About to meet up with some dear friends, and leave for a visit to a Gannet colony, nature center, vineyard and sheep farm, but here’s a photo from the Shangri La where Jim and I are staying for a few nights. Ummmmmmm, yes, it really is this gorgeous.
Can’t wait for the Gannets and the sheep farm, hoping to meet some “Heading Dogs” (a NZ Border collie derivative–do you Kiwis agree with that description?) and Huntaways, an exclusively NZ breed that moves sheep 100% differently than BC’s, lots of movement and barking.)
Last comments about the seminar: Thanks Karen for bringing me over and being such a great host. And thanks to the participants–what a great group. There were some truly great observers in the audience, we had a truly interesting and fruitful time with the demo dogs, and I loved working together with the audience on treatment plans. All the dogs were wonderful –thanks to their owners for letting us learn from them, and to the dogs, Lani and Harlem and Tepo and Nicki, and to Forest, our stable, stalwart stimulus dog. And to Tepo (sounds in Kiwi like Tapoor!) … you’ve especially got my heart mister, good luck.
Just found out from home that two of my ewes, the two that didn’t get marked as bred by Redford, had lambs. Surprise. Holy moly, they must have been bred at the end of June. My poor house sitter has done brilliantly, and boy do I owe some of my good friends a favor for coming over and helping with mid-winter lambs. Ah my, never a dull moment on a farm.
But back to NZ — Here’s the view from a few feet from our B & B – Wow is right! Yes, you really do want to try to get here on vacation some time . . .
Ellen Pepin says
I first saw what an absolute gorgeous place New Zealand is when I saw the movie, Lord of the Rings”. The picture from your B & B confirms that for me. I am extremely jealous.
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Ellen
Robin says
What a beautiful place. Maybe one day…
Roberta Beach says
My thought exactly! “Lord of the Rings” did much to promote NZ as a destination! Good for the lambs and the sitter. Hope they stay warm enough. Enjoy your time.
em says
Gorgeous indeed! I’m so tickled to hear about your surprise lambs! I must confess that I was concerned for your wallflower ewes…I know you’d give them a happy home regardless, but I’m so glad that they haven’t given up the dating scene just yet. Shangri La and herding dogs in NZ, brand new lambs at home, what a week! Enjoy!
Karen says
Wow, the new baby lambs must have come as quite a surprise! My vet once asked me to house sit for her, which I would have done gladly, but it was ultimately decided that I don’t have enough training to deal with her menagerie. Reading your post makes me happy with our decision. If babies had been born I wouldn’t have known what to do!
Stephanie says
My family got the chance to go to New Zealand several years ago. It was my favorite vacation ever! And I’ve been privileged to visit a number of places like Hawaii, England and France. It is my dream to go back to NZ someday.
Janice says
I would love to go to New Zealand! Long before Lord of the Rings, I fell in love with the place through Foot Rot Flats–since we lived on a farm, my kids thought this was the best comic ever.
Don’t worry overly about the surprise lambs. If the moms have shelter and can get the babies dried off and fed quickly enough, these lambs often thrive and do surprisingly well. We have had a handful of surprise (although I had a strong suspicion) goat kids born in the last few weeks and here in N. Idaho, we have had storm after storm already blow through the area and dump snow on us. The kids are doing fine–the lambs do even better because their wool coats are more insulating. Coccidia can be a problem in spring as things thaw out if your pens become wet, but you can prevent this.
I’ve always been curious about the Huntaways. I hope that you get some good video of them.
Annie R says
Do they have working Kelpies in New Zealand? (I am admittedly ignorant of whether they do cattle ranching as well as sheep). I saw a film a couple years back of Kelpies running over the backs of cattle as they directed them through chutes as part of branding; it was fascinating, they do this really unique maneuvering. So I became curious about the breed but you don’t see too many in the US.
What a beautiful part of the world, so glad you have the opportunity to go away to the So. Hemisphere in winter at home/summer down under.
Allie N says
I recently went to new zealand with Carroll University (my school) and it was just gorgeous we went in their winter time so everything was snow capped and now seeing your beautiful pictures makes me miss it. Hope you have having just an amazing time.