Love is....

My odometer clicked over another year last week, reminding me how different life is now compared to this time twelve months ago.

I was busy flicking elderberries off their stalks to go into the freezer this morning, when the image of those cute little cartons from the 1970's popped into my head.  You have to be as ancient as me to remember the pencil sketch "Love is......" couple. There's an old scrapbook of mine somewhere full of the sayings I saved from back in the day.  I bet none of the original cartons included "Love is ..... catching live earwigs for your husband's pheasants".  That pretty much sums up life these days - my current version of multi-tasking is to bravely capture those vile little insects while planning to turn elderberries into a delectable winter drink (the recipe is on my Recipe page if you're interested). This is a far cry from juggling clients, budgets and deadlines as I was doing a year ago - and I know now which way of living I prefer.

On the subject of love, I've been concerned about my frizzle roo - Pinecone.  All of the girl chooks are bigger than him, even the young Barred Rock chicks.  Pinecone's so adorable he deserves a wee girlfriend of his own.  After discussing the situation with The Boss, I was given the nod to do a bit of matchmaking via Trade Me, and I think I've found the perfect woman for him. She's a cute looking point of lay silkie bantam who's living down south. The auction for her finishes tomorrow night, and The Boss can pick her up on Saturday when he's down in the Big Smoke of Invercargill. I can't wait to see Pinecone's face when he sees his surprise!

Speaking of surprises, I have one for our younger son.  I've volunteered his services to deliver two Barred Rock girls to their new home in Dunedin.  At least it'll be a less demanding request than having him interview a pig as I asked him to before Christmas.   This weekend he'll be bringing over the spinning wheel that I bought off Trade Me a couple of weeks ago.  Be warned, in a couple of posts I'll be talking staple length and plying rather than chook love.

What I've learnt today:
1. Someone has laid an egg in the nesting box where Apple has been sitting on her clutch of eggs - I had to count them three times to be sure. Luckily I had marked her original eggs, but she won't let me touch them to remove the stray.
2. There's a beautiful little dog on Trade Me looking for a new home and I think I've fallen in love....