Down at the Farm: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

Sun, sand and Joe the pony ...

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Women's business ~ little women that is ... plus one ...

Initially Harvey was part of the impetus that got this creation underway and deserves some credit given his day finished early and he isn't in the photos. He is the plus one in the title...

What I did catch though was the most beautiful 'women's circle', weaving, creating, and nurturing that Agnes, Zoe and Pepper shared. This was self intiated and totally spontaneous and with enormous good grace and love towards each other, as each person added their stitch, or thought or feeling to the creation along the way.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Hide and seek and a quotable quote from Magnus...

In the early morn on friday, we headed down to the vege patch for a peek.

While there we played hide and seek. For those of you who don't know the farm, there is a wonderful section of community garden plots all ramshackle and handmade on land sloping down to the river. The paths amongst the plots make it a bit like a maze to walk through.

Dawn took off first to hide. She was great, really knew what to do and had us stumped for some time. All of a sudden, a laugh caught our attention and we followed it to find Dawn.

All the children, (Dawn, Magnus, Jock, George and Daisy) were in delight.

Daisy then announced, 'My turn'. I asked, 'Where are you going to go to hide Daisy?' She looked up wide eyed and innocent and replied, 'Here!' standing on the exact spot Dawn had been hiding and pointing to the ground... ...then quickly sent the rest of us on our way so that we could get on with the business of finding her!

Later in the morning lying in the grass and playing a game where everyone was going to sleep, Magnus piped up as goodnights were said, 'No, it's not dark'. Still the goodnights were said and he frowned and said again, 'No, it's not dark,' then added to everyone pointing, 'Look, sky's long time open'.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

A new pony and a great spot for a guinea pig to be ...

Meet the new pony called Joe, he's not much more than eye level with the children in height...

Hey Willow ~ whose that you've got there?

From Collages

Monday, May 17, 2010

The little gang who travel with Kari ...

Loads of personality and joy in this bundle too ... enjoy the photos and slide show...

farm 05.05.10 and 12.05.10k

The gorgeous expression of children ...

Well, we all know how cute kids can be with out trying...

Daisy arrived on friday with dad Tim, so ready for the day and weather. As I took in her gumboots and coat and beanie atop that golden mass of hair, I commented, 'Daisy, you look as cute as a button with your warm coat and beanie on.' Little George standing nearby, looks up twiddling a button on his coat and says, 'I've got a button and a beanie too!!', as if too say, 'Hey have you noticed me as well.'

Daisy later exclaimed as she took in Pierre, the new calf, 'Aya (that's Daisy speak for danella),' her little hands on her heart as she stretched up on tippy toes to give maximum expression of all she was feeling, "He's DOR-JUS!!'

Who would have missed Jock on friday when we got to the far reaches of the farm on the look out for horses, almost burst out of himself with excitement when he noticed a horse no one had seen coming across the paddock towards us, 'Nella, nella, a horse, a horse,' was all he could get out as he ran towards the gate thrilled at not only what he'd seen, but also that he was the 'scout' for the group and could let us all know. His snowy curls peaking out from under his wollen cap, his eyes sparkly blue and his pleasure so bright I almost needed sunglasses!

Magnus came up to me first thing with his little index finger holding his lip... ... showing me his teeth/gums he told me in the quietest of voices, something I knew was very important to know. I knew not because I could understand or hear him much either... ...but through looking at the biggest of blue eyes just centimetres away from mine and seeing his gentle expression of confidence in my interest in his well-being and his body posture as he spoke.

He'd had a fall and bumped his lip and knows it really matters to let us all know how you are. He also brought 'goggy' along, who you'll see in the photos...(roll the mouse over the photos and click to open the album)...and that little face who doesn't look familiar watching Maggie the cat dip her paw into fresh milk...? That's farm Nick's son Jonah who we see each week on our travels....

farm 12-14.05.10

Hello Pierre ...

On tuesday the 11th of May, Patsy, one of the farm cows gave birth to a beautiful little boy calf who has been called Pierre.

We all met him this week and the sweetness flowed. All the children were enamored and very gorgoeus as they met him...

From hello pierre

Friday, May 7, 2010

Dragon flies, black cockatoos, puddle-hunting and 'nah-tuk-daks'

Wednesday morning while we spent some time with the guinea pigs, Peppercorn announced, 'There's a nah-tuk-dak'. Hmm.........I asked, 'What's that Pepper?" Patiently she told me again, 'There's a nah-tuk-dak'. I still didn't get it. One more time, 'I still don't understand Pepper, what is it you are saying?'

Slightly exasperated now, she pointed out the door and said, 'Look, out there, one of those ducks that can't talk!'

Oh, a no-talk-duck!

With rain in the air and sky hanging low, the black cockatoos wheeled in and when the sun peeked through dragon flies a plenty circled by the river as well as the pergola in the bottom of the convent gardens.

Just gorgeous!

From Collages

Thursday saw five little angels all in gumboots and we went puddlehunting! From one end of the farm to the other... ...we walked for miles, had heaps of fun and found all the puddles we could!