![\"Beautiful](\"http:\/\/www.charmedlife.co.nz\/cowboybootsandbrokenfingers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Maisie-2016-01-01-100.jpg\")
<\/a>Beautiful rain<\/p><\/div>\n
The\u00a0grass here has been drying out\u00a0and turning brown over\u00a0the last few weeks so it’s a relief to have rain to (fingers crossed) stimulate\u00a0another flush of green. Drought is predicted for our part of the country over\u00a0summer; a scary prospect for this\u00a0novice farmer. We still have hay in the shed, but Bonnie and Summer eat like — well, like horses actually — and I have no idea yet how much grass will be enough.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Essential farm equipment #1:\u00a0raincoats<\/p><\/div>\n
Relying on tank water is also new to\u00a0us\u00a0and keeps me very\u00a0connected with the weather. During these recent dry times there’s been a little\u00a0query in my head each\u00a0time I turn on a tap. ‘How much do we have left in the tank?’, ‘Is this flush my last?!’. Of course I knew living in town\u00a0that clean water was\u00a0a limited resource, but when it keeps coming out of the tap endlessly\u00a0it’s easy to become just a little complacent. I like being self sufficient for water and the sense of responsibility that engenders.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Essential farm equipment #2: gumboots<\/p><\/div>\n
Earlier today,\u00a0when\u00a0the rain was a drizzle rather than a downpour, I was\u00a0working\u00a0on a garden project. Once the rain eases up and I can take some less waterlogged\u00a0photos (it’s going to be my Mediterranean garden corner<\/a> so a modicum of\u00a0sunshine\u00a0would be appropriate), I’ll write\u00a0my first before and after post, just like a real blogger!<\/p>\n Kitty-Pop helped me a bit with the gardening. Mainly that involved sitting where I wanted to plant something and insisting on being the first to walk on the paving slabs.<\/p>\n ‘Move to the left a bit with that lavender plant, slave’<\/p><\/div>\n Then she retired to a dry spot on top of the barbecue to give her directions from there. Never take gardening advice from a cat, they’re always wanting more catnip and less kale.<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rain on\u00a0New Years Day! I feel very happy sitting inside with my cup of tea watching those lovely droplets falling on\u00a0the orange grove, irrigating the orchard and the paddocks, and filling up our\u00a0water tank. The\u00a0grass here has been drying out\u00a0and… Continue Reading <\/a>