Whats been happening on the block lately

We have piggies! 

We've had them since November when they were 8 weeks old

They growing literally overnight....as piglets do.

Introducing Rose....she has been a delight! She was the first to let us pat her and definately more docile than her brother.

Though she did give us an adventure from Day 1.

 They're a Tamworth/Bershire Cross

When unloading them from our car, she wriggled her way free and ran into our neighbours block, straight past their feet into the bush! 

We thought she was gone, and we would be forever known as the idiots that populated the local reserve with pigs!

But four hours later we heard our neighbours shouting

" Mike, Laura!! the pig! the pig!!" 

A random car was driving down our shared road and Rose was following the car snorting and squeeling after it.

Mike shouted "get the car!" I ran, hopped in and drove up the road where Rose had stopped, only a few metres from the main road.

I slowly drove towards her, and to all our amazement she started running towards the car with the same enthusiam, 

squeeling and snorting.

The scene that followed was me backing slowly down the road...occasionally stopping while Rose stopped to ponder, whether to continue following or not. 

Then Mike and our neighbour were waiting behind the car with a net....she escaped that too!....so a chase resumed, evolving some impressive acrobactics.... though of course eventually she was reunited with her brother...she was so tuckered out that she feel asleep in Mikes arms on the way back

And here is he, Ham - named for obvious reasons ( no pcness here )

There's a definite love/hate relationship with this one!

He's the one that breaks the fences and gets into the chicken coop....freeing the chickens to roam my garden! 

Enough said!

But really out of all our livestock, the piggies are still my favourite.....they often follow me along the garden line, squeeling for silverbeet or some other goodie from the patch.  My most favourite and peaceful moments are when I'm gardening and they doze on the other side to keep me company.

We've also bought 8 ewes, to replace the Wiltshire that a local was grazing here. Though we were given 3 Wiltshire rams and a wether as payment... we still needed more lawnmowers.

These are Arapawa's - a somewhat feral sheep.

They're breed is orginally from Arapawa Island in the Malbourough sounds.

And will be perfect for grazing out all those unwanted weeds...Dock, Ragwort, Thistle etc.

Our rams have already been eyeing them up!

And the piggies currently get alot of enjoyment herding them.

So the movie Babe does have some truth to it! 

 Infact those piggies are really social, often saying hello to all the residents.

We think at the moment our little farmlet is filled to the brim - well for now atleast.  I know our escapades certainly keep our neighbours amused.....even the story of Rose made it all the way to the local Farm supplies!  I guess we like to keep things exciting around here :)

Last of all, I'll leave you with this photo from the other day.

While Mike was mowing some long grass...this little frog escaped the blades...much to the kids delight.  

It was all agreed to relocate him to avoid any future disaster, so Mike and the kids re homed him in our dam, much to Lil Misses disappointment.  She spent many days after searching for her Froggie!  

What I wore this Saturday

So here is that dress! 

The elusive dress I keep talking about and not sharing

Finally today, I popped it on with my new pink belt and headed off to our local A & P show ( Agricultural and Pastoral Show )  The sun was shining and I felt great walking around in this vintage style.....especially sweetened by the fact that I got two compliments from complete strangers! 

Have you heard of  Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing? Well this is the Sweetheart Sundress pattern from her Gerties New Book for Better Sewing.....

  I really enjoyed learning new couture finishes, 
including a hand picked zipper. 

I already have the fabric waiting for a second version, this time with a bias cut circle skirt..... and I really need to tweak the bodice, as it's a bit large in the bust.....But other than that I'm stoked.

Though I will need to make a separate petticoat, as when the wind blows....the bike shorts underneath don't quite look the part!

And here's my little photo bomber....and she's still able to wear her "princess dress" I made for her two years ago!

Also are you coming along to the bloggers conference in April?

I'll be there! I'm really looking forward to meeting up with new friends and meeting more of you in person. 

For more details why don't you check out their blog here 

And Considering this dress took a long time to post about I'll be ticking off a few things here joining in for the first time with 

Wardrobe Wednesday - sorry Miriam I'll wear the gumboots next time!

and of course Show and Tell at Leonies - Sunshine x 3

and Make it Give it at The Train to Crazy

Show and Tell - Toiletry Bags

There are two of these.....though the other one's lost somewhere, and the fabric is no way cooler than this one!

Same pattern as this pencil case blogged here, 
but with waterproof lining.

This and it's elusive partner were another late night before it's needed project.....this time for the boys camps last year...
I didn't have the heart to send them with grocery bags for their toiletries.  But of course it didn't stop me threatening I would,

 if they didn't go to sleep! 

Joining with other creative ladies at Leonies

Rain Rain please don't go away

I woke up feeling happy this morning, listening to the gurgling of rain in the downpipes.  

Apparently all you need to do, is hang washing out on the line, leave it overnight and that will appease the rain gods

It's been so dry here, that I've been doing my washing at my mums house where her tank is overflowing, and I feel less guilty.

And another reason to smile, is my garden is getting a liquid feed....

 I just learnt recently that the rain has nitrogen in it!

I'll be spending my next week planting and sowing seeds that produce above ground, as now until the 22nd is the optimal time to do it if you plant by the moon.  Do you use a moon calendar?

Lazy Days

While Mike's away, I am taking things slow with the help of Mum.

I have enjoyed the last three days with only 2 kids, the eldest and youngest.....ah bliss!

We have been lazing around, and doing things on a whim.

Today Lil Miss was kept busy making her necklace....

oh the concentration.

Then Big J and I enjoyed finishing a puzzle together

Before going to Mum's for dinner I gathered a hoard of veges to give as thanks....mum supplied the yummy apple cake!

And when I arrived I was greeted by my two middle boys.....

eager to show me their new clubhouse.

Mum said she's been thoroughly amused watching them carry things down the hill to furnish their new place.....chairs, old carpets, and a heavy table which had mum wishing she had a camera at hand.

Apparently she hardly has seen them in these last couple of days!  That sounds perfect :)

Lastly I had to leave you with this image...... 
a very inquisitive cow

Garden Recap

My garden like many others gardens is going crazy at the moment

This is a comparison from a couple of months ago

  And now from a similar place....my favourite place....working buried amongst my flowers.

  

And here before - near the side of the house

And now .... the pumpkins and butternut are taking over, the zuchinnis are kicking in and cosmos, poppies and rambling sweetpeas are welcoming splashes of colour

 

Coming around the back again and looking from my vege patch, the yellow daises have really dominated, but for my first year garden they have been a real help in establishing my garden fast.

And to think this area was bare ground only a few months ago.

Next year I plan on adding more height to the border once a windbreak has been planted (hollyhocks, artichokes etc)

And those daisies will definately be reduced, but for now I'll let them be. 

 

Here is a picture from the middle of the vege patch with my flower garden that continues on to the left. 

So far I have created 7 vegetable beds the eighth with the help of Mike, using the no dig method, which uses layers of newspaper, manure, and hay...and so far the competition against the weeds has only been a problem on the paths, and the need for watering is almost nil. This is all part of our plan to garden using the methods of permaculture..... and the results are speaking for themselves. 

  Our Gherkin glut, after a week away from the garden.

And my carrot thinnings.....looking pretty good, considering they have been grown in clay and we haven't dug the ground at all

 

As for my areas where I haven't mulched,  the ground is cracking wide open and that damn kikuya! is creeping in. 

But even though the garden is looking good, I AM surrounded by a large expanse of weeds that I am yet to tame, and I may just leave for now....because who knows...some of them are actually growing on me :)

Mini Me Dress

I have been putting off this post for a while waiting for better pictures.... but in the meantime I have realised I have made many things that I have neglected to blog about, usually due to lack of pictures or at least pictures that I was'nt happy with....

so biting the bullet here we go after a couple of months silence.

  My brother got married in November, 

so a couple of days before that weekend 

 ( as usual I love to work to a deadline! I'll never learn ) 

I completed this dress from the remnants of a dress that had I made myself hence the name "mini me" and yes I have yet to blog about that said dress.....I'll get there!

Anyway....I was really estactic with the way this turned out 

and when I found that the skirt of the dress would be too short, fate would have it that I had the perfect salmon pink shot sateen in my stash....I used the pink to completely line the skirt and it added a nice weight and puff to the shape.

 The dress was my own pattern, that I based on a her measurements and was helped with the easing of the shirring in the back.  

  

Also this cardigan, I made a while ago, turned out to be the perfect colour match, and came in handy for the chill of a Hamilton evening

And the leftover scraps I used to cover an old headband...to be honest I still feel 50/50 about it.

  

Since the wedding, the dress has made a lovely Christmas day dress and I'm hoping for more future occasions to dress her up before she out grows it.

But you know I think the reason why I'm so happy with it,

 is how this came together easily and without any issues

You know how it goes, when you win..you win and when you lose

 it gets thrown in the rubbish bin! ( Mike just told me I have a glint in my eye while writing this - so obviously I'm still chuffed )

Linking in for the first time with the lovely Leonie at 
Show and tell