Monday 21 December 2015

Christmas Dogs

Christmas Dogs @ Jocees Farm


The countdown is on. The holidays are nearly upon us.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the team at Jocees Farm.


Monday 14 December 2015

Araucana Chicken

We bought a couple of pullets (young chickens) a few weeks ago to bolster our numbers.  One was an Araucana (white) and the other a Plymouth rock (gray stripes).

Araucana Chicken || Jocees Farm

Caroline - the Araucana has just started laying eggs, and she likes to tell the whole world about it.  Her eggs are a blue/green colour which is quite different to anything else we get.

Araucana Chicken || Jocees Farm

Here is a selection of our latest eggs. The 2 in the middle are the Araucana eggs. We have gone from zero to plenty over the last couple of months now that the weather has warmed up.

Araucana Chicken || Jocees Farm

Lastly a picture of the Roosters Dan and Rusty. They are strutting around the orchard keeping the girls in order and the bugs away from the fruit trees.




Saturday 19 September 2015

Calf Time on the Farm

Calf time @ Jocees Farm

The calves have started arriving.

Calf time @ Jocees Farm

8 were born in the first week.

Calf time @ Jocees Farm

A cute little Galloway calf and her young mother.

Calf time @ Jocees Farm

This one's a little Angus calf.

Calf time @ Jocees Farm

Checking out her surroundings and only 1 day old.


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Friday 18 September 2015

Spring in the Orchard

Spring is changing the look of the orchard.


Spring in the Orchard @ Jocees Farm

The trees are bursting with blossoms.


Spring in the Orchard @ Jocees Farm

The plums are the early ones. This one is Billington which is a great pollinator for most of the others.


Spring in the Orchard @ Jocees Farm

This Peach has not been a very good fruiter so far, but hopefully this year we'll get some more.


Spring in the Orchard @ Jocees Farm

The Tui is in the Apricot tree, which is just starting to bloom.
A wonderful time of year, full of colour and perfume.



  

Saturday 22 August 2015

Lambing Time 2015

Lambing Time 2015


Lambing is underway for 2015!


Lambing Time 2015

We have had about half our lambs in just over a week.


Lambing Time 2015

The weather has been perfect, with only one rainy day.


Lambing Time 2015

Mothers and lambs are enjoying the early spring conditions.


Lambing Time 2015

Lambing Time 2015

This is Kelly our pet lamb from 2 years ago with her first lamb. She is a wonderful mother and her little girl is doing great.



Linking up with

Saturday 1 August 2015

Ready for lambing

Ready for lambing || Jocees Farm


Moving the sheep on a beautiful fine winters day a couple of weeks ago. The sheep are getting rounder each week as we get closer to lambing, which should start in about 4 weeks.


Ready for lambing || Jocees Farm

This is Kelly and she will be a first time mother this year. She is looking a lot bigger now than when this was taken. Kelly was raised by us after she got separated from her Mother and orphaned.


Ready for lambing || Jocees Farm

This is a picture of her from September 2013. Hopefully there will be lots more of these cute little faces to photograph soon.





Friday 31 July 2015

Winter Camellias

Camellias @ Jocees Farm


My favourite winter flower is in full bloom heading towards the last month of winter.


Camellias @ Jocees Farm

The Camellias put on a fantastic show at this time of year and although they look delicate they withstand all the winter weather.


Camellias @ Jocees Farm

They brighten up the garden and make you think spring thoughts.  The bees love them too, not much else around for them at this time of year.  On a sunny day the bushes are humming.



Linking up with

Thursday 9 July 2015

Snow in New Zealand

The trees are bare and there is snow on the hills - I guess it's winter.

Snow in New Zealand  ||  joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

Last night was the coldest so far this winter and we awoke to snow on the hills around us.

Snow in New Zealand  ||  joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

And more snow on the hills behind them.

Snow in New Zealand  ||  joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

Looking at the Rimutaka Hill Road which crosses the North Island from West to East (and back) and you can see how much fell last night.

Snow in New Zealand  ||  joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

More is expected tonight so we will be waking up to a snowy morning.  We don't usually get snow down on our paddocks, but it was snowing around us this morning when we feed the cows.  Not enough to settle though.


Saturday 27 June 2015

5 NZ Native Birds To Enjoy

Spending the winter with us on the farm are these lovely native birds.

5 NZ Native Birds || joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

The Tui's are around all year and at the moment are singing and performing to attract a mate.

5 NZ Native Birds || joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

The Waxeye's are also here all year round.  These tiny little birds travel in groups and move with lightening speed.

5 NZ Native Birds || joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

The Fantail's are around from Autumn until Spring.  They spend summer in the bush where there are more insects for them to catch.  They are a challenge to photograph as they never sit still.

5 NZ Native Birds || joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

The Wood Pigeons also spend the winter and spring here.  Then they are off into the bush where they feast on the berries from the big native trees.

5 NZ Native Birds || joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

Lastly, the Paradise Shelducks.  They have all paired up now and will start breeding in late winter.  They spend their time grazing in the paddocks and are on the farm all year round.

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Wednesday 27 May 2015

Late Autumn in New Zealand

Late autumn in New Zealand | joceesfarm.blogspot.com


The last week of autumn and the first big frost.

Late autumn in New Zealand | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

The dogs love the cooler weather and were keen to get out there and explore.

Late autumn in New Zealand | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

The sun was thawing out the paddocks fast.  The best part of a frosty morning is the beautiful clear sunny day that follows.

Late autumn in New Zealand | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

The water troughs will need a bit longer , quite a thick layer of ice still on this one.

Late autumn in New Zealand | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

The last few leaves on the Elm tree edged in frost.




Friday 15 May 2015

Autumn Weather

Autumn weather | joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz


Wow, have we had some rain lately!  Over 2 months of rain in the last 3 days., but this morning the sky was looking bluer.

Autumn weather | joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

Innocent wispy clouds on a painted sky.

Autumn weather | joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

I don't think it will last long, look at what is lurking to the south.

Autumn weather | joceesfarm.blogspot.co.nz

2 hours later and our break from the rain is nearly over.  These dudes look like they mean business.  Surely it has to run out up there soon!!



Friday 8 May 2015

A Floral Pick Me Up

A Floral Pick Me Up | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

It's autumn, it's raining again and it's dark and misty outside.


A Floral Pick Me Up | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

There's not many flowers around although it is still warm outside.  I decided to go through (and tidy up) my folders and showcase some flowers from the last year.


A Floral Pick Me Up | joceesfarm.blogspot.com

I hope you enjoy my floral arrangements.