Misty view from our veranda

Gnarled old tree

Out collecting apple scions from an old farm today and saw this ancient creature. In the paddock where the apples grew there was an enormous ram, pacing up and down. I'm always cautious around such animals, having watched youtube clips showing unwary shepherds being monstered by disgruntled, testosterone-driven rams and billy goats. This one, however, was a lamb :-)

Says it all

A very pleasing letter

Chocolate coated strawberries

Birthday celebrations at our place today - you can't go wrong with chocolate or strawberries and a combination of the two is a sure-fire winner!

Elder

Te maunga tapu Takitimu

On Monday morning, the scene looked like this. Today, fog obscures all.

Pin

This tiny beech leaf would make a fine pin for an order of druids.

Two attractive things

What the..?

The Mighty Lance

The trunk of the lancewood growing beside our garage has become massive over the 20 years it's been growing there; muscular, sinewy, venous - not sure how best to describe it, but it's certainly very strong and very durable, live or cut. This one won't be felled, nor will its mate that grows one metre away. Another fine pair.

E rua nga kereru

These two watch over us as we go about our daily business. I'm surprised that wild birds as big as these are so comfortable sitting on roofs, power lines and the frames of our not-quite-completed tunnelhouse; they seem better suited to the branches of kowhai, beech and even plum, but I guess the clear view that's offered them by the constructed perches they seem to prefer is what swings their choice. Handsome pair, aren't they!

Steeples

Evolution of a cloud

Evening and morning

Slime

Explanation

For anyone wondering why my posts have been so few and far between lately... I've not been idle, what's happened is, my blog has been difficult to access, and I've been struggling to post anything at all, I can't figure why that is, but, hei aha,n that's how it has been. I'm busy now, feeding a wonderful bonfire amongst the trees in my forest garden, after a day wrapping apple trees for the sale we hold every year, and, yes, it's been busy and fun, but that's no reason not to post, so, here's a recent image that might hold your attention for now...

...and here's another.

...and another. This heron was the picture of calm.