A few Farmy Highlights (in pictures) from Jan-Dec 2012

January 2012 begins with a sunset. 

and so mild I was drinking a beer on the verandah. 

February 2012 – got a little bit chilly though the winter of 2012 was comparatively mild. 

Queenie Wineti the Hereford heifer and our darling Mary’s Cat did not mind the cold.  Mary’s Cat was everyones fearless friend. 

March 2012- Mama began to get fat and TonTon was never far from her side. 

and The Duke of Kupa  made his first appearance on the farmy. 

April  2012- The sun came out and the gardens grew, just like they should.

and Mama had her lambs. 

May  2012- after some deliberation amongst the real bosses

Minty was voted to lead the visits to the Old Folks Home. 

June  2012- The arrival of Charlotte and Sheila  – the Shush Sisters. 

and the birth of Bobby Blanc – heralding Daisy’s career as the house cow, feeding us all and still going.

July 2012 – the grass was growing slowly but still no rain.

It was a very dry month, but the bees did not care, there were lots of flowers. 

August 2012 – we began to harvest. If I was going to be self sufficient this year I would have come down with scurvy this winter, lack of rain in the gardens and fields made a huge impact on the yields and on my pantry.  

But the summer feeds were awesome. 

and the animals grew fat on all the good forage. 

September 2012 was busy with putting whatever we could grow in jars and in the freezer and getting ready for the winter. 

Stacking wood and  making hay as winter fodder for the animals.

October  2012 was still dry but we missed the worst of the drought with a little rain here and there.

I kept the stock to a minimum to make the grass last and the hay paddock grew, though I decided against a third cut due to the dry and it being its first year.

We all ate well.

even the smallest members of the farmy.

November  2012 – began fine and fair and dry.

The Duke of Kupa  was in fine form.

Then winter came upon us too early and wiped the gardens out. 

December  2012 – I was in New Zealand.

and on the prairies. Such a life I have.   I am glad you are with me. 

There were so many pictures to choose from and I know that some of the animals missed out but we will make it up to them.

The Daily View, yesterday, and the last shot of the farmy for 2012. 

Good morning. We may not have had a White Christmas but we have a Snowy White New Year.

And now it is 2013.  0 1 2 3 .. an interesting collection of numbers. I think it means that no matter what, we shall smile and move upwards and onwards.  If only in our ongoing pursuit of knowledge and goodness. And kindness, remember that kindness is the most important of all. I have learnt so much this year and much of it I have learnt from you. Thank you.

Have a lovely New Day in your New Year. Luckily we get a New Day every 24 hours. Now, what shall I do with this one!? Milk my cow first I think.

celi