The final four..

With four weeks to go before our move, a new term begins at school and my preoccupation with packing has to be tempered by the balancing act of being fully focused on my class and school life.
The term's topic of Space joggles for attention against TradeMe auctions, deliveries of new white ware and the sinking feeling that I've already packed an essential item needed NOW.

We have transferred our two Murray Greys to our friend's farm in Otaki. We can dust off the gumboots and watch over their pregnancies any time we like. Little Fudge is the darling of the herd and is growing well.
Moa has edged her way into the flock there and adds a certain glamour as well as her lovely big brown eggs.
The other chooks are to stay here along with the ducks. The older male will be transferred two doors down where two lonely females await. New breeding stock will have to be bought in if the new owners want ducklings in the Spring.
Chaplin's brood has attracted four new males and they all will be departing for the Winter shortly. It's quite a sight having the Mallards, Muscovy and Pekins all lining the banks of the stream or waddling around in the orchard with the chickens, helping themselves out of the feeder.

Buttons enjoyed a week romping around with Templeton when the last of the sheep were taken off site. ..some now reside on another's farm and some reside in the freezer.
The antics of Templeton and Buttons during that week will always be amongst my favourite memories from here...and just quietly, moves me further towards becoming vegetarian.

Buttons has now been adopted out to a property full of non-edible pets. Templeton has a few lonely weeks ahead before he gets a donkey called Barney as a paddock mate...and the adventures begin afresh.