Tending the vines

David's main job (other than mowing grass) has been to firstly find, and then tend to the vines. Firstly pulling them out of the grass, tying them to the wires, then weedeating the grass underneath and between the vines, then spraying so the grass stops growing. One frost in November and one in December ensured there are not grapes. Just as well, we wouldn't have coped with a harvest this year. Hopefully next year. Meanwhile we need some tuition in pruning the vines which will be our work in April. Each row has 70 vines and so far 11 rows have vines. The others have died and will need to be replanted. We are scouring sources for a second hand mower, the grass between the rows is romping away again.

Water water everywhere

Our well works. Off to the warehouse for hoses and sprinklers andtimers. Meanwhile before it was connected we bought 5000 gallons of water (around 20000 litres or 2/3rds of our tank full. Much washing of clothes, and watering of the garden but I find I can only have the sprinklers on for five minutes at a time. Still adjusting to having water. We are using somewhat antequated means of getting water to the roses at the front until we extend the irrigation system. Found the trailer up by the shearers quarters and sanded and painted it and now is good as new and a gorgeous blue.
6.30am the morning the tanker arrived tumbling down our drive, mist drifted through the olives. Taking care not to drive into the olives, our hedge or the telecom posts, the driver manoevred the tanker in place. Water gushed in. Sounded fantastic. Gilli had shown us how to wash dishes in a thimble full of water and a thimble of detergent from her boating life so we are conserving - rain is not on the current agenda and water conservation still is. I am hoping the lavendar cuttings I have planted will survive the autumn and be flourishing by next summer. Meanwhile the hedge, the vege garden and the back yard garden are having 5 mins each day of well water. Cant' wait til next week to see how they are doing.

Adventures with Dale and Gilli

Of course we love having friends and family to stay and the ensuing adventures. The four of us had Monday lunch (Waitangi Weekend) at Murdoch James winery overlooking the river. Heading back to the farm, David's car emitted rather large quantities of steam. We stopped. Believe it or not, now one of us had a cell phone with us. Hardly mattered. Firstly cos Vodafone's coverage in the area was completely out, and secondly cos every second car stopped and offered to help. We phone the AA who said they'd have someone with us within the hour. We waited. And waited. And waited. byt he time the second photo was taken, we were playing guess what colour the next car is going to be.

Two hours later, a generous heart offered to take Gilli and I to the farm, 38ks out of his way. Of course we agreed and was sprited home to get the car to pick up David and Dale. By the time we got back, another 38 ks, they had gone. I phoned the AA, the truck had gone to Pirinoa!!! and not 3ks south of the Ponatahi school. This is now 3 hours after our original call. I phoned the Parkvale motors and D and D had just arrived. Then the tow truck arrived, no keys to the car. This meant we couldnt upload the car onto the truck. The driver agreed to wait for us to pick up the guys and keys and come back. 33Km to masterton, and 33 back again!. By 8pm four very tired and grumpy people arrived home not talking very much to one another. Gilli whipped up a gorgeous broiled beef with taties and sauteed leeks, and our spirits lifted and laughter and the good will of all around us seeped in again.