It wasn't too warm in Hawkes Bay over the weekend either. We have battened down the hatches, and tomorrow it looks awfully inviting to stay in bed for the day.

The garden, roadside, now has 50mm of water over it. The rain hasn't stopped all night, the cows look bedraggled, and all our local farmers our out in the road holding a celebratory barn dance, but the best part is the promised strong wind hasn't arrived as yet. But this rain was most urgently needed, especially as the temperature is quite warm (in the high teens) this will really kick start grass growth and that's just what the farmers and cows were waiting for.

ME, Annmarie is our computer expert.  She took me by the hand and showed me how to.

Now I can and like all other things, it is easy when you can.

Now comes that BUT… but I don't do “Photo bucket” so  I will leave you to  Annmarie

and she is an Expert- Sweetie.

It doesn't seem to work for me, I must practice more. These two belong to my son-in-law, he breeds birds for show and sale.

Me. said:

It doesn't seem to work for me, I must practice more. These two belong to my son-in-law, he breeds birds for show and sale.

What sort of birds are they?

Ciderman said:

It's a Two Headed parakeet. A native of Pitt Island.

I think you're pulling my leg. You will be telling me next that the earth is really flat and that the moon is made of cheese

Ann-marie, I chose that picture (I took it last Sunday) because the birds are beautiful, they are 'Love Birds'. It's an apt title, they usually sit in pairs and make a huge fuss of each other. I will show you another picture with a different coloured bird. My son-in-law kindly allowed me to get in the aviary to take the pictures.

In New Zealand we are very lucky with a wide variety of birds and animals. I believe we have eight of the ten most endangered bird species in the world, but we have a government and other agencies who spend millions on preservation and controlled breeding.

I always carry a camera with me and it's a joy to be able to record natural activity, birds in cages are ideal subjects because of their colour, but even quite dowdy wild creatures have a beauty all of their own.

Recently we had a strange experience. We keep a few chickens and one afternoon when my wife went to feed them she noted something rather odd, among the chooks: was a very young rabbit (a kitten). He (or she) stayed with us for several weeks and became quite fearless, one day I asked the rabbit to pose for me, I hope you like the result.

Post edited 4:16 am – 28th May 10 by Me.

Is it a rodent or a mammal … on the other hand, am I splitting hares?

Sorry, Michael, my quip was not meant to make you prickly. This is another of our regular visitors, it's important to take note who lives in the garden.

Michael, It was brought to my attention about a month ago you shouldn't feed hedgehogs bread and milk, an odd coincidence and I'm never too old to learn.

Now 'Me' will show himself to be a complete ass … what messages? I don't even know where to start looking.