On Tuesday we left and headed to Mataura to visit the Taylors. Among other things they own a sheep farm, which besides spending time with friends was the major draw for my dad. On the way out of Invercargill, we stopped by and saw Henry, a 100+ year old tuatara. I saw him move for the first time in 5 visits… he took a whole TWO STEPS. Tuataras are not known for moving around. In fact there was a blurb in the museum about how they fight. There is a flurry of movement with the two tuataras lunging for each other’s throats for 4-5 seconds… then they rest for 15-20 minutes. (Yes that was fighting for seconds resting for minutes.)
Henry
When we arrived on Tuesday, we hung out at the church building with their minister, Chris DuBose. Chris knows several ACU people, so we played a lot of do you know…? LilliAnn also got to learn about the fun of a flying fox.
That evening we had dinner with the Taylors, and then I headed to Raymond and Lisa Thomas’s. Lisa is the Taylors’ daughter. I really enjoyed getting to spend time with them.
Wednesday morning, we went out on the farm with Alan and Julie, the Taylor’s other daughter. We got to watch the sheep dog move some sheep which is really impressive. Mist, the dog, responded to very low commands and whistles. It was raining off and on all morning and so things were pretty muddy. I was grateful for gum boots, esp. when the 4x4 pulling our trailer got stuck so we had to jump off to push. I really thought I was about to do a face plant in a bunch of muck while carrying my camera, but I’d slung it around my back. I did not in fact, take a mud bath, although I nearly lost a boot to the mud. We also got to watch them feed the cattle. When we went back to the shearing barn, we watch Alan shave off the dirty end of the sheep.
Julie and Mist moving the some sheep.
Cleaning off the backend.
Getting up close and personal… the only reason they didn’t run away from me back to the other end is that is where the shearing was occurring.
In the afternoon, we went down to the Taylors’ café that they run in town. Jennifer and the workers were starting to clean up, so of course that is when all the friends and family showed up. J We did show up before closing. Julie, Lisa, and the gradkids helped clean up. We offered to help… but we weren’t particularly helpful. J
Wednesday night, we went to the Thomas’s for dinner. It was really great. LilliAnn had spent most of the afternoon with Elijah, the Thomas’s younger son. They were two peas in a pod and had a great time.
Thursday morning, we went out on the farm again for a bit. Mom, LilliAnn, and I wandered to the creek… one of the fun things about gum boots is that you can wander into the creek.
Even I got into the creek this time… shortly after this picture.
LilliAnn riding with Julie on the 4 wheeler. Mom and I are in the trailer it is towing.
In the afternoon, we headed out toward Dunedin. We went on the scenic route along the southeastern coast. We again were blest with lots of really bright rainbows. The scenic route was beautiful, even though it got dark on us about halfway through; the moon was incredibly bright so we could still see quite a bit. We arrived in Dunedin in time for bed.
A rainbow somewhere in Southland
Waipapa Point
Curio Bay at Sunset… ok technically I think the bay is behind me… but that’s where this was taken.
The sea in the moonlight
Today (Friday), I had a new experience. David and Aaron, from the Dunedin church, have a radio show that they do every other week. Dad had been a guest on it two weeks ago and we were both guests this week. It was my first experience doing radio. It was interesting to see how they put it all together. I was quite impressed with what I good job they did. Afterwards, we went and picked up some lunch.
In the afternoon, Dad and I took LilliAnn along with Aaron and Vanessa’s children Gabrielle and Liam to the Cadbury factory. When Vanessa picked the children up from school she didn’t tell them what they were doing. It was great fun to see their reaction when they realized they were about to tour a chocolate factory. The tour was quite interesting and we got a bag full of chocolate by the end. It was really fun to go with children who were both well behaved and enthusiastic.
Liam, LilliAnn, and Gabrielle ready to go on the tour in their hair nets. (Yup we all wore them.)
Having fun after the tour. I couldn’t take the camera on the tour. Notice which side of the car the driver is on.
Tonight we went to dinner with the Woodrows, with whom we are staying then came back and hung out at their house. It has been a fun few days.
ANSWER: Mob of Sheep
3 comments:
This all looks like so much fun!
By the way, it's a flock of sheep. ;)
Well... flock of sheep is also correct, along with herd. But Alan used the term mob and I liked it. :)
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