Sheep on hill

Stand by for lots of sheep photos.  Or turn away if sheep aren't your thing.   I'm the first to admit I'm not a natural sheep lover.  When I worked with them on a daily basis I just didn't have the patience for them, they constantly frustrated me.  Like has happened with a lot of things, I appreciate them more now that I'm older and slower with few time constraints.

A neighbouring farmer occasionally puts his sheep in to graze in the narrow strip of land that leads from the road into the Tangihua Forest which I travel frequently as part of my little part-time job looking after the Tangihua Lions Lodge.  They keep the long grass down on either side of our access road. 

Most of them move off as I approach but there's the odd stubborn old girl (or maybe she's smart.  That's a big maybe) who refuses to budge from her place in the sun unless there's a danger of being run over.

 

 Even I have to admit those lambs are darn cute.

Mixed flock

I was feeling quite mellow on Thursday as I drove home.  Over the years I had become so frustrated trying to get photos of the peacocks that live in the wild down along the road a bit, that I'd given up.  In my book there's no point in persisting with something if it's going to upset your day.  I didn't have that attitude when I was younger.  I used to believe low expectations lead to a poor outcome.  I still think that applies to the young but have changed it for myself as I age.  I allow myself to do that.

I saw the peacocks in with the sheep on Thursday and decided to give it another go.  By the time I pulled off the road, I'd lost sight of them.

Ahh, there they are!  Further away than I'd like but I accept that.  I know how skittish they are.  These aren't the elegant, showy birds you see gracefully strutting around the gardens of stately homes.  These guys are wild and are constantly alert for danger. I swear they take flight at the sound of a car slowing down. 

I'm more than happy to get so many of them in the shot. 

While I was in the stopping and starting mood (and there was no traffic at all on the road) I stopped to check on that old barn that stands quite a distance off the road and has been slowing drooping for a couple of years. 

A closer look - and I think it will disappear altogether soon.

One last stop for a shot of the creek where it runs close to the road.