Progress - slow, but steady

The interesting thing about taking on this wee farm is the sheer amount of work that needs to be done -  not one area, shed, paddock or room doesn't need a complete clean out and start over. The big push over the Easter weekend was getting the implement shed sorted - Darryn came down from Auckland and he and Rupes moved a LOT of rubbish out, made doors, and stacked our stuff tidily. It's a massive shed - I think you could fit 3 cars in there easily with 3 meters at the end to spare! I spent most of yesterday filling up the trailer again with the rubbish from the shed, and we've had a bonfire going for two days now. Darryn and Rupert also sorted out the phone/internet line and apart from Rupert putting a foot through the ceiling that all seems to be working a little better.

The weather is beautiful and we've had some nice walks exploring the stream and the hills. The more we see of the place, the more we love it. Spring bulbs are popping up all over, and we are working out what is going to go where. We've had lots of visitors and a dinner at the neighbours, so it has been fun getting to know them.

Grace has settled in well - she had two days at Kindy before they closed for the school holidays (!!!) and really enjoyed them - her confidence helps and makes things so much easier for us. We are having to tag team with one of us working while the other is with her (or at least in earshot). That does give us a chance to recover from the aches and pains of whatever we did the day before! She does miss her friends and Auckland, but she loves the farm and it is fun seeing her become slightly more of a farm kid and less of a princess (although the dress up and dance shows still happen each night!) She's had a couple of emotional outbursts, but has come through those after some very stern chats and seems to be doing a lot better now.

Current projects include sorting out the sleep out (which was used as a dog kennel for the 50 or so chihuahuas that lived here) and that will become a garden shed for me - right next to a huge fenced off area which will become my vege garden (when I have taken a chainsaw to the overgrown stuff!). Also, renovating the spare bedroom, continuing to fell trees that are either dead, about to die, or in completely the wrong place. And Rupert needs to sort out his workbench and storage in the shed so we can find everything! I have ordered an incubator and brooder, so once that arrives we will get started with some egg hatching which should mean by spring we have fresh eggs. And while they are hatching and growing that should give us time to clean out the chook shed!

While it still feels odd not going to the office each day, and rushing Grace to pre school, it's lovely and we are finding a more relaxed way of getting the work done. It's certainly teaching us both patience - nothing can be done quickly, so it really is a case of picking a project and seeing it through.

Thanks for following us - we miss our friends and family, but give us a week or two and there will be a spare room all nicely done :-)