Don't Follow A Path, Make Your Own

We've had a bit of a dilemma as to how are we going to get the fire wood from the pine trees at the bottom of the hill, up to the house at the top of the hill. 

Summer 2013/14 we carried some logs up the hill and it just about killed me and I'm not wanting to do that every year, especially as I'm getting older and not younger.

The distance from the bottom of the hill to the top isn't great, but the hill is just steep enough to make it too difficult for any vehicle to safely drive down, and then get back up with a load of fire wood.

So, with a spade in one hand, plenty of stamina, perhaps a little blinded enthusiasm, I started cutting a trail into the side of the hill. Just wide enough for the ride on lawn mower or a quad bike with a trailer to get up an down. 

I started half way up the hill, where it was the steepest. In the background of the above photo, you can see some of the firewood stacks waiting to be moved up the hill.

Above, working my way up... then below, working my way back down...

Even the cows have enjoyed using the track up the hill...

So I've made the track about 1m wide, and I've allowed for a little culvert on the inside of the track to collect any water that comes down the hill, hopefully keeping the track reasonably dry. I just need to purchase a couple drain pipes that will cross under the track to drain away the excess water.

It still needs some finishing touches, as I now need to purchase some gravel to go on the top of the track to provide some grip.

Firstly we're going to try the ride on lawnmower, to see if it can get up and down the track. Getting down, I don't expect any issues, I'm just not sure if it will have the power to get back up the hill with a load. If it can get up easily enough, then we will buy a little ride on lawn mower trailer and use that to get the firewood up the hill.  If that doesn't work, then we will get a quad bike & trailer.

I will post some update pictures, when we have them... of the gravel laid, and of the first drive down & back up.

Gotta Love The Long Weekends...

Three day long weekends are a blessing when living on a lifestyle block. There is always so much to do, and when a 3 day weekend does come around, such as the recent Auckland Anniversary, it gives you another day to tinker about the place, or as we choose this recent long weekend, 2 days working around the block, and then the final day was allocated for rest and relaxation with a beach walk & picnic.

Saturday was allocated to clearing out the garden shed. I could barely get in there anymore, tripping over things as I tried to get the chicken feed out every day. However my hoarding gene kicked in, and very little was thrown away in the end. But after a couple hours I could see some of the floor after a bit of reorganisation. 

While clearing out the shed, I did find a new overhead type kitchen cabinet that we didn't use on one of our previous renovations. A perfect find, as that is now firmly attached to the wall above the laundry tub to store the detergents and cleaners. I still have quiet a few boxes to go through and to sort out... but you can't rush these things.

Sunday was dedicated to pruning some of the pine tree's, cutting off dead branches... well those branches that I could safely reach from top of the ladder, which was about up to 4 metres up. There were also a lot of trees that have had their tops snapped off during past storms, and as a result the trees had died. So I've been cutting down some of those trees with my little chainsaw.  Not to boast, but I'm getting rather good at... in most case the trees are falling in the right direction! We are getting rid of the dead trees first, and using them for firewood. So like last year, we created some new stacks of 1-2 metre lengths of firewood, waiting to be carried up the hill. Volunteers are most welcome to apply! 

Ultimately, we want to thin out the pine forest, and then plant some native trees in and amongst the pines, but this will take time, there are a lot of pines to thin out. But in the middle of the pine forest over the creek there is a clearing... would be nice place to have a picnic area or something along those lines.  Oh... and there are little fish in the creek too! I'm not sure what they are, but good to see.

Monday... was our day of rest! We planned a trip to Mangawhai Heads, we had heard about the Clifftop Walkway and thought it would be a nice day trip out at the beach. The night before we had prepared the bread maker so we would have some fresh bread in the morning to make some sandwiches to take for a picnic lunch. I absolutely love our Panasonic Bread Maker! Thank you Gary! The best present ever, it is a fantastic little machine! With our fresh bread we made bacon & egg sandwiches with eggs from our chickens. I also added a little pickle and cucumber from the garden. Very Yummy! 

What a fantastic day for a walk along the beach! The sun was shinning,clear blue sky with white puffy clouds, it was a beautifully warm day, even ocean was warm, just a stunning day, you couldn't have asked for a better day. 

The Mangawhai Clifftop Walk starts from the Mangawhai Heads carpark and you walk north along the beach.  To do the complete walk, you do need to go when the tide is low. I didn't realise this so and the tide was high when we went, so we did half of the walk, the cliff top half, which was amazing, the views are amazing. The return trip will be about 3 hours.

TIP: While walking along the beach, take your shoes off and get your feet a little wet as the waves come rushing up the beach! Just Magic! I'm sure my toes were squealing in delight with each wave!

This walkway has to be one of the best walks we've done to date and we will be going back when the tide is low so we can do the complete walk.

Thank goodness, another 3 day long weekend is just around the corner, Waitangi Day falls on a Friday this year, so come early February we have another 3 day weekend, we might just find ourselves back there if the weather and tides are right.

"Summer Loving..."

"... Had Me A Blast... Summer Loving Happened So Fast"

Mangawhai on a beautiful summers day!

I can't believe how quickly summer is passing me by. Christmas is over, New Year is past...but I guess as they say... time flies when you are having fun.

I've had to work at the office over the summer holidays, but on the days off,  I've spent most of my time outside in the garden, enjoying the exercise and the sun.

A lot of my time has been weeding and cutting the grass, as it has been growing so quickly and smothering the natives I had planted. I've also been spending some time, trying to make the pond look better with new plantings... mulching... etc. 

The vegetable garden has had mixed success... I was too late in planting due to moving house and starting the new job... and then the rabbits had a good munch of everything when I did get the plants in, and now the birds are eating my tomatoes before I even get to them.

However... I've had some good success in potatoes and the spring onions are growing really well. Which.. make an excellent baked potato with a little cheese.

     

from the garden to the table...

  

OK perhaps a little undersized... but still very yummy!

Bake your largest potatoes (prick with fork) for about 1 hour in the oven at 180degrees, until inside is soft but outside is crispy... open the top and scoop out the potato, mash that with a little butter, thinly sliced spring onion, add a little cheese, salt & pepper, scoop it back into the potato, adding a little cheese on the top and bake for another 15 or so minutes until golden... then enjoy!  I'm told you can add bacon... but well I was doing the vegetarian thing as I didn't have any bacon.

It's also that time of year when the neighbour organises a contractor to come in to make hay while the sun shines, it's actually exciting to watch, as the process takes about a week. Day 1, tractor comes in to cut the grass, day 3 another tractor comes in to "fluff" up the grass to help it dry out. day 5 another tractor comes to "fluff" the grass into tidy lines so the tractor with the bailing machine makes the hay bales.

So the paddock is now nicely cut, and I'm hoping that will be the end the hay fever season for me. I'm discovering grass is a a bit of an enemy... even just when walking though the long grass in shorts and jandals, my legs will come out in a small red rash.

That aside... I'm just absolutely loving Summer! 2014/2015 has been superb!

2015 is the year we really need to seriously decide what we want to do with the land, something to make some dollars for the block to pay it's way. 10 acres of grass... any ideas?

Big Momma's First Egg!

I'm very pleased to announce Big Momma has laid her very first egg this morning! 

It's So Exciting... Pop Open The Bubbly I Reckon! You Go Girl! HAHA.

Every morning I have the same routine, bright and early I head out to feed the chickens, top up their water and move their cage so they have some fresh grass to scratch through, throughout the day. I do the same routine in the evening too.

Today I was out to greet the chickens just before 7am, the girls are always waiting for me in the morning, they must get up at the crack of dawn. 

As it was such a beautiful sunny summers morning I was up early today.  So I had some time to have a little chat to the girls while I prepared their breakfast.  Today however I noticed Big Momma was up in the house and not outside to greet me. 

Big Momma is the oldest of the 3 chickens, bigger than the other two, and a little bossy towards them, but she has the best feather colours, and I think she knows it... so I have given her the title of Big Momma, as she's bit of a Diva.

Big Momma did come down to say hello, but went back up shortly after I had finished preparing breakfast for them.

I had a quick peek in the house and Big Momma was sitting on her perch, so I thought perhaps, today is they day that she might lay her first egg.  

For the last two months the chickens have just been eating.. pooping... eating...pooping... and pulling the straw out of the house, which I think is a little game they like to play.

However today things felt a little different from the standard morning routine, so I put some new fresh straw in the nesting box and let her be.

Fortunately Thursdays I have the day off work... so I popped back down to the chickens several times, eagerly awaiting our first egg. I was like a kid. Big Momma had been busy making her nest in the straw, and by 10 am... we had our first egg! So Awesome!! I'm so proud of her.

Now... I just need to work out what I am going to cook with one... rather small egg?

You're Not A Lifestyle Blocker Unless You Have Chickens!

We Have Chickens! 

Three Beautiful Gold Lace Wyandotte Pullets!

I choose the Gold Lace Wyandotte not just based on how pretty they are, a little thought went into my decision.  Online articles mentioned that they are a good hardy breed, good natured hens which can lay up to 200 eggs per year per hen and people also commented that they are a good chicken for a first timers, perfect for the back yard. The pretty feathers are just a bonus!

But firstly... we needed a new home for our brood of hens. I think that is what you call it when you have a group of hens? I'm sure the 3 young ladies just qualifies for that.

Using left over timber from the various projects, fence, house and the garden shed we've built a nice little dwelling for our hens.  

Also I fitted some wheels so we can move the cage about to new patches of grass. The wheels are from an old lawnmower which I had saved thinking they might useful someday. So I didn't need to purchase too much in the way of materials which is good, as these 3 hens where not cheap.

I purchased the hens from a couple different breeders, and I won't say what I paid for them (to avoid getting into trouble)... but let's just say there is great demand for the Gold Lace Wyandotte.  Here's hoping they start to lay some Golden Eggs to recover my investment, although I think I need a goose for that.

I digress... the chook house pictures are below, basically I just worked from ground up, with no real set plans.

My only concern is getting the hens to walk up the steps into the house, some training might be required for that. Any tips would be much appreciated.

One Happy Hen... I hope she is happy... there are two more little ones, I will upload some pictures when I have them, at the moment I'm just letting them to get to know each other, so have them in separate cages before putting them together. 

Ohh... and it seems the Turkey's have been busy too... showing off 5 little ones this spring.

 

 

Gate

For the last couple weekends we have been replacing the old fence at the top of the driveway. Taking out the old fence... which wasn't two difficult as there wasn't much holding it together, and replacing it with our two rail/post fence, and finally today, I've attached the gate. Job completed!

Before:

 After:

How far we have come over the last year... it gave me a great feeling of satisfaction attaching the gate, which I must say is rather cool!

Even Max is adjusting to the country life... 

Mr Cow meet Max... Max meet Mr Cow

 

Living The Lifestyle Dream

Labour weekend has arrived and the 3 day long weekend has given us the first opportunity to get out and explore the region we now live in. It has been so busy with the build, moving house, starting a new job we've not had a chance to really get out and explore the area, and start actually living the lifestyle dream.

Being such a beautiful day today, we thought we would head out to explore Waipu, about a 20 minute drive from Kaiwaka.

After a well deserved and much needed sleep in, we headed firstly to the Piroa Waterfalls. About 7kms off SH1 on the northern side of Brynderwyn Hills. It was an easy 10 minute walk to the waterfalls, and on such a stunning day, the falls were at their best... although the water was perhaps still a bit too cold for a dip, but in the heart of summer we will return for that dip in the pools.

After the visit to Piroa Waterfalls we headed onto Waipu Caves, about another 10 minutes drive down winding country roads both sealed and unsealed and well signposted from SH1. 

Just beautiful on a day like today, a beautiful sunny spring day. "Flush, Lush Green Grass". On the way we had a conversation about the word "Flush"... I can't recall how that came about but I digress.

Waipu Caves would be a perfect place to have a picnic on such a great day. We should have been a little more prepared and brought along our lunch. The caves are about a 5 minute walk from the car park. You can't miss the sign, it is rather large.

The caves are large, and you just need a good torch and footwear that you don't mind getting wet. It is a little slippery inside as there is a small creek that runs through the cave. There wasn't a lot of the stalagmites or stalactites, but the glow worms are very impressive! Well worth the visit.

Also located at Waipu Caves there is a walk that you can do... up a hill... for about 1.5 hours (the return trip). We weren't too sure where the track was heading, but well why not... it was such a awesome day, it would be silly not to see where the track leads too, we're always up for a little adventure.

Well the track went up... and up... and up some more.. such a big hill through bush and farm land. But reaching the top the views where impressive, I'm sure you could see Whangarei from the top.
 

But as they say, what goes up.. must come down. This wasn't a loop type of track, you had to return back down to the Waipu Caves the same way you went up.

By the time we reached the carpark, it was time for a well deserved lunch, so we headed into Waipu township for a bite to eat. A quaint little village with a hardware store, a couple dairies, museum and some cafes & bakeries. 

We decided that we would take our lunch to the beach to eat.  Instead of returning back home they way we came on SH1, there was a back road that loops around to Mangawhai and onto Kaiwaka. Just a few km's down the road from Waipu you come across Langs Beach a beautiful beach on a beautiful day, the perfect final stop before heading back home!

 

Letter Box - RD 2

When building a house there are many things that you don't initially think of, until it comes to the time when you need it, and then it takes time to organise it. For example, what is our postal address and how do we get mail... so we can redirect our bills to our new home.

To start with we purchased "Lot 7 Wattle Lane", but we had to pay a small fee of $25 to the Kaipara Council to apply for our "Road Number" I think they call it a RAPID Number.  Which is kind of interesting... the number allocated is calculated from the distance from the main road down to our plot. So we are 560 metres from the main road, so we are 56 Wattle Lane.

There are a couple of options for mail delivery, organising a PO Box rental in Kaiwaka or installing a letter box.  I did pop into the Kaiwaka Post Office to ask about a PO Box rental, but they didn't have any available, and they don't seem to ever become available as people hold onto them (which is surely a good sign as to what a great place Kaiwaka is to live),  but learning that the cost was around $150 a year for the rental... installing a letter box seemed the better value option long term.

We then filled out a form at the NZ post office so we can receive the Rural Delivery Mail, and it was just a matter of installing a letter box down on the main road at the entrance to Wattle Lane. Obviously installing a letter box to the NZ Post specifications (height/size etc), although I think we stretched those rules a little... hopefully they are more guidelines rather than strict rules.

The mailman does not actually come down Wattle Lane, he only delivers mail to mail boxes located at the entrance of the lane. My neighbour mentioned something to me once, that when all the sections have houses built, the mailman might service the lane, but that might take some time, but that's no issue as it's a nice walk down the lane to the letter box, to which I'm yet to complete.

I found this nice letter box on Trademe... an American import for about $60, but what I liked mostly was the lack of the envelope hole in the front. The main road is a dirt road and I can only imagine the mess the mail would end up in with all the dust blown up into the letter box with the traffic travelling past.

I purchased a pole for it to sit on from Bunnings, although perhaps it was a little too short... but hopefully it is still an easy reach for the mail man.

The letter box was level and forward facing when I installed it... but when compared to the other letter boxes, the photos below would suggest otherwise... but I'm happy with the overall result. I hope the mail man is happy too.

Ours is the "All Black" letter box.. so kiwi :) I can't wait to get our first bill! :)

Pond Update

I had mentioned previously we have had to put in a pond for fire fighting water and it was installed in the wrong location.  Well to get the final sign off

the council wants us to fence the pond.  We'll I've been working hard to get this finished... below are some pic's showing the progress of the pond.

 

There is still a lot more to do, we have more of the fence to finish, more planting, and we have a water feature to install, so the water is circulating.

The idea of the plants is for it to get big and bushy, so it kinda looks more natural... so we've planted a variety of flax's and grasses.

At the end of the jetty, I've suspended from chain in a basket two water lilies. But we will likely need more water plants... the pond is so large.

Then we need to look at fish or something... to eat the mosquito larvae.

Update 05 February 2015: 
Just an updated picture, some of the plants are coming along really well, in the background you can see the passion fruit vines starting to climb the fence. We will have passion fruit on one side of the pond and grapes on the other.

New Toy...

The build has come to an end, bills have been paid and with the very little money remaining, I've splurged on a new toy.  Well, it's not technically new, but more of an antique, but this 20 year old ride on lawn mower goes really well. 

I've had it serviced, replaced the battery and belts and it works brilliantly! Best of all I can get round the paddock in less than half the time it was taking me to do it with the push mower. I still use the push mower for the tight spots and around the edges, but the ride on takes care of the big opens spaces. Such Fun!

I think it is only appropriate to show our mower a little respect given the years of service it has provided it's previous owners, and we should name our mower... it has "White" written on the side of the mower, so perhaps Mr White, Senior White... Grand White, I'm not sure... looking for ideas, Gary and I have not come to an agreement on this yet.

Such Fun!