Wood... Who Wants Some Firewood?

Earlier this year I posted about some tree's we had to cut down to keep our neighbours happy:  

http://lifedownwattlelane.blogspot.co.nz/2017/06/trees-are-love-trees-are-life-it-breaks.html

Well we've started chopping it up so it can dry and then we will sell it or trade it for more native trees this summer.

Before...

During...

It's all being done by hand, no fancy log splitters here... a chainsaw and hand tools is all we have, so it is a good workout that is for sure.

But seriously if anyone is looking for firewood, get in touch, we are preparing it now to sell in summer for use in winter 2018.

Last year we sold a few trailer loads for $80 per trailer load delivered within Kaiwaka area. 

But this year we will sell the cut/split poplar at:

> $60 per cubic meter if you pick up from home here in Kaiwaka

> $70 delivered within Kaiwaka area

> $80 delivered out to Mangawhai or Wellsford

The poplar burns fine, you just need to keep it dry.

It will also be a generous 1m3 as we stack it in, rather than use the more common "thrown" measures. So you get more bang for your buck!

Or we will consider trading for the same value in good healthy native trees... all trees considered, so do get in touch.

All funds are being used to develop and replant more natives trees around the property.

Wattle Tree

Living Down Wattle Lane would not be complete without having a Wattle Tree or three planted down the lane.

So I had been on a hunt for a Wattle Tree or similar to that, and a nursery I like to visit, www.mckechnienurseries.nz had a very small selection of Australian Blackwood trees, or Black Wattle.

Oneday in the near future they will grow into these beautiful trees...

Outdoor Entertaining

Something that has been on my wishlist for a while is an outdoor entertaining area off the deck. A barbecue and fire pit with outdoor seating... surrounded by insect repelling plants.

I have visions of outdoor dining & drinking, sitting around a fire, while someone plays a guitar... everyone just enjoying the good life. I don't play the guitar myself, but we will get to that issue later, for now we have started our little project.

Before:

Adding some timber:

We sprayed weed killer, then laid weed mat, and covered with crushed lime for a raised solid area:

I'll add an update pic soon... we've planted, but we still need to add barbecue, fire pit, steeping stones, seats and top layer of blue gravel to finish it off.

Little Red

We recently purchased an antique of sorts. Nicknamed "Little Red" a 1940-60's (we guess) Massey Ferguson Tractor.

The reason for purchasing her was to put on a back blade to make some V drains in the paddock to help with drainage during winter.  Then after purchasing a mower, to top paddocks when required and to carry the firewood up the hill.

After a little research online, I had read they are very reliable, and pretty simple mechanically, so for $2000 including delivery we thought she was a bargain, although she has her charms.

We've replaced the battery, and I've fixed a little fuel leak and a tightened a couple of loose pipes.  She doesn't blow any smoke so pretty clean I thought.

She was starting first pop after installing the new battery, but on our first excursion out in the paddock she wouldn't re-start again. We had to bring the car down to jump start her... so I'm not sure what is up with her now, the battery locked fine, so I'm guessing a the leads to the battery need replacing as the battery is brand new? Anyway that will be my first thing to check.

The other thing I'm struggling with is the brakes... they don't seem to work... so any tips or advice on that is appreciated... currently I'm keeping away from any hills.

But we're very happy with Little Red, she will be very handy if we can get her running better.

Lambs 2017

Lambs are so adorable... I was expecting the lambs July/August, but they have arrived early this year. Fortunately as we live in the winterless north, we have only had 3 very light frosts so far, so the lambs are doing very well. No issues with any of the births, the Mum's and the first time Mum's are doing very well. We have 6 lambs so far.

The closest a lamb has come up to me... so cute!

Breakfast Time!

"Mum why does he keep taking photos of us?"

Nanny Day Care!

I'll add more photos of this year's lambs when I can, the Mum's a very protective, and march them away from my whenever I get to close.

Rained Out... So Got Professional...

It's been very wet lately and another weekend was nearly lost to wet weather... so I decided to stay indoors and build a website. It was much easier than what I thought, have a look and let me know if there are any errors or typos.

https://www.downwattlelane.co.nz/

It's Twins

We woke to a beautiful Saturday morning, so I was eager to get up and get outside.  Now that winter has arrived the days are short and you have to make the most of a sunny day.  My chores start with feeding the animals but little did I know today things were going to be a bit different. I first feed the chickens and then I feed the sheep. For the sheep I lay out some hay and sprinkle sheep pellets on top, by this time my little friend leads the flock and it takes only a couple of minutes before they are running towards me at as if they were running in the 100m sprints.  If only it was that easy to get them in their pen. As they chow down on their breakfast I do a quick count up to make sure all 15 sheep are there... but today I could only see 14 sheep. Once, twice and a third time, I still only count 14 sheep, I was becoming a tad annoyed blamming the sheep for not standing still as I counted. I quickly glanced around the paddock and over on the far side of the paddock I could see the missing sheep number 15, and then number 16 & 17! We have twins!  I wasn't expecting lambs until July, so June babies are quiet a surprise.

It was interesting to see how the other sheep reacted when the mother and her babies reunited with the flock. There was a lot of staring at the new born lambs and even a few backwards steps when the lambs walked towards an individual sheep. There was a weird atmosphere in the paddock that morning. As for myself, I was super excited, the first newborns we've had on location, down wattle lane. Awesome! 2 healthy little lambs.

I think there are another 5 ewes pregnant... so watch this space.

Breakfast Time

I think I do treat my sheep very well... 

The Daddy, boy ram, he gets a little bolshy and head butts the other sheep away from where he is eating. He doesn't like to share his food, a bit like me actually!

"Trees Are Love, Trees Are Life"... It breaks ones heart to fell them.

After much nagging from the neighbours we have felled some of the poplars that were stretching over their drive. I truly regret the decision in having to fell any tree unnecessarily, but hopefully it keeps the neighbours happy.

My view is that the trees add to the rural view, they provide shelter from the wind, shelter from the hot summer sun, they also help absorb all the water from the paddocks in winter and not to forget the positive effects they have on the environment. But within a couple of hours, twenty 30 year old trees are no more... that's about 600 years of growth lost.

If you are worried about your car, or whatever, I suggest you don't park under the trees on a windy day... that is my opinion on the matter. 

We've left the stumps about 1m high so they can regrow... so all is not lost.

But there is a hell of a mess to clean up.

Beneath the tree there is a guy felling the tree, you can't see him he is lost amongst the toi toi and the digger is controlling the tree as it falls to the ground, so no fences were destroyed in the process. Some rather impressive precision work from the guys, I was impressed.

About 18 trees cut down from the above area, the trees leaning away from the boundary line will remain, I saved what I could.

Health & Safety at it's best, but this wasn't on my property, but excellent work trimming back some of the overhanging branches. I need to get one of those pole saws, fantastic tool to have. But what an expert digger operator.. he was super steady with the bucket. They guy in the bucket has bulls of steel I reckon, when he came down he said he doesn't like heights, what a perfect industry for him to be in!

The mess below to clean up:

Sad to see the trees go, but grateful for the guys and their workmanship.

Friendly Faces Down Wattle Lane

From visitors to an expanding family, this post is a quick pictorial of the many friendly faces we welcome Down Wattle Lane...

White Faced Heron

My Friend

Hedgie!

Common Girls... Get A Room!

We Measure By Cat Lengths!

Note To Self... Plant More Swan Plants!

Max The Brave!

Duckies Bath Time!

White Faced Heron... We've had 3 visit us this year.

They surely don't have the nicest "squawk" but beautiful birds.

Below we have the Piwakawaka... Fantail.

You Know You're In Paradise When Paradise Ducks Come To Stay!