Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - A Good Day At The Office

What a stunning day at the office...

I always start my day as if I have some where to be...

> Breakfast 

> Turn on Washing Machine 

> Turn on Dishwasher (an essential tool if you have Parkinson's)

> Feed Max

> Hang Out Laundry, (while colour coordinating the pegs)

> Feed Whiskey 

> Feed Sheep 

> Post Unicorn Orders (walk to letterbox for postie to collect)

> Arrive at Work about 9am... approx 25 meters from home.

Then I start working on whatever it is I am doing.

Today I was meeting a customer who was collecting 3 gates and I had to go to the sawmill to collect my order of timber.

By the time I had done that and unloaded the trailer it was lunchtime.

I walk home for lunch. 

Today I had a steak and cheese pie. Australian made... so I wasn't expecting a great pie... but it wasn't bad. The brand was 420 lol which is what got me at the supermarket. No hallucinations were experienced while consuming the pie.

After lunch I spread some gravel along the drive... topping it up. With all the rain we have had it was getting a little muddy in places. If you have a gravel drive I find regular maintenance keeps away the need for expensive machinery repairs. I just lightly spread the new gravel along the tyre tracks... drive on it slowly over the next week or two and then repeat. So it is being packed down in layers, avoiding softness and judder bars that collect water and eventually cause splash out holes. There is reason to my madness but it works and it can all be done by hand.

I am pretty much buggered after that... I don't have the energy that I used to. I try to avoid afternoon naps, or I won't sleep at night.

Late afternoon I like to take the sheep for a walk. My favorite part of the day. I feel most at peace.

Spring is essentially here now... I tried to take a photo of it, but we are experiencing yellow pollen dust storms, the bloody stuff gets in everything thing. The sheep look as if they have been snorting yellow crack with their yellow noses. Lol

After this winter I am hoping for a warm sunny spring. We will be lambing late this year... Oct/Nov. I am basically trying to avoid winter babies when feed is low and it's very cold. I will see how it goes... I guess we will shear earlier... still figuring that out.

Hopefully there isn't too much traffic on the way home... but I should make it to be able to sit back with a drink while I watch the Chase at 5pm. 

 

 

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - A Beautiful Winter's Day

Wattle tree in bloom.

The view on our drive home.

Arapawa's enjoying a sunny day.

This is what we wake up to.

A beautiful Canterbury winter's day Down Wattle Lane.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Lotsa Gates

23 gates in 21 days... and more to go...

The below 2 are for a subdivision entrance...

The finished gates:

and hung on site...

These gates were a little tricky as they already had the gudgeons set in place. Being set in concrete they were unable to be adjusted, so I had to double check my measurements to get the hinges straps positioned correctly on the gate. There was a little prayer to the gate gods, as I was hoping the gudgeons on both sides were level. But all went well. I think the customer was happy. Along with the pic the customer simply said "mint". 

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Down Time

At the moment I have orders for about 34 gates and 4 barn doors, so I am rather busy... but when it is tools down time, it's very relaxing spending some time with my Arapawa's.

It's the first time I have patted this ram lamb... and he likes it and wants more!!!

The video file size is too large for blogger, so follow the below link to my FACEBOOK page.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - My Property Tip

What initially is seen as a negative can in fact be a positive. What might be a liability can be turned into an asset. So if doesn't look good at first... look a little bit deeper. 

That's my property advice. As turning negatives into positives is profitable.

This is how we initially viewed the creek... but I think it is now looking good, but there is still more work to be done.

The creek is home to eels, these tiny little fish and the birds that feed off them. There is a rather large eel that visits from time to time.

Gary might still be on the fence with this one haha... but it's my long term project.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Just Another Day

7am Roll Outta Bed

... yup rolling these days as Parkinson's or something is buggering my knees.

7.15am Breakfast

... Max first then me. 

7.30am Shower

... Generally most days Max has to watch, falling asleep on the bathroom floor mat.

8am Housework

... Dishes, laundry, & vaccum 

8.30am Process Unicorn Order

.... run to letterbox so I don't miss the rural delivery postie, as it saves me a trip into town.

9am Put On Slow Cooker For Dinner 

... Pulled Pork & Potatoes with Garlic Bread 

9.30am Let Rams Out Into Driveway Paddock 

...we don't have guard dogs, but guard sheep!! So intimidating!!

10am Morning Tea

... eating and finishing Gary's kitkat.

10.15am Start Building 4.2m Gate

12pm Lunch

...Banana Sandwich 

12.30pm Answer Knock At Door

...Neighbours Builder got his car stuck and needed towing out. Helped builder and then glared at my guard sheep, they were useless!!

1pm Back To Finish 4.2m Gate

4pm Finished Gate

... tidy up working area ready for tomorrow's gate.

4.15pm Put Rams Back Into Paddock

4.30pm Meet Potential Customers

... a family are visiting to look at our Arapawa Sheep to extend their family. So I get to talk about my Arapawa's for about 30 minutes!! YAY!!

5pm Gary Home

5.15pm Feed Arapawa Sheep

... time for a quick chit chat with the Arapawa girls and check all is ok.

5.30pm Empty Max Litter Box & Get Firewood In 

5.45pm Shower

6pm Dinner

.... Slow Cooked Pork Is Delicious!!!

6.30pm Tidy Up

6.45pm Blog & Facebook 

... while considering if I want dessert or not.

7.30pm Bed 

... Max is already waiting.

 

It's been a good day.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Farm Gate Feedback

It's awesome recieving feedback...

I am a person that thrives on constructive critique, as I want to be producing the best quality gates staying within a fair price bracket.

I need to know that I am doing it right, as I am self taught.

So if there is anything that I can do to improve the gates I would love to know.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - I Think I'm Self Employed

For about a year now I have been working, filling in my days making Farm Style Gates.  Today I have just finished my 123rd gate, with plenty more to do.

This last week I have new orders for 9 more gates from repeat customers, which is very satisfying.  They like my gates!!! 🤗 Thankyou!!!

It's one thing building something for yourself, but it's another thing building a gate for someone else and putting a price tag on it.

Also yesterday a customer has confirmed an order for 20 gates, which when done, will be heading to a farm near Alexandra.

So I think I can now say I have a job! Finally!!

Now I just need to have a word to managment about minimum wage, smoko breaks, holiday pay, overtime and more importantly Friday afternoon drinks 🍷🧀 ☺️ Although I might need some help with that last one.

More Info On Down Wattle Lane Farm Gates

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Breakfast for the Boys

A little argy bargy at breakfast this morning... they don't get sheep nuts everyday, so when they do get them there is a little competition.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Gary's Big Day Out

I'm not sure if it is age related or health related, but I find I prefer staying at home more and more. I'm turning into a hermit, and I am happy with this.

But it's not all about me... I am very aware Gary needs to get out of the house and one of the reasons moving south was to explore more of the mainland, which we... I... haven't been making time for.

So I really made an effort and today we went exploring Castle Hill to Arthur's Pass. What a fantastic day for it.

Castle Hill surely attracts the crowds, but is very spectacular and its no wonder Lord of the Rings and Narnia movie scenes were filmed in the area.

The Devils Punchbowl Waterfall is a 30 minute hike pretty much straight up hill, on a well formed track with stairs. Definitely worth the effort. A spectacular waterfall.

Lake Pearson

We will return in winter for a winter Wonderland experience and again next summer to explore the cass cave system some 560m...I can't wait.

A great day, and I admit, I should venture out more often 😜