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Just checking the recipe for the chicken wings I want to cook shortly for dinner: Honey and ginger chicken wings | Jamie Oliver recipes:

place in the fridge to marinate for 24 hours

😳

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Further back there seems to be some tree felling going on. That may well be on a different property — it gets a bit confusing round here.

A machine felling a tree with diggers in the foreground.
Piled up tree trunks on the ground.
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It’s all go round here today, in the teeth of a cold southerly. The farmer next door is harvesting a crop that is probably maize.

The harvester looks pretty flash, so I imagine it’s a contractor.

A harvester spraying something into a truck beside it, much of the harvest blowing away.

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I knew it was chilly this morning, with a cold wind, and that way down south there were snow warnings for the mountains. Still, I was very surprised when I went out for lunch to see the tops of the Tararuas had a fairly decent coating of snow too.

Snow on the Tararuas.
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What, you've never seen a rabbit eating a peach? Well you have now. 🐇

Wild black rabbit on grass eating a peach.
Wild black rabbit on grass eating a peach.
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Visited a neighbour not far from us the other day. They had this wonderful small log with orange fungi in their garden.

Weird, in Photos the orange is really vibrant. Here it looks muted.

Interesting orange fungi on a dark log.
Interesting orange fungi on a dark log.
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I write a monthly newsletter for our local community. A kind resident made this wonderful cartoon on an extremely topical and important issue and I've had such a turbulent week I forgot to include it until just after I pressed Send. So annoyed. 🐦

Recreation and the Wilderness.
Recreation and the Wilderness.
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So many people have said such kind and generous things about Sasha — too many for me to list all. Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words. I appreciate it deeply.

She was the last of them: Olive 🐈, Aphra 🐈, Ares 🐈, Oshi 🐶 and Sasha 🐶.

Sasha running on the beach in November 2018.
A parting shot of a joyous Sasha running on the beach in November 2018.
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Sasha in August 2008, aged about 18 months. Such a beauty! 🐶

Sasha said Goodbye to everyone today. Thanks to all blog pals who left kind and caring comments over the years. She was staunch and willing to the last. The best dog.

Close up on the face of a small black dog with brown eyes and a fresh haircut.
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Sasha does a selfie. 🐶

Small black dog sitting on my lap in the car.
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Just out for a stroll. 🐦

Peihana | Pheasant.

Pheasant in green grass.
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Sasha says: Thanks — breakfast was the best! 🐶

Small dog stands over food bowl.
Small dog eating from a deep bowl.
Small dog, head up, tongue slightly out.
Small dog with head above food bowl and some strands of breakfast on the floor.
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Out to it at the end of the day. Sasha. 🐶

Elderly black dog, fast asleep by the bed.

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Sasha, aged 16 and a quarter. Her back legs, well all her legs, are having trouble supporting her. Breakfast was a bit of a problem this morning. 🐶

Today will be a Very Good Day for her with her favourite foods and treats. Her friend Willow will visit too.

Small dogs with back legs at a poor angle for standing while she eats.
Another view. Small dogs with back legs at a poor angle for standing while she eats.
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Look at this little poppet, back in February 2007 when she was just 3 months old. Sasha's come a long way in the last 16 years! 🐶

Chubby black puppy lying tummy down on a wooden floor with legs splayed.
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Sasha, aged 16 and a bit, was out to it on her rug, until I poked my phone in her face. 🐶

Old black dog fast asleep on rug and floor.
Close up on the elderly dog's face.
Close up on the dog's face after she moved her head.
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I’m so thrilled. Look at this shot I got tonight (iPhone 13 Pro) at our wee star viewing. Crescent Moon with Venus and bird. Below that cloud, then a strip of sea, a strip of sand, river.

Crescent Moon, Venus and bird at dusk.
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Crescent Moon and Venus. @odd

Crescent Moon and Venus
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Sasha in her crate earlier today. 🐶

Small black dog asleep in her crate.
Small black dog, close up on face.
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I prefer my own company to groups, so what induced me to organise a community Star Viewing tonight? These are things I’m hoping we can find / look at:

  • Sirius
  • Orion
  • Orion Nebula
  • Taurus
  • Pleiades
  • Mars
  • Southern Cross
  • Large and Small Magellanic Clouds
  • Beehive Cluster
  • Milky Way.