We did move and it mostly went smoothly (ask me later about the 3am arrival with 10 chickens!). I don’t have photos yet I’m sorry, it’s all been quite a whirlwind.
There was a significant amount of progress made on several fronts: The mystery of getting running water from a rural water pump was solved (mainly by Deborah); there was a slight dent made in the Jerusalem Cherry infestation; chicken coops were cleaned and disinfected; a roaming guinea fowl left by the previous owners was added to the chicken flock; wire netting was put up to contain the dogs in their kennel area at night; various fridges, freezers and kitchen cupboards were cleaned; and 50 bales of hay delivered and stacked in preparation for The Arrival of The Ponies (date as yet to be confirmed, but fingers crossed for this Friday).
Best moment of the weekend for me was taking the dogs for a headlamp lit walk in the woods before dawn on Saturday, then sitting on the front verandah with a cup of tea watching the sky lighten into day with the dogs beside me. That was the moment I first felt like I really belonged here.
As some of you already know we still have a house to sell in Auckland, so I’m back and forth for a while. I knew it would be hard to leave the farmlet on Sunday, but I hadn’t anticipated just how hard. Anticipation of missing the Forbearing Husband and the Favorite Stepson was of course a big part of it, but also there is something completely captivating about being on a beautiful piece of land and knowing that for your minuscule blip of time on the planet you are guardian of this place.
Promise to update again soon. Just got to get through my first week in a new job (that’s in addition to the regular one), and move those ponies northwards. Tally ho!
And how is Her Ladyship Kitty-Pop faring through all this upheaval of her food bowl?!
Her Ladyship is coping well. She has taken to following us around the property with the dogs — through the horse paddock, round to the chicken coop, and back down the driveway to the tack shed (she hasn’t ventured into the woods yet). When not busy supervising the work of her minions she likes to sleep on the hay bales.