SPRING

The first day of Spring although not particularly warm.  We have actually had a warmer than usual winter and Doug has released about 450 Monarch Butterflies they have continued to emerge all through winter.  

Today there was this newly emerged butterfly on a banana leaf.

SUNSHINE

New Zealand has just been hit by a severe weather event which came down from the tropics and dumped large amounts of rain.  The worst hit was Nelson which does not usually flood.  They had more than a metre of rain in four days and it is expected to take years rather than months to fix the damage.  Roads were completely washed away and hillsides slipped down.

As well as urban roads being washed away many State Highways have met the same fate.

There has been flooding in the north and Kaitaia, where Max and I were based for about 40 years was completely cut off from the rest of New Zealand.  Here we were lucky although it feels as though we have had rain for weeks.  Yesterday afternoon we finally saw the sun and today is a beautiful day and I have three loads of washing on the line.

It is amazing how it affects ones energy.  On Friday I didn't have the energy to bake but yesterday managed a loaf for Doug, a g.f. loaf for me and a chocolate cake.

The chocolate cake recipe came from my step-daughter and consists of honey eggs, almond meal, cocoa, vanilla extract, salt and baking soda so is relatively healthy.  The recipe said to use a round tin but I used a square one as it is easier to line. In between making the bread and the cake I also whipped up some easy spread butter (a mix of butter and e.v. olive oil). Although from today's temperatures we may not need the easy spread any more.

Have been picking cauliflower, broccoli, kale and purple sprouting broccoli.  Romanesco cauliflower should be ready soon.  Beetroot, garlic, carrots and spring onions are on their way and I have just sown some sugar snap peas and bean seeds hoping it is not too early.  The sun after days of cloud is making the plants wilt.

RURAL DELIVERY

 I have mentioned previously that Doug's youngest daughter is a Rural Delivery Driver, this means that she is self employed and actually has two small runs next to each other delivering mail as well as courier items.  The combined runs are about 330 kilometres and she delivers 5 days a week.

On top of this she also takes the bulk mail to the township of Waipu 40 kilometres away early every morning.  She starts work at about 4 a.m.  takes the mail to Waipu, goes back to the depot for her Rural Delivery mail.  On a reasonable day she gets home about 4 p.m.

She has a van and covered trailer to take the mail to Waipu and has just bought a second new Ute with a canopy for her Rural Delivery runs.  Yesterday she came around so that Doug could make up "shelves" for the front seats of the utes to put the trays of letters on ready for delivery.

New Zealand Post has recently changed its vehicle colour from red to blue. The N.Z. Post Logo still has to go on.

Doug made two of these, one for each ute.  The pegs at the back are for the seatbelt to go around to stop it all shooting forward when she stops and the bit at the front is to stop the trays of mail from doing the same.

This is one on the seat with one of the trays on it.   

                             (Photos not the best as it was pouring with rain when I took them.

THE WEATHER

While the Northern Hemisphere has been sweltering with heatwaves and wildfires here in the south we have rain.  I cannot remember continuous rain like this.  We have been getting about 6 days of rain then one fine day followed by another 5 or 6 days of rain.  We currently have both rain and wind warnings and walking on our lawn is like walking on a wet sponge.  It is rain quite heavily and the wind is strong.

I see the above is looking slightly better although most days are forecast to have some rain.  Our walking group has been going over ten years now and in the early years we rarely had to cancel a walk but at the moment we seem more likely to cancel than actually walk.

I know it is winter and should mean the dams are full for summer but some more sunny days would be appreciated.  That said, we have been enjoying our time indoors cosy and snug with the fire going and are thankful to be retired.

In the South Island the weather has been more severe with bridges washed away and houses flooded.

GETTING THERE

Covid has really knocked the stuffing out of us and just living has taken up all our time and energy.  We have had quite a lot of rain but then it is winter.

Anyway, yesterday (Saturday) was fine so we decided to go to the Growers' Market.  I wanted to go to the Library next to the Market so we went later than usual and arrived at about 8.40 a.m. This meant that several of the stalls had already sold out and shut down but we bought the few items we needed and enjoyed the walk around the market.  After the Library we did a small supermarket shop before going home and spending time in the garden.  I had already done a couple of loads of washing which dried nicely as I always prefer washing dried outside rather than in a dryer.

We decided that it was time we went for a walk this morning so first thing we did our favourite walk alongside the river in town.  Today is fine but cloudy and it was good to get out for a walk as we still haven't got back to our regular walks.  

When we got back I made a g.f. loaf and we both prepared the vegies and meat for a crockpot casserole which is cooking away slowly.  It was well after 2 p.m. by the time we had lunch which, luckily, was leftovers as neither of us had much energy left. 

With all the rain we have had the ferns and tree ferns were all looking good.  Have just listened to the weather forecast and we have rain and wind warnings for tomorrow afternoon and Tuesday.  Hopefully, it will be fine in the morning for the Parkinson walk.

The vegie garden is doing o.k.

 

YELLOW ADMIRAL

As anyone who follows this blog knows, we have lots of Monarch butterflies in the garden.  Apart from that the only butterfly we tend to see is the common white which is my enemy when it lays eggs on my brassicas.  Doug was quite surprised a couple of days ago to see a different butterfly.  It was a Yellow Admiral. 

 It was in quite a sorry state with its wings quite tattered.  It was pleased to find the Mexican Marigold and stayed there drinking the nectar for some time.  

Doug has released 375 Monarch butterflies this season and is still releasing them in spite of the drop in temperature.  A very cold 15°C today.

BLACKBIRD BATHING

From our kitchen window we look out at a birdbath.  Doug just noticed this happy blackbird having a bath.