the garden is dry once again.

MORRIS DANCERS

I realised that the Morris Dancers visiting Whangarei at the weekend were from all over New Zealand but  not that they were also from more than one part of the U.S.A. and Australia.  

We went to see them at the Town Basin.  Unfortunately, I have a problem trying to load Doug's photos but here are mine.

It was quite cloudy and windy but the rain held off and everyone enjoyed themselves.