WINTER
Well
winter has arrived at Calico Lodge. To date it has not been very cold but it
has been very wet. After a long hot summer and autumn, once the rain has
started it just does not know when to stop. The property adjoining us has
turned into a beautiful lake and yesterday we were lucky to see a white
heron kotuku searching for food on the edge of this lake. Read about these
rare, for New Zealand, birds.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/herons/1
http://nzbirds.com/birds/kotuku.html
The camellias have started to flower and if only the rain would stay away we would have lots of blooms to decorate the Lodge with.
AUTUMN
It is already April and the leaves are all turning shades of red, gold and brown. Many have already fallen because of the long hot dry summer that we have had here in Kumeu.
Our little pond has been empty since the end of January, the first time in the 7 years that we have lived at 250 Matua Road, Kumeu.
Ducks are seen flying over each day
searching for water and with the shooting season very near they are looking for
somewhere to hide. Yes, they do know what is about to happen.
With our very large roof at Calico Lodge and two water tanks our guests have not had any worries over a shortage of water and have been able to enjoy our high pressure satin jet showers.
English and European guests booked to stay at Calico Lodge over the next month are waiting the outcome of the ash problems in the skies in their part of the world. We do hope that all goes well for them and that their plans all fall into place.
After a very busy summer with guests from all over the world we are looking forward to a few days off to catch up with chores that have been put on hold. Teddies have sold so well over this last season that I need many wet days to fill the spaces around the Lodge. Quilts need to be finished and new ones to be hung. Our vegetable garden which was a wonderful asset to Calico Lodge this summer is now in winter mode with lots of winter veggies already thriving. The fields have produced some great mushrooms this year and now the Feijoas are starting to ripen, I cannot wait for feijoa bread and slice.
SUMMER
The Christmas decorations have all been packed away in their boxes until late November 2010. Calico Lodge looks so different as we have hung new quilts, changed the duvets to cotton blankets and added new placemats. Summer has finally arrived in Kumeu and we are enjoying lovely sunny days, barbeques and many wedding guests.
The mother sheep have been shorn and it is nearly time to shear the lambs, the little black ones are feeling the heat.
The Classic Car and Hot Rod Show 2010 is an historic event, the biggest show of its kind in the Southern hemisphere. The weather played her part, the rain stayed away, although it was a little hot on the Saturday afternoon. One of New Zealand’s top car builders stayed at Calico Lodge and also guests with cars to show and to sell, and other guests to just look and go OOH and AAH. Our delightful 1968 Cougar was one of the great cars that graced our local Show grounds.
Anniversary weekend, the last weekend in January is the time for the Auckland Folk Music Festival here in Kumeu. Musicians come from all over the world and from all corners of New Zealand for this exciting get together.
February 13 is the time for the Wine and Food Festival, and the weekend of March 13 & 14 is the Kumeu Show. What a weekend that is, horses, sheep, goats, cows, cars, vegetables, flowers, art and crafts, and all the fun of the fair. This is an old fashioned A & P Show and only 25 minutes from the biggest city in New Zealand.