We went to the Helensville A&P Show a couple of weeks back and this got hubby thinking.
Years ago, we entered our homegrown produce into our local Kumeu A&P Show – including a rather special red onion which weighed in at approx 1.65kg (a lot). It won a First and Judges Choice beating all other entries. Nice!
Sadly the following year our 1.35kg onion got zip, so yours truly opted not to enter again – yes it appeared that I had the pip.
Anyway isn’t it nice to know that we can change? So on Friday we got up early, grabbed some veg from the garden, popped some fruit into a box and headed down to the show, paid our entry fees, filled out forms and had a laugh … ‘what were we doing?’
The A&P show is a massive event frequented by loads of people; locals, city dwellers, those that pride themselves on their animal or bird husbandry and those like ourselves who either grow veg, fruit or flowers for their own use and don’t mind some recognition for their hard work. So naturally we woke up on Saturday and raced down to see what was what.
The guinea pig below got Reserve Champion and its owner was so proud. Handsome chap too.
Given our love of chooks (mine particularly) it is only natural that we go and pay them a visit, there didn’t appear to be many this year but I couldn’t resist the bird below.
As you would expect there is food, entertainment, things to buy, and in no particular order …
My garden is winding down now, it is starting to get that ‘jaded’ look and fair enough too, it has provided us with loads to eat as it always does. In fact, there is a monster pumpkin still growing that I am so proud of. Pics to come I promise!
I have sown seed last weekend which has since germinated and been pricked out into some interesting containers with worm castings, these should grow like mad. Let’s see.
Peas have been poked into the dirt, and spuds have been teased from the soil only a few mind you, this bed I suspect is loaded with potatoes, but I’m going to wait a bit longer before I haul them out.
Yes I have started pruning fruit trees, a thankless task and only about another 10 to go ..
Our ventures to our local beach have to be shared – I couldn’t resist the feather in the black sand, nor the massive pooch, who is a such a gentle giant.
Before I go, I did promise a pic of some lichen. It is growing happily on many of our trees in the orchard, our olives and pine trees and our outdoor furniture as shown below.
Are you still interested … Did we win anything? Of course we did!
Happy gardening …
Lots of great pics. Looks like a lot of fun. Congrats on your winning entries.
Hey Tim … it was fun! Lots of yummy food to eat and plenty to see 🙂 Thank you!
Dear Julie and Andrew, so loving the idea of a mega-onion here in London, where we have had our first glorious spring day and the Pinder boys won their last ever match for Barnes Eagles U18s and Watford beat Arsenal to progress to the FA Cup final semis. Lovely pics, but, as veteran guinea pig breeders, we are unimpressed by the piggy that won best in show! We’ve bred over 50 quality pigs and they were all real “lookers”. Sadly they have all gone to the great hutch in the sky but I miss them singing in the garden, hoping for a delicious vegetable snack. Lots of love, fiona xx
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Hi Fiona … so good to see you here. Nothing like a glorious spring day and being able to enjoy a couple of well deserved footy wins. Ah so you used to breed guinea pigs? This one was the Reserve .. so not the winner, who as it happens was white and not prepared to exit her cage. Gosh over 50 .. I’m so impressed. I bet they were real lookers too! Hugs your way Miss
Another great post with a lot of beautiful photographs!
Thank you so much … how is that gorgeous cat of yours? 😀
Congrats Julie on the wins! This is a great series of pics- love the pups and the Guinea pig- a handsome chap indeed! Can’t wait to see the punkin!🎃
Hey Miss … thank you! Was a bit of fun … have our eye on next year! ha ha Great you like the pics – I think the guinea pig was so cute and it didn’t mind all the attention either. Oh you wait till I get a shot of that pumpkin .. damn it looks good! LOL
Is it as big as Jack Henry’s head? 😉
Ha ha … oh that is too cute! Are you saying that Jack has a big head? LOL 😉
Let’s just say that his head is usually the first thing people comment on- one of his nick-names is Bowling Ball Head😃
Hmm let’s say ‘close’ then! 😀
Congratulations for the prizes Julie. They are well deserved as we follow their grow in your blog ^^ A nice story with winnings and experiences. The pumpkin fills my imagination about the size and the onion has to been so massive! Thanks for a beautiful chronicle. : )
You are so welcome Francis. So pleased that you enjoyed your visit! You wait till you see the pumpkin … I go and stand in the paddock and stare at it! ha ha … but then I’m silly too
I’ll wait and I’ll remember. : )
Congratulations – Well done, you! Great photos. I love the smiling pup! He looks like he has secrets to share. And I bet those fruit trees really will thank you …. In the spring.
Hey Janet … thank you! He is a smiling pooch. A sheep dog that had been relocated to the van. I bet he had lots of share … Oh those trees sure will thank me 🙂 In fact, I’m thinking that I just might shut the office door and go and give another one a haircut!
Yeah! And here I was reading down to the bottom of the post going, “but, but, did you win?” And hooray! You did win! I’m so happy for you…omg. I took a chance one time and entered a painted map in our village vegetable and fruit fair (OK it has arts and crafts in it too), and the nicest part was listening to people chat about my art! Oh, and, Chloe peeked over just now and saw that happy puppy in the car window followed by happy puppy on the beach and juts casually said, “mom? What if we just happened to have to save a dog in Japan and then just happened to have to live with him for the year…we couldn’t just leave him there, could we?” (groan) Well, I suppose not! 😀
Ha ha … yes we did. And it was so nice walking in and seeing the cards. Made me smile alright! LOL Now V, if you were to enter your art into these events, you would absolutely ‘clean up’! No one would get a look in … Then I could dream about buying one of your paintings! Oh I wish … Sounds a wee bit like you might end up getting a Japanese dog! Always lovely to see you here … xx
The lichens you showed are the same color as the most common ones I see in central Texas.
Ah, nothing fancy growing on our trees then! Cheers Steve
Damn it Julie! You can’t keep us hanging showing pictures of hamsters and hot cross buns! (as nice as they are). Congratulations for your wins at the farmers market. Was there a category for jams and pickles? You could have entered Bill’s creations and taken home all the ribbons! 😏 Take care. Bob
You are so funny Bob! Course I can keep you hanging. LOL … Thanks though, always a bit of fun. I suspect next year we are going to be focussed! ha ha And yes, we can enter Bill’s creations – indeed!
Thanks as always for stopping by Mr E
I forgot to mention – wonderful photos!
Hi Julie and Andrew, Julie you really should enter the photo section. I’m sure you would clean up quite a few awards, with your stunning talent. Any way congratulations on your awards the amount of love and work you both put in to Frogpond you deserve them. Did the paper bags help at all? Pruning the fruit trees does that mean an even bigger crop! Once the new trees are in fruit you will have to get pickers in! Have started to sort out the garden yesterday, bit difficult though they are having an extension next door so in a bit of disray. Keep watching the pumpkin look forward to seeing it in next blog. Lots love to you both Bill xxx
Hey Mr B .. nice to hear from you. Hope that neck is ok? No way am I going to enter that photo section .. although I do so appreciate your comments. Couldn’t stand the thought .. oh imagine not winning even a highly anything! LOL … Thanks for the congrats, we do put in a bit of work don’t we? The paper bags – I think they were a deterrent, but they needed to be removed at some stage ( 😉 ) . Yes potentially the pruning should increase the yield – but guaranteed it will make those suckers easier to pick. I don’t even want to think about those new fruit trees .. imagine how many quince and figs there will be? Your garden must be hankering for some TLC 😀 That pumpkin, you just wait. It is a show stopper! LOL Hugs
Well done what a great year you have had, apart from all the rain.
Hi Roy and Ruth … we have had an amazing year! Thank you … the rain wasn’t bad either 😉
Congratulations. You’ve got to be in it to win it. I hope you celebrated with a nice glass of red afterwards. 🙂
Mr Draco .. you sure do have to be in to win it! Thank you … watch out Kumeu Show 2017! LOL Not me, I celebrated with a fine Sauv Blanc
Congratulations on winning!
How many fruit trees do you have?
Hi Helen … thank you! 🙂 Oh dear would you believe that we have 26 in one orchard and have just planted another strip of land with about 22. I feel unwell .. imagine when they all start producing. Have to blame the husband!
That’s a lot of trees but great what you can do. Maybe you need to do volunteer workdays?!
Congrats on the wins! Beautiful photos…especially the two doggies!
Hey Miss … thank you! Glad you enjoyed the pics, always great sharing the experiences. Including those 2 doggies 😀
Hi Julie, my first comment on a blog but Bill has been sending them to me since he last came to visit you and I felt I had to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading all your updates and looking at the wonderful pictures. Many thanks and love to you and Andrew. Sheila Hertfordshire, England xx
Hello Sheila … I know it is your first time and lovely to hear from you. I’m so pleased that you have been enjoying the blog posts. I love being able to share our place … Have fallen in love with my camera! Lots of love back at you and Peter 😀
Wow three firsts…not bad for a last minute entry!! Lovely pictures and the beach looks so tempting😊💕
Ha ha .. I know 3 firsts! Woohoo. Watch out Kumeu Show 2017! Glad you like the beach pics, such a great place to spend some time. Thanks for stopping by …
Sounds like a fun day at the fair! Your photos are beautiful, and I am enjoying following your posts and all that goes on at your farm.
We have an old lichen-covered orchard as well. During our winter rainy season they swell, festooning the trees in green-grey.
Hey Lavinia … thanks for your lovely comment. It sure was a great day at the fair. I do love sharing our place with others. Do you find that the lichen causes problems for your trees? Ours look exactly the same in winter 🙂
Haven’t noticed any problems with our trees, although I know many people treat their trees with lime-sulfur here to get rid of lichens as well as other potential problems. I did find this forum thread you might find interesting:
http://groworganicapples.com/phorum/read.php?17,877
Hey Lavinia .. Thanks so much for the link
It sounds like our Count Fairs. How fun. 😊
Hey Miss … it was fun indeed. Nice to get out of the garden for a minute (or 10). Always good to see you here!
More hypnotically beautiful shots Miss Julie. The wood chopping man is a treat, with chips flying, as is that cute dog’s head poking out from a car window. Still, my fave is the beach- how much do I love that beach! Congrats on taking out so many prizes at the show. Aren’t agricultural shows a treat!
Gosh I couldn’t believe after all these years that we were entering the show again. Such fun ha ha … I love the wood chopping bloke too, and that pooch with the head poking out the window was a treat. I know you love that beach. Hopefully you will get to walk on it one day and wonder at the black sand on your toes when you leave! 😀 Hugs
Congratulations on your awards! Enjoyed your photos of the show, that is one handsome Guinea pig! The “massive” pooch is gorgeous, and a great description. I wonder if under all that fluff is a tiny dog!
Hi Patti … well thank you! 🙂 Great that you enjoyed the pics of the show. I reckon he was a handsome guinea pig too. I have no idea of the size of that dog, but he seriously is massive! Thanks for stopping by
wow, superb 🙂
Hey Joshi thank you!! 😀
Of course you won! Congratulations! And so many! Lovely pictures. Beautiful post .
But can’t get the picture of the second prize chook out of my head. Thanks for sharing the fun you had Julie <3
Hi Gill .. love it when you stop by. Glad you enjoyed the pics. I really like that shot of that chook – he sure was a handsome guy. We did have fun, always great to share it 😀
Wow Wow Wow!!! YOU WON!!! Good thing hubby was thinking …. If he had not you would not have won! YAY! As for your pictures, Oh, Julie, every one is so special, so cool, so YOU! You deserve a well earned rest and I hope you do that soon. I cannot even begin to imagine the work you and your husband have done, and will continue to do. You are an inspiration and I really HOPE you get more help next year. Love to you! Amy <3
Hello Miss … yes we did win. I was so surprised. Lots of fun too, thanks to hubby. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the pics Amy .. that means a great deal. So sorry for not replying sooner .. Thank you for saying I’m an inspiration 😀
You are, Julie!! As for replying late, who cares? You have a life, one that is very demanding!! Gee, I think I get it. 🙂 <3
Great pictures…and congrats on the wins Julie! Please can you send the woodcutter to us? We have some job here…. ;-)))
Hi Josephine ..
Thank you!! I wouldn’t mind that woodcutter here either – we have loads of pine trees! Glad you like the pics ..:D
WooHoo!! you seem to have had a blast!
Do you miss the high-heeled shoes?
Hey Rajiv … I laughed when I read your comment about the high heels. Sometimes I do .. 😀 What about you? Do you miss the corporate life? The show was a blast. Thanks for stopping by
Do I miss the corporate world? Once in a way. But, generally not. I don’t have to wear a tie.
The thing about being out, is that when you become a success, then it is because of who you are, not your position in the corporate world
Great comment Rajiv! And yes you are so right about being successful .. I feel so lucky to have accomplished so much
That is so true… your garden is the best!
😃
I should come and congratulate you days ago! How can I be this late…
harvest season is a busy time for you. 🙂 I love this post!
Gosh I’m late in replying too – shame on me! So pleased you love the post Amy … Good! 😀
I should be the one to apologize for being late, Julie. I’d hate to miss this post. 🙂
Goodness, Julie! Congratulations. You sure strung us along there and then — wham! comes the great news.
Hi Cynthia .. thank you so much! It was lots of fun … 😀
Well done Julie was hanging to know how you went. Those images of the dogs and goats are so wonderful. You captured some real personalities there.
Kath.
Hi Kath … had to leave the news to the end 😀 So pleased you like the pics of the dogs and goat .. always great to share.
Well done , you, those prizes looked well-deserved! As your garden winds down, we’re planning and plotting and itching to dig in the dirt 🙂 Cheers, Ben
Hey Ben .. I bet you are plotting and itching to get into that dirt! Oh what fun .. one of my favourite past times. Very pleased about our little win 😀
By the way, that first photograph is excellent, taken from behind and with the distant things out of focus, as if being imagined rather than seen.
Great shot of the wood-chipper!! And that black sand — looks so cool. 🙂 I always find it interesting how seasons are the inverse of each other’s. We’re starting spring and your growing season is, it seems, winding down. I guess that happens when one lives on the opposite sides of the world!
Oh. And congratulations on your wins!
Hey Julie .. Yes I find it strange too .. Especially when those in the northern hemisphere are getting excited about daffs and veg plantings. Glad you like the pics Miss, so good to see you here 😃
Great photos. Great writing – teasing us 🙂
So pleased that you enjoyed the photos .. glad you liked the writing, I couldn’t help the tease 😉
Best of show in my book.
Oh thank you 😃