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Creating New Horizons

by | Jun 11, 2021 | Vineyard Cottges, Winter Stays

Over the last couple of days, some of our big trees came down, creating new horizons. If you have stayed with us at Vineyard Cottages, you will know just how lucky we are to have so many stunning native and European trees throughout the property. A friend’s husband who is a professional arborist, came out when we took over the property and was in awe of the variety of trees we had in our charge. One Saturday morning we went around the grounds with note books in hands and he named each and every tree, shrub and plant. There were over 50.

I struggled and struggled when it came to having some of the big guys removed. For years they have towered above the cottages, providing shade in the summer, blossoms in the spring, amazing colour in the autumn and stark contrast in the winter. But it was time to say goodbye to some and prune others to allow new growth to flourish. Luckily we have a great local team of arborists on hand who rolled in early on Wednesday morning and got to work creating space. It was goodbye to the huge lilly pilly (monkey apple) next to Sauvignon Blanc Cottage which had grown so large it cut most of the light out in the corner of the drive. Once it was down, we could see to the back fence line and the collection of native trees that runs along the creak. The property instantly felt longer and more open and as hard as it was to see it down, the creation of so much space is wonderful.

The hardest tree to say goodbye to was the large Ash in the middle next to the plum trees. Over the last few years it has cracked and dropped its limbs on the driveway. The moment the first rains came after long bouts of heat in the summer, cracks would appear in the branches. The glorious carpet of leaves it would drop on the drive was the real signal winter was on its way, but I was beginning to get nervous about it causing damage. It was time to go. This morning I was in the vineyard with the dogs and looked out across the roof of Sauvignon Blanc to discover a whole view I had not scene before. It had been hidden behind the beautiful ash tree, but without it, we can see for miles and miles. So while I worried about losing the big guys, we have been able to give a whole load of little trees room to grow and we can see fabulous new horizons. I think there is a lesson to be learnt in that!

  • VC view from the top
    View from the top

So if you’ve been thinking about coming to stay, nows the time! The winter special is on. Book two nights and stay for three!

Foggy Days and Fireplaces

Foggy Days and Fireplaces

by | Jun 8, 2020 | Hygge, Vineyard Cottges, Wellness, Winter Stays, Winter Weddings

We’re into the first week in June and it’s certainly got that wonderful winter feel about it. My morning walks with the dogs have been very very foggy. Usually it means we’re in for a stonking sunny day and I watch as the mist rolls away over the vineyard to bright sunshine and a chill in the air. 

This weekend was the weekend we tackled the wood pile. Feeding 8 log burners throughout winter and spring means we get through around 10 sq metres plus of chopped wood between May and October. Of course with Covid 19 turning 202 on it’s head, the fireplaces went on in March, more for comfort than necessity. 

When we first came to VC we were getting wood delivered two or three times a winter. It was expensive and took a lot of time away from the day to day winter tasks. Over the years, I got a bit smarter, keeping my eyes open for people wanting to get rid of wood from their properties in early spring or seeing if any arborists were wanting to offload wood cheaply. 

We started making Swedish log piles at the front of the property which were visually lovely as well as practical. The logs would spend summer in the sun seasoning for winter. 

Why do we season the logs? By seasoning or drying the logs we reduce the moisture content by about 50%. They reduce in weight and burn a lot better, without the natural oils and resins spitting in the fire. 

Last spring I arranged for a local arborist to deposit a truck’s worth of logs on the grass outside the house. The logs were double the size I’d seen (or glanced at speed) in the photos and when Barry arrived home from work, he took one look and announced he wasn’t cutting them up! Cue the log splitter. 

The logs spent summer in the garden and yesterday we lopped and chopped firewood into chunks. I’ll be honest there is still a huge amount to go, but between us we filled the bins and tackled at least half the piles. Fuelled by the dhal we grew to love during lockdown, by sunset it felt like a good job jobbed!

The fireplaces at Vineyard Cottages are much loved by everyone that stays here and are a real highlight for our winter wedding photography. We use a mixture of hard and soft wood to keep the rolling heat from the fires continuous throughout the evenings. Many of the guests will head out to dinner, so we pop in to throw a log on the fire and make sure it’s still warm for when they return. Last year I sat with one of our regular guests, now a lovely friend and we drank tea, ate cookies and watched the fire in the log burner. When we topped the fire up with macadamia nut shells, they cracked and made little clinking noises as they burnt.  It was the simple notion of just being there watching the flames that we loved and she remembers the most. 

Come and stay and enjoy the fires. 

Elle

Chicken Meatball Soup

Chicken Meatball Soup

by | Aug 16, 2019 | recipes, Vineyard Cottges, Winter Stays

Chicken Meatball Soup

 

Winter is nearly over here at Vineyard Cottages and while it’s been very very mild, on the chilly nights a good soup always warms the cockles. The DDH and I have managed to bypass the ghastly bugs that have flattened some members of our team and while I’m a firm believer in the Hakanoa Ginger, honey and lemon syrup to ward off all ailments in life, a bowl of this soup will do the trick too.

As we end up with a lot of chicken frames and stock bits throughout the week, I throw them into the freezer and have a big boil up once or twice a month. The resulting stock gets portioned into freezer and fridge containers for use over the next week, but soup is always the first meal made from them.

Our lemon trees are groaning with fruit and using preserved lemons and fresh lemons in this recipe gives it a real citrus kick. Also hot on the ingredients list are nutmeg and parsnips, both of which I think are fabulous friends for chicken.

 

For Two

Ingredients.

4 plump boneless and skinless chicken thighs (about 300g)

1 onion

3 cloves of garlic

1 egg

1 cup spinach

1/8 preserved lemon rind washed

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1tsp dried oregano

Salt and pepper

Juice one lemon

Bunch of herbs (I had parsley, chives, thyme and garlic chives)

In a food processor blitz together in the following order:

Onion, Garlic, Chicken, Lemon, Spinach, Egg, Breadcrumbs, Oregano, Herbs, Juice of one lemon and Salt and pepper

The mixture will be spongy and soft. If it’s gummy and thick add 1/4 cup of chicken stock slowly until the consistency is more mousse like than dough like.

With wet hands form walnut sized meatballs and cool for 15 minutes min in the fridge.

Bring 1 litre of good quality chicken stock to a boil and reduce to a gentle simmer. Gently poach the meatballs until thoroughly cooked through. They should not break apart if you cook them slowly. A vigorous boil and they will disintegrate faster than a soft toy given to one of my dogs. Add what even vegetables / noodle / pasta you fancy to the broth to bulk out but its surprisingly filling by itself. We had lots left over for lunch the next day.

     

    Batten Down the Hatches

    Batten Down the Hatches

    by | Aug 12, 2019 | Vineyard Cottges, Winter Stays

    Boy was it a wild and windy night at VC last night. The night before we had the loudest thunder I’ve ever heard in my life. Our usually complacent cats and dogs were all climbing up the curtains and barking madly.

    Last night the wind and rain whipped through like a tornado. Meanwhile in the city, there was a tornado damaging a lot of the water front area and destroying lots in its path. What a mess. Luckily we have survived the worst of it. The magnolia flower petals are lying discarded on the grass and the endless branches littering the driveway and grounds will be scope up and added to the ever increasing wood pile for the fire place. Our wonderful Joe announced last week we needed more wood for the cottages as we would run out if the weather was bad for the next month. It has certainly whipped around us like an unwanted smell, but thankfully it’s been a milder winter. Being an English girl at heart I miss the crispness of a frost and relish in the roaring fireplaces and a good book. So I will admit to having the fire on in my office and a window open – I know, appalling.

    Our supply of fire wood last year was greatly increased by the large storm in April which smashed its way through the region. Long limbs of trees fell around the property and were gathered and chopped into our Swedish log pile to cure for the summer season. Yesterday on facebook, I saw an arborist advertising huge lumps of trunks for sale and by 6pm there there were on the grass by the driveway. Barry came home and announced he wasn’t chopping them up, so lucky Joe will have a great job when he’s back from Fiji. We’re set for the next winter I think!

    It’s so mild here that all the daffodils and blossoms are already out filling the vases in the cottages with gorgeous perfumes. It’s only August! Pruning has started in the vineyard and if the current weather is anything to go by we’ll have a very early bud burst. I’m off to the UK for a couple of weeks in September to meet the latest member of the family so part of me is happy that the blossoms have already arrived, the other is hoping the rest wait until I get home! For now it’s a clean up and a cup of tea.

    Come and stay soon!

    Elle

    Winter Massage and Why!

    Winter Massage and Why!

    by | Aug 6, 2019 | Vineyard Cottges, Wellness, Winter Stays

    Warmest welcomes!
     
    In Winter, the days are shorter and colder temperatures can leave us feeling low and lethargic. Lower sunlight equals less vitamin D and ‘Winter Blues’ can set in like a sopping wet winters day, making us drag our feet and reach for towers of coffee and sweets to help us get through the fog. 
     
    Yet studies show that regular massages improve mood and can reset circadian rhythms, switching off the fight or flight responses, that can make us feel rage, raw, ragged and run-down like four seasons in one day.
     
    Therapeutic and restorative massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system which helps us digest, de-stress and sleep deeply.
    The benefits of restorative sleep at night creates vibrant positive energy during the day, which stimulates the body to produce your new best friends you never knew you had!…T-cells!
    These helpful little fellows boost your immune system and help defend yourself from a range of diseases such as viruses, colds and flu.
     
     Simply put the more relaxed you are, the more “Switched on” your T-cells are and the happier and healthier your winter season will be!
    Massage oils with cinnamon, lavendar and orange aromas tick lots of boxes. Lavendar is of course a great soother, but is a great assistant for aiding depression. Orange oil can give you a lift and a vibrancy to pull you out of the winter duldrums. Cinnamon oil reduces stress and aids circulation, so excellent for raising the spirits!
     
    Stay Snug & Looking forward to helping you all relax soon.
    Jodie