Our Personal Cash Cow

Reflecting on my past posts regarding our wonderful beef, I can't help but realise just how fast time has past me by which is a constant reminder to me that I haven't been enjoying the lifestye the Ponderosa has to offer as much as I would like at present.

Bullet is still with us, and we hope he has done the business properly, however we had to get rid of our wonderful calves.  Not because we wanted too, but because the Ponderosa wasn't big enough to sustain 14 beef without bringing in more feed to help out.

We (or should I say my husband) has worked hard to ensure the paddocks used for grazing has been as organic as we can keep them, and as a result our beef were growing extremely fast.  An awesome result, if you want to get a return on your investment but it was sad that we couldn't keep them longer.

Don't get me wrong.  The original plan for the calves was to get the experience of calving, see how much work was involved, how it fitted into our lifestyle, how cost effective it was with an end result of selling them or putting them in the freezer when they were at least 2 years old.

The Calves - Approximately 2 months old

The exercise was well worth it and although I didn't personally enjoy the early morning feeds, there was a sense of accomplishment at the different stages of their growth.  They didn't quite make it to 2 years but the return we recieved exceeded our expectations.

The challenge for us now is to get that balance of beef right for the Ponderosa.  We hope Bullet has done the business which means all 8 of our cows are in calf, due by July at the earliest.  The next exercise is to see if calving with mothers is much easier than without.  I have a feeling that it will and I'm excited to experience the first calf being born.

Happy living people.

Farewell to The Pines

When we first moved on the Ponderosa, one of the first things that made an impact on the property was the 20 years old pine trees that were planted in the back paddock I nicknamed "The Pines".

It was the perfect location for our chicken run and allowed the Chooks shade and plenty of bugs to dig up and feed on.  Remember my blog when they first arrived - Our New Chooks.  They looked wonderful from the east boundary looking towards the homestead as well.

Unfortunately during the first winter we got to experience just how much the south westerly winds like to whip through the pines.  As time progressed we became extremely concerned that some would fall either on the homestead or on the neighbouring property or heaven forbid on their house.

So .. an opportunity arose to have them removed and we took it.  If I am to be honest, I wasn't too enthusiastic to have them come down, but I caved and after it all was quite surprised with just how much difference it really made to the landscape of the property.

Before

After

Before

After

If I am to be honest, I am sad to see them go, however in the long term I hope to turn that area into an orchard .. only after the chooks have had a good crack at scratching the decomposing the area first.

Scented Wonder

I can't believe that summer has come to an end and we are already half way through autumn.  I've been busy over the past few months as my beautiful grandmother has fallen ill which means I haven't spent a lot of time on the Ponderosa.

Today I had an opportunity to do some work around the house and during some reflection time of sitting on the front porch, I gazed out over the rose garden (which is coming starting to come to the end of it's flowering) and reminisced on the beautiful display it managed to produce this season as I was either leaving or arriving home.

I just had to post some photos considering the last post was about designing it.  

It never ceases to amaze me the enjoyment that the Ponderosa provides me.   99% of the roses in this garden are wonderfully scented so you can just imagine the aroma that drifts through the air when there is a gentle breeze.

There is still room for a few more roses, and there are specific ones I am after and need to look quite hard to source them ... watch this space.

Happy living people

New Rose Garden

The new rose garden has been a work in progress for a while now.  It all started when we decided to trim the existing climbing rose that was entangled on the existing trellis (which was being held up from the rose itself).  When we started the fence just fell to pieces.  Hmmmm ... time to rethink the garden.

I've always loved roses and I needed a place to plant existing roses from the Ponderosa to one central place.  This was the perfect spot.  The fence came down .. and stayed down for quite some time until we acquired some used tin for free and used it to replace the old trellis.  A quick spray paint with "karaka" which made the fence blend into the backdrop and not stand out.  Transport the roses from other existing gardens .. luckily only two didn't survive :-( ... fill in the spaces with a combination of other beautiful roses.  Plant some swan plants, gladioli bulbs and erect a nice bird house .. painted curiosity of my lovely god daughter Hope.  Add some weed cloth to keep the weeds away, cover with bark to keep in the moisture ... then sit back and watch the garden grow.

Before ...

Nearly Finished

Hope adding the final touches to the garden .. painting the bird house

I envisage the roses at the back being quite tall adding a backdrop for the front flowers in the garden and the colourful birdhouse peaking out from the lush roses that will grow up and around it.  

So it's not quite finished yet, but I'm still very happy with the current result!!

Happy living people.

More & More Cakes

The last couple of months have been quite busy for me and my cakes so I thought I would share a few more photo's.

Happy living people

Summer Fruit Surprise

We have been in our home for two years now and it never ceases to amaze me how we are still finding new and exciting things around the house that we've never experienced before.

The lastest is three fruiting cherries and fruiting japanese plum tree.  Don't get me wrong.  I've known the trees were there, but last season I didn't notice any fruit on them and thought they were both of the "ornamental" kind.

Last year we had two plums fruit on our tree which was such a disappointment.  We waited for three weeks before the fruit look ready for picking, only to go out and find .... GONE!!  Not sure where they went as we couldn't see any pips or evidence the birds had got to them.  I got to thinking someone had picked them and didnt' tell us :-(  This year though, it was a awesome. The tree was loaded and we awaited the first plum to be ready for picking.  Hmmmm, it was worth the wait.  A whole year of waiting, with two weeks of fresh plums .. but now the tree is empty.  Stripped from us picking and eating them constantly.  I thoroughly enjoyed this seasons plums on this one tree, although I can't help wonder that we are about one month ahead of ourselves with the weather.

We've planted two black doris plums and two other plum trees on the property to help with our season demand.  Hopefully next season, we will have more than two weeks of enjoying fresh plums.

As for the cherries?  Well that's a completely different story. 

Imagine my surprise when I was sitting at home on my side porch overlooking our land with our beloved dog "bruno", when a flashing red colour caught my eye as the breeze was blowing in the trees.  I ran down to have a closer inspection only to find cherries starting to colour.  I was so excited I yelled 'WE'VE GOT CHERRIES', only to realise I was the only person at home, and my dog was looking up at me with a very strange look on his face :-) I had to text my husband straight away to tell him the news and when arriving home, he found two other trees fruiting as well.  YAY!!!

Unfortunately we weren't as lucky with the cherries as we were with our plums. The birds got to them first, but rest assured, I'll be determined to keep them away next season!!  We've also planted another two more cherry trees and hope that they will also flower and fruit to help provide for us over the future summer months.

Happy living people

Front Porch - Summer Time

I read somewhere that it's important to dress or decorate your outside living spaces as well as your indoor ones so I thought with such lovely weather we've experience over the last couple of days, I'd do exactly that during the weekend.  Dress the porch in time for summer.

With the help of my beautiful grandmother, I potted some petunia's for added colour - still in the pots I painted last summer.  They have weathered a little, but that all adds to the character I think.

I've replaced some colour with some fresh herbs such as parsley, coriander and mint to help with the demand from the kitchen/bbq during summer and added some old jars to house the xmas lights that will add ambiance during the summer months.

The revamped old bench seat and patio furniture are still looking good and offer different options to sit, relax and reflect.

I am very excited about the new additon of the old timber jack my husband inherited which sits proudly up against the old homestead and the vintage sieve that hangs above it. They are a gentle reminder of how life must've been many years ago when they were the cutting edge of technology.

There are still a few things left to do to get the ponderosa ready for the xmas holidays and summer weather, but I'm really happy with the results of one afternoons work.

Happy living people.

Reflection - Passed, Present & Future

I've just returned home from a journey south to Te Teko for a very sad occasion. The Pryors - a whanau that I hold close to my heart had suffered a tragic loss with the death of their beautiful son and I went down to attend the tangi (funeral).

I received the sad news early Tuesday morning and knew straight away the tangi would be held in Te Teko at the whanau marae.  I felt extreme sadness for their loss, particularly because it was someone so young - in fact only 4 years old and I posted on facebook how undeniably heartbreaking it must be for the whanau.  My thoughts continued to ponder about how difficult it has been to loose a loved one for me, however I haven't been placed in a situation where they have been so young and I hope I never get to experience it - EVER!!  Life is to be lived and children are suppose to grow old and die after you - not before. Aren't they?

When the news was confirmed the tangi would be in Te Teko, I made the arrangements to go.  I hadn't seen the whanau all together for a very long time and although this was a sad event that would reunite me with the whanau, I was looking forward to seeing them again and offering my support.

The journey down was cold and wet.  Again, my thoughts diverted to when I used to travel down to Kawerau & Rotorua frequently to stay with the Pryors and how it had been a long time since I had made the journey. Seeing particular landmarks brought back fond memories of how much fun I had down there with the whanau.  At that point, I regretted my own daughters didn't make this journey with me. 

We arrived in Te Teko and as expected, it was very sad.  I had seen "dad" Selwyn quite a few times over the years and we embraced once again and he thanked me for coming.  The whanau performed the haka for little Jaxon as he left the marae which bought tears to my eyes and without words I embraced my friend Fonda.  We have known each other since high school and had gone through alot together, therefore words weren't needed. A similar embrace was given to "son" Selwyn at the urupa (cemetery). Again, no words, but the emotion of a long embrace.  

I remember feeling very emotional again at the urupa when I saw Gord and his partner Liz standing at the foot of the grave embracing with such sadness knowing the final physical moments with their son was coming to an end.  As I approached Gord I fought to hold back the tears, but couldn't - we quietly embraced with silent tears.  

"Mum", Karen had travelled back from England for the tangi and she proceeded to thank me after we had embraced.  It really had been a long journey for her and it showed.   The last person was Kathie or "Dukes".  I had seen her a number of times over the years, and this time she looked physically tired.  Again, it was another warm embrace with her thanking me for being there.

I was so overwhelmed, not because of seeing the whanau again, but more at the fact that they expressed so much love thanking ME for being at the tangi.  I remember thinking how wrong that was, for it was ME who was so grateful to THEM for allowing me an opportunity to be apart of them and their lives.

I reflected more on my way home as I listened to my mother snoring in the passengers seat.   The Pryor whanau truly are good people and although they are filled with sadness now, I know as each day comes, so will a shining and positive horizon for them all.

Although I never met Jaxon, I'm extremely grateful he reunited me with the Pryors.  This whanau really do hold a very special place in my heart and I look forward to seeing them all again in the near future.

Sunday Afternoon Blossoms

I've had a pretty full on couple of weeks with my work and voluntary commitments so it was refreshing for me to have Sunday afternoon at home.  As an added bonus, we really have been experiencing some lovely weather so to enjoy Sunday afternoon at home in the sun was just awesome for me.

So .. what do you do when you have a sunny Sunday afternoon at home?  My husband and I decided to build a fence in the garden.  Unfortunately it's not quite finished as we need to paint it, so I'll save that story for another blog.

Although relaxing wasn't quite on the agenda for this day, I did manage to sit and admire the blossoms in the garden and made me reflect on my life.  It really is a nice time around the Ponderosa and just love it.

I must add that I did finish the day sipping on a nice glass of NZ sauvignon blanc :-)

Have a great day people!!

Bullet The Bull

Just when we thought we had enough beef on the Ponderosa .. we have another one, but only on a temporary basis.  His name is Bullet the bull and he makes 14.

He arrived late on a Sunday night from our family farm in Te Hoe o Tainui .  Dad put him straight in with the sheilas so I didn't have an opportunity to have a good look at him or to stand and watch how he settled in for the night ... I had to wait until the morning.

So, when I walked to the edge of the paddock the next morning, he appeared on the far side. As he started walking towards me, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I stood and watched him figure out he was full of a paddock of strange females.

I thought he would be quite happy :-) as he sniffed around, but as he got closer and closer it was clear to me he had had a pretty rough night.  In fact, he looked like he was dumped in the mud and left there to sleep.  Poor thing.  I'm not quite sure what had happened that night, as dad assured me that he wasn't covered in mud when he loaded Bullet onto the trailer.

Bullet the bull - the morning after!!

The sheilas need to get used to Bullet, because his only purpose is to sow his seeds.  Our plan is to multiply our beef, then at some stage sell some older cows, put some in the freezer, keep what's left, then as time goes by ... start all over again.   Well, that's the plan anyway.  I don't claim to be an expert on beef, in fact, I don't even know if it's going to work, but I am excited at the prospect of what's to come with our beef.

Our beef .. in total harmony .. NOW

Happy living people!!