When you’ve been off-colour or out-of-sorts or just downright ill for a while, it can be tricky to work out when the corner has been turned and you’re heading back up the otherside. This is particularly true if you are still trundling through the day to day basics that need doing. But today I noticed a little spring in my step as I worked my way through the feeding and nurturing. I caught myself noticing all the changes that have occurred while I’ve been wrapped up in feeling poorly (and not a little sorry for myself); I even broke into song at one point (Kiwi classic Not Given Lightly by Chris Knox to be specific – not sure why) and I thought, “You know, I reckon I might be on the mend.” Hooray!
Sadly, the celebration of The Resident Engineer’s birthday occurred while I was in my still in my fug and, as far as I can determine, no one photographed the Farm Girl created heart shaped carrot cake or our celebratory Lone Star visit but, despite there being no proof, fun was still had by all – you’ll just have to take my word for it.
But on the positive side, this enforced slothing around has encouraged me to pick up a book or twelve; how did I lose that love? I’ve been working my way through the works of another Kiwi Classic, Mona Anderson, who wrote her first book about life on a South Island high country sheep farm the year I was born – a very big deal for me when I first read it, aged ten. I’ve probably read A River Rules My Life every ten or so years since then and still loved it. That’s good writing!
So, this is a quick missive to say I’m back on track and, while there’s a great many weeds to pull and the goat hooves need another trim, it’s all looking pretty good to me down here on the farm.
Union Homestead 
So glad you are on the mend and hope the spring in your step keeps you cheery. When I lived in NZ I remember reading that book but no longer have a copy sadly.
I’m planning to keep cheery, cheery and sensible too😊 I’m not sure the books are even still in print…all the copies I have borrowed from our local library were printed inthe late 60s.
This is thoroughly good news. From experience, I will add this unnecessary admonition: don’t get carried away.
Im really trying to be sensible…its a new experience for me 😁
I am going to try it one day. When I get older and wiser.
Glad you’re back in the saddle, and that you found ways to enjoy your forced idleness. Mona Anderson sounds fascinating. I’ve done a thorough search and found that the only way I will ever be able to read her work will be if I buy it. There are a couple of copies of that first book on Abe books, so I may ask for it as a Christmas present. I am pretty sure that the Mills and Boons author that first introduced me to NZ (Essie Summers) referred to Mona Anderson in one of her dedications. What a coincidence that she retired to Darfield…could she have been there when you were growing up? Perhaps not…I feel like the timing might have been wrong. Love the coffee grounds idea – I feel that must have been a fair amount of coffee drinking to creat enough grounds, lol.
Good old Essie Summers! She had a great way of writing and I loved her stories as a teen. Think I atill have a couple of favourites tucked away somewhere😂 No, Mona lived here well after I left.
The coffee grounds come from The Farmers day job. Great for the gardens esp spread over grass clippings. Faced with the expense of filling the under pool dips with sand, The Bean Counter proposed the coffee alternative. We’ll aee hiw it goes 🤣
We were far too lazy in our pool days to put a proper foundation under the pool – we just put it on a flat bit of lawn and trusted it to last the summer – and I must say, the bottom was never our issue; our problem was our propensity to use the lawn tractor too close to the pool, thereby ripping it with the guard thingy that sticks out – so that several thousand litres gush out of the tear, thus annhiliating swimming for the rest of that summer…I think we did it twice.
I have quite a few of hers still – she became the only thing I read that wasn’t a textbook for a few years, and I dip into that old box occasionally even now – cringing at some of the more old fashioned aspects, but loving the descriptions of high country life – and of working in a “drapers” store, complete with haberdashery section.
Not to skite, but here in Darfield we still have a drapery.
Drapery stores would be stores that sold curtains if they existed in Canada….that’s the only use of the term. She used to talk about haberdashery departments in the books and I had only seen the word in Jane Austen novels – had to look both terms up.
I’m impressed that you have a drapers in Darfield, but perhaps not surprised.
Draperies are a little old fashioned now (every shopping centre had one when I was a kid) and I was rapt to find we still had one here. The go-to place for all those haberdashery items, good quality socks, thermals, a few clothing lines (awesome merino stuff)…and I can drop off FGs school blazer there for drycleaning, too…and you always hear whats going on about the place, too
Hi, With you on the mend, is Colin enjoying longer or more walks? Is it true that eggs give animals shiny coats?
Colin still has to look to other Homesteaders for his daily walk at the moment but he is very forgiving of me as long as I spend enough time thriwing his ball for him or playing tug-of-war 😊 Yes, the eggs give him a gorgeously shiny coat
So pleased you are feeling better at last. Go slowly and take care xx
Thanks, Clare. I’ll really try x
Awe I love your goats!! The photo caught my eye right away because we have several too!
Thanks for you kind words. Our goats get the prize for being both the most wonderful and most frustrating Homesteaders. I couldnt imagine any kind of life without them even though they spend a great deal of their time working out new ways to drive me crazy😁
To glad you’re feeling better!
Thanks!