Antarctica

I am fortunate to have travelled widely.

I spent 25 years living and travelling in the US and Europe, I spent months travelling through Africa, the Middle East and South America… and I’ve made two trips to Antarctica.  The first trip was to the Antarctic Peninsula, a year later I ventured to the Ross Sea. I think Antarctica simply stunning.

Just a few pics scanned from my photo album – these are not digital –  so the quality is somewhat compromised …

The Garden

Eventually the villa was almost finished but the garden required a make-over.

I consulted with a number of landscape designers and was clear on what I wanted – an English cottage garden with only white, blue and purple flowers.

And I was very clear in what I didn’t want – pebbles, curves, native plants, anything prickly, seating, a water feature.  And each of them returned with fancy drawings showing curves and pebbles and seating and….

So I did the garden myself. Lovely Kevin from across the road helped build the retaining walls and I went shopping for plants.  We brought in loads of super-soil and then I began planting. It is still a work in progress…

The Villa Project

I made a number of house hunting trips to Nelson before finally moving here.

Nelson has a high number of stunning turn of the century villas set within immaculate gardens, none of which I could afford. I was looking for a more modest older house that I could weave a little magic on.  I had my eye on a small house near the beach, but then discovered it had compliance issues which the vendors weren’t willing to negotiate over. So having already sold in Wanaka with the moving van booked, I potentially had nowhere to move to. I had just three days in which to decide what to do, or the problematic beach house would be mine.

So I looked online, saw a property which I thought might do and asked the estate agent for a floor plan.  I was sent the footprint of the house and pulling out some graph paper I spent an hour that evening drawing up the house plans. Half the night flew by as I redrew the house, remaking the interior spaces as well as adding a garage and an entire new wing plus a large deck.

Splendid, I thought, and come morning I placed an offer which was accepted. Had a building inspection done and by afternoon the house was mine.

my house on far right, 1892

One month later I drove up to Nelson with my sleeping bag and vacuum cleaner in the car. The following morning my furniture arrived and the next year was typical hell of living in one room of the house while renovations went ahead, plus a pup and then a kitten joined the family.

The house still isn’t quite finished; there is some painting, some tiling and some landscaping to finish, but everything else is done. The house was built in the late 1880’s and is now fully modernised with new everything – roof, plumbing, wiring, double glazed windows, solar hot water, kitchen, bathrooms. I am proud to say most visitors can’t tell which is new and which is original.

The house has now become a home.

Nelson

2011 was a big year.

My beloved pup Badge died, I sold Falling Leaves, re-homed the goats Raspberry and Cinnamon and moved to sunny Nelson.

Why Nelson? Well I didn’t mind where I moved to, within the following criteria;

• must be in the South Island
• must be dog friendly
• must have great weather

and so here I am in Nelson, the sunshine capital of NZ (most years).

I Love Helicopters

 

Wanaka Helicopters at Falling Leaves

My first helicopter ride was in Argentina with a 10 minute flight over the world’s largest waterfall, Iguazu Falls. Nervous before the flight, once up in the air I was immediately transfixed by the exhilaration of the helicopter ride as much as by the stunning scenery. And ever since, a helicopter is my preferred way to fly.  

I am fortunate to have flown by helicopter over New York, Paris and numerous times over the Swiss Alps. I have also enjoyed several helicopter flights in Antarctica, off the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov.  But some of the most amazing scenery is right here in my own backyard, the lower South Island.  

A number of years ago we did a heli-flight over Aoraki/Mt Cook, landing high in the mountains to play in the snow. More recently I have flown with both Alpine Helicopters and Wanaka Helicopters through some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere.  And one of the coolest things about living in Wanaka is that the helicopter will come and collect us off the lawn at Falling Leaves. A VIP door to mountain-top service.

On one trip I was thrilled to fly down to Milford Sound in Fiordland. The weather was glorious and the scenery picture-postcard perfect. Stopping along the way to play in the snow and drink the crystal clear waters of a mountain tarn, we landed at Milford to stunning blue skies.  We then took a leisurely 30 minute walk to the wharf, the path wending its way through native bush with glances of the fiord and the iconic Mitre Peak. Meandering to enjoy the sunshine, we returned to the helicopter for our flight back to Wanaka via Sutherland Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the world.  

We approached the waterfall along the valley floor, marvelling as the water cascaded down from an amazing height. Close in, we slowly ascended up the face of the waterfall to than skim low across the lake at the top. We slowly rose up the face of the next section of the waterfall, completely surrounded by snow packed peaks. It was simply stunning. 

Sutherland Falls by helicopter

Another time we tried to visit Milford but the Fiordland weather had closed in. Here’s my trip report posted on TripAdvisor…    

Wow!!
Our party of five really wanted to fly down to view Milford Sound and Sutherland Falls however Milford’s weather forecast didn’t look good so we opted instead to see some of the glaciers around Wanaka.
A quick phone call to Wanaka Helicopters first thing to check the local weather conditions, then at 10am on the dot Andy arrived in the helicopter to collect us off the lawn. Buckled up and with headsets on, we were off, soon cruising over Lake Wanaka at a seemingly sedate 240 kmph. We made a leisurely circle around the stunning bird sanctuary of Mou Waho Island before heading over the braided Matukituki River. Climbing in elevation, we then landed on a high vantage point in the snow. After first exchanging snowballs we then enjoyed the views in the balmy temperature of 14C. Mt Aspiring was partly lit up by the morning sun however we couldn’t see the top of this stunning mountain as she was shrouded in cloud.
A kea, the large alpine parrot, landed on the snow nearby and then kept us entertained for 10 minutes as she soared and hovered just metres away, playing in the thermal updrafts from the valley below. Her wings outspread, she showed off her scarlet under wings to full advantage before landing nearby to bound across the snow in the kea’s characteristic series of hops and leaps.
Returning to the waiting helicopter Andy explained he kept the rotors moving while landed to deter the kea. They are notorious for stripping the rubber and metal off cars, however I hadn’t known they also like to strip helicopters!! They are a very clever bird and several will work together as a team to remove a car’s roof rack, wiper blades and even the bindings off skis.
Crossing the valley we then approached Kitchener glacier. Flying close to the face of the glacier we marvelled at the stunning blue of the ice as Andy provided a lively commentary on the glaciers, the mountains, helicopters and the many waterfalls.
Moving on, we then approached Avalanche glacier and again, we marvelled at the deep crevasses, the stunning blues and the shear drops below us. The waterfalls were incredible with literally hundreds of waterfalls gushing from the glaciers.
Continuing along the rock face we came to yet another glacier, the waterfalls all falling into a large lake covered almost entirely by floating icebergs. We circled around the lake edge, all of us whispering ‘wow’, or ‘awesome’ at the sheer beauty of the setting.
‘Would you like a James Bond moment?’ Andy asked with a grin before we did a dramatic swoop down over the lip of the lake, following the waterfall down to the valley floor below. It gave us the thrill of a roller coaster ride, albeit it was far smoother… and it also felt safer. Climbing again, we enjoyed the spectacular scenery before coming down to land on the shores of Lochnager, a surprisingly large lake hidden amongst the peaks. Drinking the pure lake water, we found it ice cold and totally refreshing. Many honeymooning couples arrive by helicopter with a picnic hamper to dine privately in this isolated splendour.
Reluctantly we departed the loch, following the contours of the mountainous land as we climbed over the crest of Treble Cone, one of Wanaka’s ski fields, before dropping down to the shores of Lake Wanaka and then back to land on the lawn at Falling Leaves.
Initially disappointed at not being able to visit Milford, we certainly had no regrets afterwards. Both trips are totally different and yet the superlatives are the same… stunning, spectacular, amazing, wow.
Thank you Andy and Wanaka Helicopters for a brilliant morning’s outing. It was simply perfect!!  

And so if I ever win the lottery (somewhat unlikely as I never remember to buy tickets) I shall pass on the more traditional splurge of the cars, the shoes and the trip to Paris. All I want is a helicopter… with pilot!

The Project

Before the project began

About this time last year I finally made a decision on the garden shed located next to the paved terrace. The shed cast an enormous shadow over the house and garden in the winter months and served no useful purpose. So I thought I would remove the roof and walls, just keeping the lovely dry-stacked stone walls, and add a pergola and outdoor fireplace. As concrete would need to be poured I thought it best to wait until after the winter to complete the job which would, after all, take only a few weeks, possibly a month at most. Simple no?

 Well after getting the plans drawn up and approved by the local council and Deane the builder booked in, everything was set to go and work began, as scheduled, early October.

 And finally, four months… months!… later, the work was finally finished. Why did it take so long? I’m not sure really. I made the mistake one day of saying to the builders, please don’t arrive before 10 in the morning as guests are staying… and I didn’t see another builder for an entire week!

 Then in early December I saw the painter and said the project would be ready for painting soon. Neil nodded and said, “I’ll get to it after the holidays.”

 “When will that be?” I asked.

 “The end of January,” he replied.

 “Never mind,” I sighed, “I’ll have it all painted before then.”

 And I did. Though I don’t like heights so painting the very top of the chimney was a bit scary.

Eventually the concrete floor was finished and sealed and the BBQ, garden bench and firewood were able to be put in place. A native clematis, black grapes and a white grape are planted to eventually climb over the pergola.

May 2010

The perfect pup, Badge, loves the fire and he curls up comfortably with his blanket to enjoy the warmth. The draftsman had suggested the fire box be positioned quite high up the wall, following the latest fashion trend. No, I said. Badge will use the fire and it needs to be low for him. So out came the tape measure and Badge was measured to the knees to ensure an accurate height.

 At a recent drinks party the kind neighbours who had given Cinnamon came. I brought Cinnamon up to the garden for them to see his progress and he was tied to a tree. I soon tired of his constant bleating and so freed him to wander where he wanted. But he was a good boy and stayed by my side the entire time, only wandering off occasionally to vacuum up any dropped chips and snacks. After his initial scare when I lit the outdoor fire, he soon crept closer and seemed quite fascinated by the flames. And for once, Badge had a wee companion to share the warmth.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon at six months

Raspberry the goat became quite skinny and stressed after the untimely death of her half-sister Lavender, so when a neighbour kindly offered a baby wild goat I jumped at the chance. And several weeks later Darren arrived at the door to say an orphan kid had been found in the nearby mountains.

 Approximately two weeks old when found, the wee goat is totally cute. He is a soft cinnamon colour with white face and a thick white crest running down his back. He has mis-matched ears, one pointing straight up, the other stuck out at a jaunty angle. Cinnamon has two bottles of milk formula a day, though he seems to believe he requires more. He now thinks I’m his mother and he follows me everywhere, trying to suck on my clothing and fingers. He has settled in well to life at Falling Leaves, with guests taking great delight (and lots of photos) when feeding him his bottle. Raspberry, who can be quite territorial, mainly ignores him so far which is kinder than the butting treatment I thought she might offer.

 Initially I had Cinnamon in a separate pen to protect him from Raspberry but at the tiny age of three weeks he was jumping over the sides which were two to three times his height. I then put a roof across the top but when Raspberry looked like she was going to jump onto the structure I removed the entire fencing. The two of them are now free to roam where they please in the lower paddock. One day the perfect pup, Badge,  and I returned from a full day’s outing to find Cinnamon curled up asleep at the front door, waiting for us. Thankfully he hasn’t escaped from his paddock since.

 Late afternoons Badge and I usually take the two goats through the end gate and the four of us take a stroll along the banks of the Cardrona River, the goats stopping to munch on the greenery while Badge races away after the rabbits.

 On the days I spend time in the garden I bring Cinnamon up to join us and he trots around everywhere at my heels. Last week I mowed the lawns and I thought that would make him pause, but no, he wasn’t deterred by the lawn mower at all, he just followed right along. I had to be very careful when reversing! He has now discovered that roses are tasty (well he seems to think they are anyway) and so his days of wandering freely around the garden are about to end.

 But already, at the tender age of five weeks, I can see that Cinnamon is a goat of immense character…

Raspberry

Update April 2010

Cinnamon continues to charm everyone as he begins to sprout horns and show his independence. While happy to skip around his paddock with Raspberry, he always welcomes a human cuddle whenever he gets the chance. He loves our walks down along the river… his favourite delicacies at the moment are the willow and poplar leaves as the trees begin their autumn molt.

The Perfect Pup

 It was love at first sight.

 Arriving at the breeder’s home in Christchurch, my friend Jan got out of the Jeep to open the high wrought iron gates. A pack of six or seven Dobermans appeared on the other side of the gates and stood silently, watching, waiting. I bravely stuck my head out of the Jeep window and called to Jan, who stood alone and unprotected, “They must be friendly… I’m sure they must be friendly.”

 The pack waited, unmoving, as Jan opened the gates, I drove through, then she closed the gates again. As we drove up the long driveway the dogs ran and played on the lawn beside us, then veered off to play what looked like a game of soccer. I soon realised their ‘ball’ was in fact a small puppy which they would run after then bowl over, his little legs sprawling as they leapt about him with joy.

 I parked the Jeep and got out, nodding hello to the man who approached. “Hi, I’m Jo”, I said. Looking towards the playing dogs, I asked, “Is that my pup?”

 “Yes, that’s Badge”, he answered.

 The pup saw me approaching and he ran closer, diving between my feet for protection from the chasing dogs. Scooping him up, I held him close as the Dobermans circled us before they went running off, looking for a new game to play.

I gazed down at the small pup lying  in my arms. With his enormous paws and flapping great ears he was simply gorgeous. “Hello Badge”, I grinned. “I’m here to take you home.”

 Badge had originally been sold to people in the North Island, but when the breeders learnt the pup was destined to be a guard dog they cancelled the sale. When I called to say I was looking for a male black and tan puppy they said, “We have one ready now. Would you like him?”

 After having my home inspected to make sure I was a suitable and responsible owner, I then drove six hours to Christchurch to collect him. And we haven’t been apart since.

Badge at three months

  I often call Badge ‘the perfect pup’ and he is.  Even as a puppy he never chewed the furniture or his bedding, he has never stolen food, dug holes in the garden or rolled in anything he shouldn’t.  Nor does he sit on the furniture… though he’s got me so well trained that in the evenings I just about always sit on the floor with him.

 Did I mention how smart he is? One day fetching sticks in the Arrow River, with the river in full flood, he found the force of the water had carried him over to the other side of the river. I called to him and he jumped into the river to swim back, only to find himself being swept way downriver past me. Within minutes he ran back up the track, the stick still clamped in his mouth. Taking it, I threw the stick back into the river and he bounded in after it. Carried again to the other side, he climbed out, shook himself vigorously, then turned and ran way upstream, twisting through the trees and bushes. “Hey”, I called. “Where are you going? Come back!”

 Without pausing he jumped back into the rushing water where the strong current swept him downriver, directly to where I was waiting. Climbing out, he shook himself, his whole body wriggling with his delight.

 Badge is a huge asset to Falling Leaves.  He loves having guests stay and as soon as he hears them arrive he is waiting at the door, full of eager anticipation. And in return he is simply adored by the guests. He has walked and run with guests down along the Cardrona River and has patiently allowed himself to be patted and fussed over for hours. Many guests have commented that Badge is spoilt. “No he isn’t”, I say. “He isn’t spoilt, he’s merely indulged.”

 But it makes me smile when later the guests carefully tuck Badge’s blanket around him when he becomes uncovered.  He has a knack of winning the hearts of everyone.

Badge prepares for winter

Many thanks to Cécile and Michel from Paris for the use of this photo. 

His only imperfection is his health. Before he had turned one Badge had an operation for a degenerating bone in his elbow. Then before he was two he had a major operation on his spine for Wobbler’s Syndrome, a genetic disorder which afflicts some large breed dogs.

 Wobblers is caused by a narrowing or malformation of the spinal cervical (neck) vertebrae which causes pressure on the spinal cord. It can cause a ‘wobbly’ gait, lack of co-ordination, falling over and intense pain.  In severe cases it can cause paralysis.

And now, after two years of blooming health, signs of Wobbler’s Syndrome have returned. Last week Badge collapsed and couldn’t regain his feet. When he finally struggled up he staggered around as if drunk. He is now on complete house rest, only permitted outside on a leash.

Week after next I shall take Badge to the specialist vets in Christchurch for a full diagnosis with MRI and surgery, if needed.

 All I want for my perfect pup is a long, pain-free life. I shall keep you posted…

Update…

Well the MRI report isn’t the best.

 But I am pleased to report that Badge is loving life and he remains pain free. This weekend he spent two hours running around the garden with his much loved sister, Bella. It was their first time together since his collapse a month ago and they both revelled in their play.

 And the next time someone comments that Badge is spoilt, I shall just smile. “Yes he is,” I will say. “And he deserves it.”

Update April 2010

Despite his handicaps, Badge remains the perfect pup and his remarkable laid-back personality continues to charm all he meets. Our walks are now much shorter and less frequent but he still bounds around as if a puppy, thanks to his daily steroids.

Sadly his beloved sister Bella came to the end of her life and she is now buried in our garden where the two dogs  spent hours in happy play. A eucalyptus tree is planted to honour her memory. Sleep well Bella. 

Badge 8 Nov 2005 – 7 April 2011 

Badge passed away peacefully April 7^th 2011. Wrapped in his sleeping bag with his favourite toys, he is now resting in the garden next to his sister Bella, a ghost gum planted over him.

  Thank you Badge. You were a most exceptional companion and you will never be forgotten.

Mou Waho Island

A glacial remnant of the last ice age, Mou Waho Island is, geographically, almost unique in the world.  Rising high above Lake Wanaka the craggy island has the rare distinction of having a small lake, Arethusa Pool, situated near the summit. It is quite remarkable to stand at the top of the island looking down at the pool and further out to the blue expanse of Lake Wanaka, then beyond to the stunning snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

 The island is situated near the middle of Lake Wanaka, an easy 30 minute boat cruise from Wanaka’s marina.  After a successful predator eradication programme (which I helped on in the late 70’s), the island is now a Nature Reserve and is home to a growing population of birdlife including the flightless  buff weka, as well as the N.Z falcon, wood pigeon, bellbird, tomtit, fantail, wax eye and grey warbler. Lizards, geckos and the alpine weta also thrive here.

 Once ashore, a well formed track taking about 30 minutes leads to the high summit with its stunning views. The island is a very popular picnic destination in the summer months, offering walking, swimming, bird watching and it even has a lovely BBQ area.  

In the late summer I helped organise a clean up day on the island with the Wanaka Rotary Club. We pulled weeds, planted native trees and shrubs, helped clear the walking track and repaired the jetty, all under the authority of DOC (Dept of Conservation) and with the supervision of Chris from Eco Wanaka Adventures.   

 After a morning spent on the working bee and then a relaxed lunch, some of our group left by boat to go fishing, some lay back  in the warm sunshine for a siesta, while a few hardy souls went back to pulling weeds. Soon word came down from the summit that a tourist had slipped on rocks and suffered a broken leg. After a short delay a rescue helicopter approached the island but they were unable to lift the injured Australian off the steep summit. The helicopter instead landed on the rocky beach below and some of our group climbed the path with the paramedic to help stretcher the injured man down.

 I must say the injured man was quite cheerful and jolly through what must have been a painful experience of being carried down a sometimes steep mountain trail. Strapped into the rescue helicopter, he was soon skimming across the lake towards the Wanaka Medical Centre. 

 Finished for the day, we cleaned up, packed up and headed back across the lake, the afternoon sun still strong on our backs as we finished the last of the picnic fruit cake and biscuits.

Trips out to Mou Waho Island are run by Lakeland Adventures  and by Chris from Eco Wanaka Adventures  While on the island with Chris you can plant a native tree, enabling you to contribute in a ‘hands on’ way to the continuing restoration and conservation of the island. The trees provide a valuable food source for the island’s birdlife and are a lasting reminder of your visit to this wonderfully unique sanctuary.

The Psychic

About a week or so before Christmas the perfect pup Badge and I spent the day in Dunedin before heading home. Driving through the countryside we passed a sign hanging from a farm gate, Piglets for sale. Slamming on the brakes I stopped and did a u-turn, returning to the gate.

“Are you looking for a piglet?” the man asked.

“Sure,” I nodded. I’ve never had a piglet before, but why not? Afterall, how much trouble could one wee piglet make?

Peering into a muddy pigsty with some piglets running around squealing, I pointed to one. “That one?” I suggested.

“A saddleback,” he said. “Okay.”

With her freckled pink nose and a white stripe running around her belly, the little black piglet was very cute.

Scooping her up, he gave her a shot and dropped her in a sack. He tied up the top and then expertly lopped of a corner of the sack so she could stick her snout out for fresh air. I placed her in the front foot-well of the Jeep, training the cold air down on her to prevent her from overheating.

Driving along, I began to run names through my mind, trying to find a name which incorporated the word ‘ham’ in it. Afterall, I need to remain focused on what the piglet is for…ham…Hamlet! But we hadn’t driven far before Hamlet wriggled around in her sack and lost her air hole. I reached down to try to turn her back and she bit me, ouch!

We soon arrived in Lawrence and I stopped at the petrol station. “May I please borrow a pair of scissors?” I asked.

I then cut a few more air holes in the bag, being careful to keep the tips of the scissors, and my fingers, away from Hamlet’s teeth. Driving on, I began to run through the realities of the situation. Her food, her shelter, her fencing. I know pigs are smart and they require special fencing. Many owners use a tiny pigsty, or an electric fence. But I hate seeing animals confined and I certainly wouldn’t want to electrify the entire five acres of the lower paddock. I had a portable pen which I decided I would erect for a temporary home until I had a new fence erected.

But it was almost two hours later by the time we arrived home and poor Hamlet was suffering dreadfully, her breathing laboured. Placing the sack in her new paddock, I listened to her stressed breathing and quickly made a decision. Cutting open her bag, I helped her to freedom. With some water to wallow in and some crusts of bread in her belly she quickly revived and began to explore her new paddock. Satisfied that she seemed happy, I headed up the hill to home through the gathering darkness.

The following morning I wasn’t totally surprised to find Hamlet was nowhere to be found. It was another hot day and I thought she would be either down at the river at the end of the property, or she would be over in the cool shade of my neighbour’s trees. Leaving some food in a bucket in the unlikely case she returned, I went home and called the neighbours. “If you find a little black piglet on the loose, she’s mine”, I explained.

“We’ll keep an eye out,” they promised.

Late in the afternoon my neighbours called back. They are a lovely couple, very welcoming and hard working and totally down to earth. Hardly the type to place much credence in the airy fairy… yet they often talk to their psychic in Auckland. “Don’t worry”, they report. “The psychic says Hamlet has just gone for a walk and isn’t far away. She’ll be back home soon.”

“But she was only here a short while”, I say. “She won’t even know this is her home.”

But just on the off-chance, I took some more food down to the lower paddock and began to make the small enclosure in case she returned. The ground is hard river flats, more shingle than earth, and well compacted from being a river bed for many millions of years. The sides of the pens have spikes for pushing down into the earth, but this terrain requires a sledge hammer and brute strength. About an hour later I had just hammered in the last spike when I glanced up to see a little black shadow moving swiftly across the paddock. Hamlet!

“Come on,” I encouraged. “I have yummy food for you.” Placing the food in the enclosure, I stood back as Hamlet ran straight in and I closed the gate. She’s home!

“Welcome home Hamlet,” I laughed as she scoffed the bread and vegetable scraps. When I began rubbing her back she stopped eating, closed her eyes, and then gently collapsed onto her food as she stretched out, allowing me to rub her tummy.

If the psychic hadn’t predicted Hamlet’s return would I have been down in the lower paddock with the enclosure ready just as Hamlet turned up? Or would she had wandered over, found neither food nor a tummy rub and moved on elsewhere? I can’t help but feel that without the psychic’s vision, poor Hamlet would have ended up being someone’s Christmas BBQ, browning nicely on the spit.

Within a few days the new fence was erected and Hamlet was given the freedom of almost an acre of land to run around in. It has trees for shade, an A-frame house for shelter and I even dug her a swimming hole so she can wallow in the mud. She loves company and often had her snout pushed up to the fence to say hello to Badge or the goat. And she loved when I visited and rubbed her tummy. So the next time I went to Dunedin I stopped at the pig farm for another piglet to keep her company but there were no piglets left to be had.

A few days later the local paper had an ad for piglets and so Hamster arrived. A pure black piglet with a long snout, she is the result of a wild pig crossed with a Captain Cooker… a descendant of one of the original pigs which arrived with Captain Cook. She is a cunning wee thing, rushing in to snatch food from under Hamlet’s nose, and not liking to be touched. But the two of them get on well and are often to be found lying together in the shade, or in their nest in the paddock.

I had placed four bales of hay in their paddock, not sure what they would use them for… scratching posts, shade, shelter, food? Two of them remain untouched, but the piglets cleverly removed the twine from the other two bales and opened them up into a large nest. Most days they curl up together in the hay for their afternoon siesta.

Cute as two peas in a pod… or two pigs in a snooze.