Connor rides on the local miniture railway as part of the PAFT (Parents as First Teachers) Christmas outing
His first proper swing
His first proper swing
WHo's playing at the park..
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A busy weekend
Well, this week, the weekend started with me having Friday off. On this day of rest, and relaxation, Steph and I headed into Wellington for the day, mainly because I had a Christmas party in the evening at a wildlife sanctuary which sounded like it could be a good event, and also so Steph could have a meeting with her boss to discuss options for her going back to work. She's only thinking about heading back for 1 day a week, and not until February anyway, so quite a bit of time to work out what to do with Connor for that 1 day.
Whilst we were in Welly, we met up with Amy, and spent the day with her too, and then in the evening we went to the party, and had a bite to eat, before heading off around 8pm.
On Saturday and Sunday we headed up to Palmerston North and met up with Mum and Dad. And on Sunday we took the pigs in, and collected the new piglets. Gee's that was fun, I spent about an hour chasing one of the boars around and around in the midday sun! We almost gave up but then it came back to the pen (it escaped), and we finally caught it!
Whilst we were in Welly, we met up with Amy, and spent the day with her too, and then in the evening we went to the party, and had a bite to eat, before heading off around 8pm.
On Saturday and Sunday we headed up to Palmerston North and met up with Mum and Dad. And on Sunday we took the pigs in, and collected the new piglets. Gee's that was fun, I spent about an hour chasing one of the boars around and around in the midday sun! We almost gave up but then it came back to the pen (it escaped), and we finally caught it!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
6 Month Comparison
We've stopped taking the nightly photos, here is Connor a few days old, and another at 6 months!
Weekend
Yep, as you can see I got my final revenge on the goat, as we're heading for a very dry summer (already the paddocks are looking like mid Jan) we figured we should shed some stock, so bitchy goat was first on the list. I tried to butcher it myself, and it is a lot harder than I first thought. I have since found a video on how to do it, and I made so many mistakes (well, I went wrong from the first step!) Oh well, I know for next time.
Other than that, on Saturday, I took Connor into Masterton and around so Steph could have a break (and ride the horse), and then in the afternoon I weighed the pigs, and they came in at between 70 and 80Kgs, so this Sunday they are off the get "fabricated" (an interesting euphemism I found on http://www.freshcanadianlamb.ca/video_guide.html, where there are lots of video clips on how to butcher a lamb carcass).
Anyway, we also booked our replacement pigs, and I collect them on Sunday too, we're getting two wild type pigs, so as to compare conversion ratios etc.
On Saturday evening, Andy and I went into Nigels farm for a hunt and came home with 5 hares, and 1 rabbit. The rabbit was quite funny. We were driving along the race side by side on the quads, and I told Andy that I would spotlight, and he would shoot. After a few minutes I spot a bunny, and quickly stop, inform Andy of it's where-abouts and off we go. Unfortunately Andy mis-understood where I said it was, and we ended up quite close, and he missed! Whilst we were keeping the spot light on the rabbit, it started hopping even closer to us (It wanted to follow the light). Eventually it was about 1m in front of the bikes, and it was only a young one (a few months, best eating), and Andy suggested letting it get away, but since it was mesmerized by the light, I passed the spotlight over to Andy, and told him to keep it on it. Meanwhile I walked around behind it and pounced on it, and dispatched it. Unfortunately it bounced out of the bin I have on the front of the bike, so we missed out on bunny in the end. But we got home around 12:30, and all in all it was a good hunt, esp with the mad 10 minutes where we say three hares one after another.
The cats were glad we did so well, they now have cat food for the next few weeks.
On Sunday we did things like mowing lawns etc, and basically had a quiet day.
Phew, up to date. Now for some Connor shots.
Other than that, on Saturday, I took Connor into Masterton and around so Steph could have a break (and ride the horse), and then in the afternoon I weighed the pigs, and they came in at between 70 and 80Kgs, so this Sunday they are off the get "fabricated" (an interesting euphemism I found on http://www.freshcanadianlamb.ca/video_guide.html, where there are lots of video clips on how to butcher a lamb carcass).
Anyway, we also booked our replacement pigs, and I collect them on Sunday too, we're getting two wild type pigs, so as to compare conversion ratios etc.
On Saturday evening, Andy and I went into Nigels farm for a hunt and came home with 5 hares, and 1 rabbit. The rabbit was quite funny. We were driving along the race side by side on the quads, and I told Andy that I would spotlight, and he would shoot. After a few minutes I spot a bunny, and quickly stop, inform Andy of it's where-abouts and off we go. Unfortunately Andy mis-understood where I said it was, and we ended up quite close, and he missed! Whilst we were keeping the spot light on the rabbit, it started hopping even closer to us (It wanted to follow the light). Eventually it was about 1m in front of the bikes, and it was only a young one (a few months, best eating), and Andy suggested letting it get away, but since it was mesmerized by the light, I passed the spotlight over to Andy, and told him to keep it on it. Meanwhile I walked around behind it and pounced on it, and dispatched it. Unfortunately it bounced out of the bin I have on the front of the bike, so we missed out on bunny in the end. But we got home around 12:30, and all in all it was a good hunt, esp with the mad 10 minutes where we say three hares one after another.
The cats were glad we did so well, they now have cat food for the next few weeks.
On Sunday we did things like mowing lawns etc, and basically had a quiet day.
Phew, up to date. Now for some Connor shots.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
A weekend hunting
All in all, it was a good weekend. The plan was that a friend from Wellington was coming up to visit, and we would have a weekend hunting. It started off around 9pm on Friday with a rabbit/hare hunt in the 505ha farm behind us. After stalking a few hares and rabbits and them giving us the slip, as we entered the last paddock, we spied a rabbit at around 70m. After some very quiet walking we got within 50m, and Matt took the shot. Straight through the back of the neck, and we had bagged our first bunny. After a few more minutes driving around the paddock we came across two hares sitting together. We stalked up on them (until they vanished), and then after a few minutes looking around, we got back on to them, and Matt took another shot. Unfortunately, he gut shot the hare, and it ran off, but we found it a short while later, and Matt dispatched it with a shot through the middle of the head!
After that (since it was around midnight), we started heading home, we did run into a few more bunnies and a hare on the way back, but we only came back with 1 extra.
The next morning, we left for the Mukamuka around 9am, first stopping off in Carterton just incase we needed anything.
It was around 11am when we finally got to the split in the river on the muka muka, and we decided where we were going to camp, and then turned the truck around, in doing so, I managed to put a stick right through the side of the rear tyre. The tyre was totally poked (no pun intended), and set to changing the tyre right away. Thankfully the truck had a jack, and a spare tyre that was in good order (maybe it shouldn't have been luck!). Because of the substrate of the river, and the position of the truck, we had to raise the jack using a huge boulder, and then dig out underneath the wheel. Finally after 45 minutes, we got the spare on, and we started on our hunting trip!
About 100 paces later we were at camp!
After a few minutes setting up the tent, and carrying up the gas bottle and 2 burner stove (yes we were roughing it), we sat down and enjoyed a nice brew of tea, whilst we came up with a plan of attack.
After that (since it was around midnight), we started heading home, we did run into a few more bunnies and a hare on the way back, but we only came back with 1 extra.
The next morning, we left for the Mukamuka around 9am, first stopping off in Carterton just incase we needed anything.
It was around 11am when we finally got to the split in the river on the muka muka, and we decided where we were going to camp, and then turned the truck around, in doing so, I managed to put a stick right through the side of the rear tyre. The tyre was totally poked (no pun intended), and set to changing the tyre right away. Thankfully the truck had a jack, and a spare tyre that was in good order (maybe it shouldn't have been luck!). Because of the substrate of the river, and the position of the truck, we had to raise the jack using a huge boulder, and then dig out underneath the wheel. Finally after 45 minutes, we got the spare on, and we started on our hunting trip!
About 100 paces later we were at camp!
After a few minutes setting up the tent, and carrying up the gas bottle and 2 burner stove (yes we were roughing it), we sat down and enjoyed a nice brew of tea, whilst we came up with a plan of attack.
Our first reccy was up the river, and after an hour or so of walking, we decided to turn back as the sides were just getting steeper and steeper, and it wasn't good hunting territory. Once we got back to camp Matt thought he heard a bleet of a sheep or goat, and a short while later we had come to the consensus that it was infact a kid goat and it's mother, plus maybe 1 other. Because we had just walked right down the middle of the river bed, we figured we would give them about 20 minutes to settle back down, and then we would go and find them, so we brewed up another tea. Wouldn't you know it, they buggered off (and it wasn't the smell of the tea etc as the wind was in our favor). Oh well
Whilst we were out looking for the goats, we found fresh (that morning) deer sign beside the river, and it was pretty obvious where it was coming and going to, so we sat down and waited, and waited, but just before dark we decided that a cooking in the light might be better than not, so we headed back to camp.
For tea that evening we had vension (not fresh), rice, onion and carrots. Actually quite tasty, and washed it down with on Glenfiddich.
After dishes etc, it was time for dessert, roasted marsh mellows with more whisky, so we sat on the bank of the river, and made a nice fire, and proceeded to roast the marshmallows. The strangest thing happened though, around 11pm, I heard some rustling of stones just below us, and as I reached for the torch, two people and a dog appeared! They were just walking out..
Anyway, around midnight we headed back to the tent, and tried to get some sleep (the tent is a few inches short for me!).
Sunday morning I got up around 6am, and was out hunting by 6:30, meanwhile Matt was still asleep. Didn't see anything, but I thought I did hear some rustling in the bushes.
After breakfast, Matt and I headed up the hill to see what we could see. On the way up we found some very fresh deer sign (poo), and hoof prints and goat poo. We carried on going up until the bush got too dense to continue. Half way up we stopped to catch our breath, and just as we were, a NZ falcon (endangered species, classified as "Nationally vulnerable") flew below us up the valley. It was very cool to see the falcon, made the trip all worthwhile.
Anyway, since this is long overdue, I'll wrap it up with we didn't catch anything, but we had a good time.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Yikes, it's been ages since I last blogged
Well since that success hunt, much has happened, I've had many more hunts along the same sort of success rates, week before last I was out most evening's because I was trialling out new quad bikes (our trike broke, and isn't worth fixing, so we were looking at a quad, and to try them out I was taking them out for hunts and typically covering them with bunny blood!
Also I've attended a bush craft course for the last few weekends, finishing with a goat hunt last weekend, I took my .308 and didn't hit anything (well, we didn't actually see any goats in a position that they could be shot.
Since it's been so long, I won't try and cover things in any chronological way, but here's what's happened recently.
We've finally got the goats and the sheep shorn, and actually broke even on the sheep which is most unusual for a small flock at the moment. All in all the shear went well, and for 4 flocks (our two, and the two neighbors flocks) it was all done in a few hours. It allowed us to evaluate the two angora does who were quite light in the frame much better 'cause there is no fleece to hide it all (or lack there of). Thy are now on good lush paddock and doing much better (spring has finally hit with vengeance, the temp's are soaring, and grass is growing like no tomorrow. We're hoping for a bit more rain because at the moment we've had no where near enough, but that ain't anything we can do about it now!
Also, all the ewe lambs we got in, have finally been moved on, which further reduces our grass burden, and we're left with 1 ewe and lamb, and one really scraggly one (which I'll probably donk on the head in a few weeks time)
Something I have forgot to mention is that we now have 4 pigs, the three wessex saddlebacks, and now we've got a little pink piglet which we're raising for Christmas dinner, Andy's going to to build a spit roast and then on Christmas eve, we'll "prepare" "Spit roast" (it's name) for the next day, and it should be a bloody good BBQ!
Little "Spit Roast" kept getting out and walking around the garden looking for Steph to feed it, so we've now electrified the pig pen, but I'm thinking that I won't have 4 pigs again, that many do smell, and it's quite close to the house. I might do a bit of fencing, and reduce their paddock in half and that way they will be further away from the house even more.
Anyway, I'll wait till these pigs are moved on, and then we'll get 2 pigs for our selves again.
For the last few days Steph and I have been out at Tora staying in a bach with some friends. The weekend was spent resting (well trying to anyway), and went for a nice walk along the coast with Connor (whilst Steph slept), had an explore in the coastal farm behind the bach on the bike, shot a hare (which I'm turning into hare jerky as I type). Also did a spot of snorkelling, and saw an octopus, some fish, and harvested some Paua which I cooked up for tea last night, very yummy!
Well, that's about us all up to date (oh we've had another litter of bunnies born, and they are growing well, and they are out for ginger bunny and her dad, and we have some ginger babies too!
Now to put up some more photos etc.
Also I've attended a bush craft course for the last few weekends, finishing with a goat hunt last weekend, I took my .308 and didn't hit anything (well, we didn't actually see any goats in a position that they could be shot.
Since it's been so long, I won't try and cover things in any chronological way, but here's what's happened recently.
We've finally got the goats and the sheep shorn, and actually broke even on the sheep which is most unusual for a small flock at the moment. All in all the shear went well, and for 4 flocks (our two, and the two neighbors flocks) it was all done in a few hours. It allowed us to evaluate the two angora does who were quite light in the frame much better 'cause there is no fleece to hide it all (or lack there of). Thy are now on good lush paddock and doing much better (spring has finally hit with vengeance, the temp's are soaring, and grass is growing like no tomorrow. We're hoping for a bit more rain because at the moment we've had no where near enough, but that ain't anything we can do about it now!
Also, all the ewe lambs we got in, have finally been moved on, which further reduces our grass burden, and we're left with 1 ewe and lamb, and one really scraggly one (which I'll probably donk on the head in a few weeks time)
Something I have forgot to mention is that we now have 4 pigs, the three wessex saddlebacks, and now we've got a little pink piglet which we're raising for Christmas dinner, Andy's going to to build a spit roast and then on Christmas eve, we'll "prepare" "Spit roast" (it's name) for the next day, and it should be a bloody good BBQ!
Little "Spit Roast" kept getting out and walking around the garden looking for Steph to feed it, so we've now electrified the pig pen, but I'm thinking that I won't have 4 pigs again, that many do smell, and it's quite close to the house. I might do a bit of fencing, and reduce their paddock in half and that way they will be further away from the house even more.
Anyway, I'll wait till these pigs are moved on, and then we'll get 2 pigs for our selves again.
For the last few days Steph and I have been out at Tora staying in a bach with some friends. The weekend was spent resting (well trying to anyway), and went for a nice walk along the coast with Connor (whilst Steph slept), had an explore in the coastal farm behind the bach on the bike, shot a hare (which I'm turning into hare jerky as I type). Also did a spot of snorkelling, and saw an octopus, some fish, and harvested some Paua which I cooked up for tea last night, very yummy!
Well, that's about us all up to date (oh we've had another litter of bunnies born, and they are growing well, and they are out for ginger bunny and her dad, and we have some ginger babies too!
Now to put up some more photos etc.
More photos of Connor
Daddy asked me to smile for the camera
One day I'll replace this ball with a bar!
I wonder if I can get Mum and Dad with this splash.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Goats get revenge
There is some words coming soon (probably on Monday, I've started writing a catch up, but here's a photo of a wound a goat gave me last weekend.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Bush Baby
Here are some photos fomr our walk into the bush today.
I'll write a blurb tomorrow evening summerising the whole long weekend.
I'll write a blurb tomorrow evening summerising the whole long weekend.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Catch up.. finally.
I figured that after, what three weeks, I think, I should finally post a catch up, and give the story of the deer, and the other assorted photos.
Since the last textual post, Steph and I had a several day trip to Auckland to see her side of the family. We drove all the way up on the Thursday, and for the most of it, Connor was well behaved, he only started getting grizzly around Mata-Mata, and then from around the Bombay's onwards he was crying for most of the way!.
Anyway, Auckland was good apart from Steph and I suffering some form of upset stomach on the last day, and then having to drive to Rotorua. On the way to Rotorua, we dropped by Barry's place (Steph's Grandad) for a visit.
By the time we got into Rotorua, I was feeling like, well, I guess you can fill in the blanks, and was in desperate need of a snooze, so Steph and Connor went out for tea (a pack of biscuits, as neither of us felt like eating).
That evening, Steph was fine, whereas I suffered a massive case of the vomits from about midnight onwards, but still at 7ish, we left Rotorua and headed for Mum and Dad's place in Waipawa. Unfortunatly, due to the car seat, and the limited leg room in the Safari, I have to drive everywhere now, and man, was I wasted when I got to Hawkes Bay. Not only that, my stomach was still very sensitive (and it remained that way for about a week).
Anyway, we finally got home, and I took the rest of the week off to recover.
That Friday, Steph had organised for me to go on a guided hunt out on Glenburn station for deer. We headed out around lunch time on Friday, and after spending the afternoon sighting in the rifles and drinking tea, we headed out around 4pm. Around 8pm the deer put in an appearance, and after about 30 minutes of stalking, I had my first deer! We went pig hunting the next morning but that was less successfull, say lots of deer though!
That's really about all the good news. So here's a new video of Connor, and I'll try to keep the blog up to date a bit more (I've just been fed up with technology recently so blogging is down on the list of things I want to do!).
Anyway, enjoy.
Since the last textual post, Steph and I had a several day trip to Auckland to see her side of the family. We drove all the way up on the Thursday, and for the most of it, Connor was well behaved, he only started getting grizzly around Mata-Mata, and then from around the Bombay's onwards he was crying for most of the way!.
Anyway, Auckland was good apart from Steph and I suffering some form of upset stomach on the last day, and then having to drive to Rotorua. On the way to Rotorua, we dropped by Barry's place (Steph's Grandad) for a visit.
By the time we got into Rotorua, I was feeling like, well, I guess you can fill in the blanks, and was in desperate need of a snooze, so Steph and Connor went out for tea (a pack of biscuits, as neither of us felt like eating).
That evening, Steph was fine, whereas I suffered a massive case of the vomits from about midnight onwards, but still at 7ish, we left Rotorua and headed for Mum and Dad's place in Waipawa. Unfortunatly, due to the car seat, and the limited leg room in the Safari, I have to drive everywhere now, and man, was I wasted when I got to Hawkes Bay. Not only that, my stomach was still very sensitive (and it remained that way for about a week).
Anyway, we finally got home, and I took the rest of the week off to recover.
That Friday, Steph had organised for me to go on a guided hunt out on Glenburn station for deer. We headed out around lunch time on Friday, and after spending the afternoon sighting in the rifles and drinking tea, we headed out around 4pm. Around 8pm the deer put in an appearance, and after about 30 minutes of stalking, I had my first deer! We went pig hunting the next morning but that was less successfull, say lots of deer though!
That's really about all the good news. So here's a new video of Connor, and I'll try to keep the blog up to date a bit more (I've just been fed up with technology recently so blogging is down on the list of things I want to do!).
Anyway, enjoy.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
My First Deer
My First Deer, a young male yearling (spiker) taken from around 100 metres with my .308 Remington 700.
Yes, Mum, that is my old pinkish top!
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