And it rained and rained and rained ...

And didn't stop for two days and two nights, and we'd had nearly half a metre!!  We only got some water through the woodshed, and had to empty the sail over the back door a few times and a bucket or two in the back porch, but others around the district got lots of mud sliding through their property and their homes.  Haile Lane became Haile River :

 Hard to tell which is the creek in front of our old bach, and the road!!  There actually isn't a usable road anymore, so remains to be seen if we can get there over christmas to clean up for BookABach visitors or not!

 As you can see it was very lucky the bach is on a rise above all this... and the waters just slurped at the base of the bank.  Dad reckons he should have built the jetty now, it would have worked!  The water treatment station has been damaged beyond repair, so who knows when there will be water or sewerage sorted out in the district.

Jenny & Geoff across the road weren't quite so lucky - their car and artworks were in the garage ready for all the holiday visitors, and today the son broke a window to get into the garage which is chest deep in mud...   The house down on the beginning of Pohara Valley Road across from the beach front also has a bit of a leak going on, like the tide washed across the road.

Pohara Valley Road is looking a little different, and so is the bend on the way back into Takaka!
We need a week or six of sunshine now....  I haven't quite caught up with convention washing and ironing yet.
Hopefully the kids won't mind if we have to stay home over christmas, or just have a couple of clean up trips if we can get access. 

Hear the rain has moved to Taranaki and Auckland.  Hopefully your soil can take a bit more than ours could.  Rocks Road is still closed, and there is mountains of mud cascaded down from the Tahuna Hills.  On Thursday morning after Dave, Stacey & Isaac left for Auckland, I think they got to Auckland quicker than I got home... the roads were jammed and nothing moved for hours.

Moos and Clucks ...

For those who want to see some closer ups of the Sa-Lers (pronounced Suh Lairs), they are a french cross breed quite curly closer up.  Still butting heads a little with the older (younger ones) that were on the farm prior to their arrival, but have quietened down now

.One thought the grass was greener on the other side of the fence, and there is quite a technique in getting him to join his buddies, rather than having the rest all join him! 

 The calves are all weaned now, and quite content - unless they see you with a bucket.  Then they think you're going to give them milk!

 We went and collected 15 new hens ready to lay while Dave & Stacey were in Wellington last weekend.  Seems that their are 5 that roost within the house at night and the rest huddle in the grassy paddock.  Pecking order means don't come in the door.  Tried to discover a way out of the pen, so needed to block the throughfare, but they quickly learnt where to lay eggs, and the next day there was more than a handful to collect.  Stacey sold the first few dozen last week to the girls in the bank.

And to finish with the daily quack - visiting Grandad's last week and doing some stuff for the accountant, discover Vicki has been mothering a 3 day old duckling that was ostracised from its mother... bathing in the sink, sunning on the deck and I guess cleaning up around the place too!  It went to the SPCA after my visit - and no I didn't tell her she had to take it.  She had named it 'Diva' - really not appropriate for something so cute.  Just followed you around everywhere, was scared I'd stand on it...

Righto, its work time again.  Have a good week everyone.

Around the Garden ...

Just a few pics of what we've been enjoying around the garden.  Its a lovely time of year for colour and flowers.. Opening your blind to the Wisteria along the old farm gate was pretty gorgeous.

 Then there are the Rhododendrons in full bloom and colouring up the shrubbery.

 

The honeysuckle is in full bloom with the perfume attracting the bees & green finches.  Its nice to be able to pick a bunch of roses for the bedroom.

 Even the water lillies are putting on a show, with a new double one out this year too.

 And I was spoilt with some peonies Stuart brought home from my daughter  :)

Addendum to Naki trip...

For some reason the blog cut off the last few pictures, so will finish that trip first.
A visit was made by my youngest brothers family on the night they were going to halloween somewhere ..

Eunice, Aleisha and her beau.My beagle boy brothers posed with their pop in the place where they hatch all their schemes and meant to be working, and oldest bro showed his finesse at fixing Fords ..

 

Now its time to say goodbye again...  The Mabels have done quite a lot of cleaning out and spent some wonderful time together!
And the next morning just after 6.30 dawned the nicest day and was able to see Egmont in all its glory.  Had to stop a few places to grab a photo.  Great trip home, traffic was busy, but the car handled that alright :)

Boat trip was reasonably long on your own, and thought I'd sleep but only seat was found underneath a large screen showing a movie at full volume.   Was nice to arrive home and find you'd been missed by both husband and cat, and some lovely peonies and roses met me on the table.  The blue bowl with silver rim was a lovely find in the back of the Laundry cupboard and belonged to Gran Murphy.  The pewter set on the left belonged to Great Grandma Perry and was a wedding present.  It is dated 1891 and Nana decided I could pack it in the car to come home as apparently I had told her some time back that my name was on them!

It was nice to find that the upholsterer had finally finished the wee suite, and young Ashleigh and Craig thought it christmas to sit on them sunday morning by themselves.

The Naki and Back Again ...

Spent the last couple of weeks up with Mum & Dad.  Mum has successfully had her knee operation, and is moving about a little more each day.  I think she thought she'd be running within a week, but is learning she needs patience and that it will take time.  Nasty bruising, and scar that will be around for a few days to remember ...

 Still has a few grins left :)

While Mum has her feet up Mabel and I took to the freezer, and a few other places ..  I think she was pleased when I left and she could rest in peace!!  Thank you Mabel for all the help though.

The construction site while Mum was in hospital was an interesting place to watch and give directions from the 4th floor by Stuart..  With two tower cranes, concrete being lifted in, it was so fascinating that he forgot to read his book while visiting!

Dad tried his best to be attentive at the bedside... but made the most of the bed when Mum went for her wee walks :)

 Mabel and I emptied a few bagfuls of coloured silk flowers to the graveyard .. First the grandparents

 

  A special red one near where an unnamed twin was buried, and great grandparents too ..