January 2010, has been a very wet month with 250 mls over the month.
We have had several thunder storms and these are photos of the storms brewing.
As you may gather from the name Highland, we, Steve and Mary Bielski,
live in the high country of the North Island, New Zealand.
We have been farming together for over thirty years.
Steve's family has been in the Rangiwahia district for four generations,
after Steve's great grandparents emigrated from Poland and settled in the district in the 1870's.
Last year, we sold our farm, retaining the house and thirty-five acres.
This has meant we can continue with a small flock of Texel sheep and a few stud rams.
We are about 2000 feet (600 meters) above sea level
and we occasionally have snow around the house.
Our summers are fairly short and the farm generally stays green.
It is what you call “safe summer country.
Steve and Pete Mary and Pete
Hamish and Madelene Madelene and Amy
We have three married sons. Hamish and Amy live near Ohai, Southland.
Hamish has a position on Mount Linton Station as the sheep stud manager.
They have a daughter, Madelene.
Unfortunately, Pete's marriage broke up and he is having time-out in Wales,
coming back to New Zealand in March.
Dave and Miriam, their daughter Saoirse and wee son, Quilan,
also live on Mount Linton Station. Dave is the technical advisor for fertiliser, grasses and grazing.