I wished for a fine cold day …
and that is exactly what we got … 
with plenty of Sunday to hang out in the wintry sun all day.
The Duke of Kupa …
… was particularly spectacular with his sparkly colour. 
We went to collect the hay from a lovely old farm …
where this dog …
… and this little boy’s Daddy’s grandfather lives.
It is a beautiful old farm. It was a very reasonable price of six dollars a bale. Though I said to John, last year I would have been appalled at buying hay at six dollars a bale and today I think it is a good price. Everything is relative to something else.
Good morning. Yesterday I made mint and chocolate ice cream with my very own mint essence. To make the essence I packed a jar with mint from the neighbours that has been in her garden so long it has no name, covered it with everclear (you can use a good vodka too) and left it for a few months. Strained, it is very minty and bright green. Now we are wondering what else to use it with. Maybe I should add some to yesterdays yoghurt, well maybe not!!
I wish you all a fun and safe New Year’s Eve. We will be in bed early as usual as Daisy has no respect for sore heads or tired milkers. So I do not mind at all if you have an extra glass for me. And speaking of Daisy, after beginning the process to see if she has mastitis or not, she turned around yesterday morning and gave 5 pounds more milk than usual. So whatever is bothering her is not accelerating at all. I am still going to have her milk tested though, just to be sure. Something is not right.
Have a lovely day and a Happy New Year. See you next year. Just before dawn as usual.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
74 responses to “A Sparkly Farmy Day”
Happy New Year, Celi!! What a gorgeous sunny day, but I bet it’s freezing! 🙂 We use our homemade spearmint essence to flavour truffles and spearmint creams!
Spearmint cream sounds divine! Happy new year celia.. c
Happy New Year!
Happy New year to you! I’m also one who prefers to see the dawn of the new year smile. Loved your photos of The Duke of Kupa, I can;t talk my family into letting mehave a peacock..
Love leanne NZ
tell them it is a big chook! c
And let me also wish you a very happy new year, Celi. One with many more surprises and joy-filled moments. You bring a sense of adventure with you wherever you go, so I’m looking forward to hearing more about life on your wonderful farmy. I had some “peacock” encounters earlier this month myself. I’ll be sharing about that when I can, and I’ll alert you to the post so you can see some California peafowl! 🙂 Blessings to you and yours, and I’ll travel over tomorrow to share the new day and the new year.
Thanks for the idea of mint essence! Wow! Must try that! oxo
it is so easy! and super minty.. I look forward to your ‘fowl’ stories!! c
It’s good to know Daisy is on the mend. I didn’t know you could make your own essence. You are very creative and I’m sure you’ll come up with lots of ways to use it up. Happy New Year, Cecilia xx
Happy New Year!
From being eleven hours into 2013 may I send the warmest New Year’s wishes to the farmy! It’s alright this side of the New Year bells and the famous Sydney Harbour fireworks fired off alright with no great surprises! Love that first photo of some very contented and rather plump cats: methinks all is well in your world 🙂 !
Morning Eha and i am so glad you made it into 2013 intact.. have a lovely New Day! c
Actually, I believe Miss Daisy was just missing you! Happy New Year! Faith.
morning faith, she is pretending that she does not care! But i know better.. c
A blessed New Year to you.
and for you too Alice, i am wondering how your garden planning is coming along.. i must pop over.. c
Just piles of cardboard right now. Hoping for a small plot in a nearby community garden this year.
that would be very cool.. c
Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy your evening and I’m thankful you had a sparkly day – the pictures are so vivid and stunning. 🙂
Morning kristy.. i wonder how your new years is going, did you cook anything special.. after all that christmas cooking maybe you are being a wee bit casual? I shall pop over and see.. c
Kupa looks resplendent! Today it is fine and hot in Auckland; so glad you had a fine day, even if cold, and that you got your hay for what sounds like a good price compared to the other reports. Glad too, to hear that Daisy is picking up and responding to the good attention she is receiving.
Happy new year Celi, and may it bring many good things. I still keep thinking, when I walk up to the Ponsonby shops, Cecilia was here just a little while ago. No doubt it seems like an age already from where you are now.
just the other day.. and i walked from ponsonby all the way down to the viaduct, it was grand! Auckland was kind to me! c
Everyone is looking particularly beautiful at the farmy. Happy 2013!
Happy Happy New Year to you all Celi!!! xoxoxo
All the best for 2013 – may it be peaceful and prosperous for you, your family, and all of your readers
Happy New Year I loved every photo EVERCLEAR is the other name MOONSHINE lol man makes me want a small dish of that tasty Ice cream for sure!