Categories: From the Farm This Week
      Date: Dec  9, 2011
     Title: 9 December 2011
Well the first day of Summer this week and the rambling rose on the veranda is in flower - A lovely dog rose with dark pink petals and a white centre planted in this area by the pioneer farmers who came to the valley.
The old large black sow has had a litter, 8 really good pigs not bad for a really old pig.
Put the old yellow truck on charge and it started first pop so the girls used it as a scaffold to cut the hedge down the track to the house, It looked great.  Ila had mowed the lawns.
I carted more pigs to the abattoirs for Christmas, i think this is the last as time is running out.
Lots more ducks have been hatching as well as bantams and other chooks.
Andrea and Ann had a day off at Ann's parents, came back happy and raring to go as usual.  Ann gets antsy (her word) and can't keep still has to be doing something.
Ruth and ila have been out driving and getting ila sorted with driving the blue rocket BUT they came home with two cars - bought a manual Nissan Primera off the side of the road.  Took it in to the garage had it looked at and got it at a good price.  Its better for Ila as the blue rocket is automatic and she needs to sit her test in a manual.
The place is looking like a car yard with Samuels car, these and our utes and truck. But out here we all need transport if we had to run Ila here, Samuel there, shopping, deliveries, meetings. We would never keep up.
Ross came out and we cut up his deer.  He gave us some and it was the best i have ever eaten.  While he was out here he took more photos and got some real different artistic shots. (Start saving up the dollars a really good book may come out of this)
A slow market this week but i wish you had been there as was a bit of excitement you missed.  A guy had set up a stand selling pictures and brick a brack etc.
Richard and I went to ask him to leave as he was not a stall holder and had no permit or permission.  We were very nice, tried to be civil but he exploded with verbal abuse, calling us effing useless clowns blinding and swearing at us so the whole market could hear (it would have helped if i could find my STMS CARD found it after).  Anyway Richard went to phone the Cavalry and i stood my ground for a while getting pushed etc, other stall holders joined in.  After a while he sat down and i needed to sell stuff (as i do).  A few people walked past and talked to him and then he walked over to me and said look im sorry I did not realize you were John Earney sorry im the clown im leaving don't want any trouble.  I shook his hand and he packed and went GREAT. But if you were the one who told him my name, can you please tell me what you told him i would have done to him as i would like to use that one again.
Took a load of poultry to the plant in Whanganui, Ann came along.  We picked Ross up on the way as he wanted me to meet a friend he worked with down there.  So leaving at 6 after loading we drove down dropped the birds off and drove up the Para Paras (if thats how yer spell it) to meet George.  Well George turned out to be a very gifted artist doing paintings and other craft work.  Doing media marketing and running a very successful horse trekking business.  His dogs were the best looked after pets i have ever seen - living on crayfish tails and venison fillets.  Google him Wakainga Gallery or Waara Trekking.  I will be working more with him.  He took me to meet a friend about 10 mins away from his gallery.  Turned out to be a Rarebreed Farmer and member with a Clydesdale horse stud and other rare breed animals on a 1000 acre sheep farm, setting it up to be a working museum for working horses.  Her name is Tania Chishotu of Enchanting Stud.  A woman who is passionate about her horses and vision.  Stopped there for lunch, im positive we will work together on something in the future.
I am getting asked more and more to do land and livestock consultant work along with public event/motivational speaking.  I will be looking more into this, watch this space.
Well better get on so SEE YA SUNDAY.

THE BACH restaurant is not only using our organic rarebreed Wiltshire lamb it is now starting with organic rarebreed free range Duck.  Now you all know how Ruth is SO fussy, how her stock are fed and looked after, these ducks are the real deal living in the paddocks under the heritage fruit trees.   Then taken and cooked at the Bach Restaurant on the waterfront where you will get the best food ever.  So ring them and book or call in and ask for Avonstour Lamb or Duck.   Barbara will look after you.