30th November, 2023

The east coast low is still hanging around, bringing winds from the east and intermittent showers.

The snails have completely eaten the golden nugget pumpkins and zucchini plants, and are still encroaching on the passionfruit. I watered them and put out some more snail bait as the rain had dissolved the last lot. I clipped the grass around the hops and wrapped any trailing vines around the supporting chains.

Robyn dropped off her two calves, beef cross boys. Flora took the opportunity to muscle her way into the hay shed calf muesli station so I did some rapid adjustments. Hopefully it's a calf only zone now. The new boys are happy to follow Star and Joey and will hopefully come in for milk in the morning.

 

 Annie continues to be a rock star. She was waiting for me this morning and paused to pee and poop before coming in to the dairy. She's holding good condition despite producing at least 20 litres a day plus whatever Abe is eating, six to eight litres easily. I will need to watch her condition closely as summer sets in (whenever that will be !) and the grass dies off.

29th November, 2023

The day started off sunny, but the wind was quite strong and from the east, so the clouds blew back over again.

I clipped the grass from around the hops and passionfruit and topped up the snail bait around the passionfruit. It's going to be amazing if they make it to growing at the rate the snails are hitting them.

I went and picked up cow and chook food and scored a bag of rolled oats at clearance, which will be nice to add to Annie's feed. She came in from the rye grass paddock when I called this morning, she's such a good girl ! 

I checked the implement shed nests again and banged them around a bit, and lice came pouring out. I think I will have to get something like coopex.

The calf feeder worked really well, no amount of head butting could move it and all the milk stayed in the feeder.

28th November, 2023

The weather persists in looking stormy and dank, but the rain has largely passed.

Today I fixed the trough across the road that was over-flowing. The cable ties that shortened the chain on the float had perished, so I put a new one on.  A very McGyver way of fixing it, but it worked.

I had Geoff check out the weird behaviour of the energiser on the electric fence around the silage. It was putting a zap through the earth connection, which I hadn't experienced before. He explained in physics and I nodded, but the main thing is that it won't flatten the battery and will have zap in the fence to keep the cows off the silage. I am none the wiser, but the situation works so I can live with that.

Joey has been bouncing the calf milk feeder around as he gets bigger. This results in splashing and spilling the milk. So I went and borrowed a bigger fence line feeder off Robyn. This one is nice and heavy and has five teats so they can jostle and steal teats off each other and it will still work.

I will be taking two of Robyn's calves for fostering for a while. There are a couple of youngsters that are behind and aren't quite ready for weaning, and they can share Annie's milk and Robyn will supply pellets so that my two and her two can come on together and hopefully fatten up without the competition from the bigger calves in her mob.

The hay still smells good, it doesn't appear to be too damp and hopefully it will dry out this week and I can start putting it in the shed.

27th November, 2023

We got up at 5am to go and help milk at Robyn's. Ash went into the pit with Robyn and I stayed in the yards to move the cows in and then start the hosing down to save Murray some time when the cows were all in. I think Ash enjoyed it.

Annie came when I called this morning, leaving Abe with the other calves. First morning I didn't have to go and get her with the halter. Milking went smoothly, I was even able to show Ash how to hand milk. 

The calves are on 12 litres each now, Annie's production is increasing as she settles into the lactation. It's her third lactation too, which is when cows tend to reach their full potential. With the calves at 12 litres each, the dogs and cats doing 2 litres between them, that is 26 litres without even including what Abe is drinking, and I think he'd be doing an easy 6 a day, for more than 30 litres a day. Just as well I have the calves !

Ash headed out about lunchtime, she's going to a highland cattle farm next, then a tour from Hobart back to the ferry up the east coast with her mum. I sent her with lemons and fresh eggs. I hope she enjoyed her stay. She stopped at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary on the way down.

The lice have finally stopped moving in the nests, which means the hen will be feeling more comfortable too. We're getting about 9 eggs a day from 15 chooks.

It's still raining, we've had 38mm since the fall started. I hope it's not making the hay too wet. At least the paddock that have been cut will be really responding to the water, and it has saved alot of garden watering. Plants respond to rain much more than to tap water for some reason.

26th November, 2023

Annie left Abe behind and came to milking without him this morning. This is the first major stage in a freshly calved cow coming back into the milking rhythm. It means she is comfortable that he is safe with the rest of the herd and that her protective hormones are settling down. It's a milestone that signals that milking will become calmer and get into a rhythm.

The calves are on 10 litres each now, and still chugging it down.

We set up an electric fence around the silage so the cows could be let into the rye grass paddock and clean up the long grass around the edges. We ended up with a mystery however, when the earth wire put a charge into the earth peg and the live wire wasn't putting any charge into the fence. I tested all parts and couldn't figure out how that was happening, so we left the unit turned off so it wouldn't cook the battery and went on to other jobs.

We turned off the unit on the soak fence, as the grass has reached the live wire and is shorting it out and flattening that battery. There are no cows putting any pressure on that fence so having it off won't be an issue. Then we went and checked that Jaffa and Sorcha still had feed in their area, another week I think.

A round of the nests to collect eggs and a quick check on the ones we'd treated... the lice are still moving.

Ash cooked a tasty vege stir fry and we ate that with pumpkin and fetta quiche.

 

25th November, 2023

Annie pooped again this morning, but she gave us a warning and I was able to move everything in time. There was still hosing down but it didn't include her and I this time. Ashleigh was a big help doing some of the work while I cleaned up, which saved a heap of time. The calves are on 8 litres each now, and still finding room for it. The pig is going to miss out, we took 8 litres for the house so we are back in real milk.

As we finished up milking it started raining, so there was no chance for putting the bales into the shed, they are going to have to spend a week drying after the rain stops. With that option closed we returned Bruce to Robyn, Ashleigh drove behind me with her hazard lights on so it was a bit safer drive. We had a cuppa with Robyn and organised to help with her milking on Monday morning.

We had breakfast and then headed in to visit with Siobhan so that Ashleigh could see the baby native animals that she has in care. There is a wombat and a pademelon and two wallabies. I think Ash really enjoyed feeding and cuddling them. 

A pademelon joey.

A wombat joey.

We came home and set up a better feeding station for the calves and gave the nests in the implement shed a good coating of pestene. We also dusted the one broody hen that was occupying them, because she was also infested with the lice.

From there we did a loop of the Sledge Track to look at the sights, stopping at the Amish vege stall for cinnamon scrolls and fresh peas. Then we went up to Bridport and got fish and chips to eat on the Old Pier Beach before a tour about Bridport, then home via woolies for some bits and pieces to make a curry for dinner.

24th November, 2023

Annie brought Abe in as usual, but he didn't find a spot to sit down, he wandered all over, in and out of her sight line. She got very dancy and finally ended up raining a hose of poop down on my head without warning. I held the cups in place long enough to finish milking without sucking up any of the poop, but I didn't take any for the house just in case.

Then I hosed myself off, and her off, and spent 20 mins hosing down everything in the milking area before I could go ahead with emptying the milk and cleaning the machine. It was possibly the worst milking ever.

I had a shower and breakfast and regrouped, and went and picked up Bruce. There are cows in the paddock next to our shared gate so I brought him back along the road. Thankfully only a short distance but quite nerve wracking as tractors bounce and the steering is direct and I had to go as fast as I could so as not to be a traffic hazard.

I moved about ten bales, lining them up in the barnyard behind the chook house instead of directly into the shed as Bruce is too big to get around in the hayshed. I am not sure how I am going to get them into the shed if Bessie can get in there but can't lift them and Bruce can lift them but can't maneuver in there.

Ashleigh, a veterinary student, arrived as I was heading out for more bales. We sorted out her luggage and room and went back out to bring in the rest of the bales. She rode in the cab behind me, which was one advantage of Bruce over Bessie. We did the ryegrass paddock, and two out of the main paddock and then pulled up for lunch, which we did at the Art Gallery.

We got back to the farm just in time to receive the new forks from Delmade, which were unloaded from the truck with a high ab, and moved into the barnyard by Bruce. 

We then moved the last of the bales into the barnyard, by which time we were just about cooked and well tired. Inside for a cool off then a farm tour for Ashleigh to meet all the critters.

We had a shower and changed into respectable clothes and with Geoff we went and had pizza and beers with Pete and Juliet at Little Rivers Brewery. A relaxing ending to a very big day.

23rd November, 2023

Annie brought Abe in and he did the usual new calf thing and found a spot to sit. Production increasing, still some colostrum, 6 litres each to Joey and Star, 1200ml to the dogs and the rest into the pig bucket. I started the calves on the orange feeder, which has the benefit of slower feeding, giving their stomachs a chance to tell them they are full so the crazy sucking urge at the end of a feed is eliminated.

I went to put Leigh's forks on Bessie, thinking I would get a head start on moving the hay into the shed as there was rain forecast. There were no side pins for the linkages so I had to slip down to Scottsdale Engineering to get some new ones. Thankfully they had three in the right size as they had hardly any left at all, so I got all three to have one spare.

Once I got started I hit a problem.The bales seem to be very heavy, Bessie could hardly drag one and her front wheels were barely touching the ground, which makes steering a problem. I was moving last years 5ft bales easier than I was moving this years 4 1/2 foot ones. I wasn't going to be able to juggle her around in the hay shed for best storage configuration with no steering.

So after one bale and a real head scratcher I messaged Robyn and she said I could borrow Bruce tomorrow to bring them in. I love my neighbours !

22nd November, 2023

Annie was even easier to get in this morning. She let down as well as a two day fresh cow can, and I got close to 15 litres of milky colostrum. The dogs and cats got some and I gave Star and Joey four litres each to restart them on milk while it's available. The muesli and milk will get them fat and shiny in no time. They were very happy to be back on milk, especially real milk warm from the cow.

One of the inflations (the bits that go on the teats) split and I had to do the milking with one finger holding the split closed to keep suction. I located the spare cup and inflation sets and changed that one out. It's probably time I learned how to put inflations into cups (the metal bits that hold the inflations).

Leigh dismantled the shelter across the road this afternoon, he's going to use the bits to make a new shed somewhere else. I guess I will have to figure out how to get my long timbers back across the road now too.

I pulled all the barrier gates out of the hay shed ready to let Bessie maneuver bales in and around the posts. It will take all my skill (hah !) to get as many rounds as possible into the shed without knocking out posts.

I think Belle was on heat the day Annie calved, it seemed that she was the centre of attention over the road. Since she has been there seven weeks that's a little concerning, as she should have come into heat and gotten pregnant on the last cycle. I hope she's finally caught.

Here's a little vignette of our little town. A tractor with full hay cutting rig parked in front of a cafe, beside an RV belonging to a tourist. I love the way tractors and agricultural equipment are part of the everyday traffic here.

21st November, 2023

Annie's calf is already following her closely so bringing her in for the first milking was easier than it could have been. I didn't get a let down, but it was clear the calf is drinking well from both front teats. I took everything I could get from all four and ended up with about 8 litres of good colostrum for the freezer. She was quite happy to get breakfast but ready to take her baby away again when she finished.

I had to go and fetch Star back from the far end of the farm. I had to split her and Joey off so that the calf would stop following them and stick to his mum until he figured out her udder, so they spent the night camped up by Jaffa and Sorcha and their calves. Joey came back and was easy to put back with Annie and Flora, but I had to take some treats up and lure Star back. She was pleased to be reunited with her homie (Annie) once she realised where she was being taken.

Jason baled the cut paddocks this afternoon. 37 round bales, which is 7 more than I guessed at. They are 4 1/2 ft rounds instead of 5 ft, so the extra probably came from that. They will be a bit easier to deal with on Bessie, and a smaller bale produces a bit less waste from a small mob of cattle. They look nice and green and fresh, hopefully I can get them all stowed away before it rains.

The chickens are loving the emptied out hay shed, scratching in all the left over hay and making new nests. I noticed two sitting hens had lice, so a dose of pestene for them this weekend.

Here is a shot down the valley as I headed down to milk.

 And another one showing the mist lifting after milking.

20th November, 2023

The weather has been hot and steamy, I do jobs in loops, a couple of items in the same area and then back inside to cool off before the next loop. A big couple of days and more to come, so what I've been doing in no particular order.

I realised that the ATO is no longer sending out BAS documents for Geoff's electrical work, which is normally my reminder to get the data entry done. So I hooked in and got three months work done and now I have to go to the ATO website via MyGov and do them online in the new system.

I went to get feed for Annie and found a 21% protein calf pellet cheaper at Stronach than the 16% pellet from Elders, a bit of a bonus. While I was at Elders I sat with the agronomist and put together a weed plan for attacking the barley grass.

I fertilised and mulched the veges in the raised beds, some of the spuds were looking a bit anaemic so I hope that will keep them going. If they continue to decline I will bandicoot whatever they've produced and put some new ones in.

After the monstering of the tangelo and finding out the lemonade had died back and all I was nurturing was the root stock, I took both those trees out. It's going to be hard enough this year keeping water up to the trees that I want without watering trees with nasty spikes and bitter fruit.

I found an egg cache in the implement shed while I was prepping Bessie for moving the hay that will hopefully be baled in the next day or so. Jason fluffed it up today, I assume raking will be next. The dogs get all cached eggs as I have no idea how old they are.

I told Calab that if he could get the old whippersnipper that was lurking in the back of the implement shed going he could have it. He did and so it's his and now he is using it to get his yard back into shape, so that works for me.

I have finished cleaning out and vacuuming the spare bedroom and office for the vet student that will come to stay at the end of the week. Probably. I have yet to get confirmation that she is coming. At least the room is ready for guests. It tends to become a bit of a dumping ground.

Leigh carted away all his round bales from the hay shed today. I went down to check on what he was doing and found he'd hit one of the calf feeders and busted it so I moved everything he could possibly bump a tractor into, and in the process found another egg cache. The shed looks very empty now and the chooks will probably go into shock in the morning. He dropped off the hay forks we'd been using for the last eight years in case I need them to move the rounds I get off my paddocks.

However, I spoke to Richard from Scottsdale Engineering about getting some forks made (he quoted $900 two years ago) and he told me to call Delmade first and see if they had any made up. I did and they did, $710 delivered to Scottsdale ! With the price of steel going up over the last two years we were looking at more like $1600 to get a set made, I lucked out and found their last set on clearance. And it looks like they'll be here on the truck on Friday.

Annie calved about 5.30pm. A black bull calf with a white stripe down his back, clearly from Jason's bull, Rocky. She is huge in the udder and I haven't seen him latch on, but a check just on dark showed him bouncing around with his tail up, doing circles around his mum. So he seems to have plenty of energy ... we'll see how he's going first thing in the morning when I take Annie in for her first milking. 

The first few days are usually a bit of a rodeo, as they don't want to take their eyes off the calf and if it moves out of sight there is general panic. But if you pen the calf and the calf gets weird about the pen, even though the cow can see it, they freak out about the calf being weird. After about three days things start to stabilise.

18th November, 2023

Had a little sleep in today, and then hit the house cleaning and watering. I was having trouble finding a sprinkler for the front yard that could handle the low water pressure during the middle of the day (everyone is irrigating) so I slipped into Mitre 10 and picked up a different type that I thought would work better. It did, but will need some tweaking for the water pattern that's the most efficient for my two pockets of front yard, each with a bush right in the middle.

It was a good drying day for both hay and washing. The mission for organising some hay forks for Bessie has become urgent. There is no way I can get some made before the baling this year, but it will be good to have them ready for feeding out. I'll get a quote from Delmade, and also from the three agricultural engineering mobs around Scottsdale. 

The two black passionfruit plants were doing quite well until I noticed one had been badly mauled by a slug or snail. I have a pack of snail bait that is supposed to be uninteresting to other animals, so a sprinkle of that should protect them.

The calves have approved a feed recipe. One part muesli, three parts pellets and two parts chaff (mixed oaten and lucerne). It seems that the gritty texture of the crushed barley was the problem. When Annie calves I will probably add milk back to their diet, she produces more than a new calf and the house can use between us.

17th November, 2023

An odd shift today, 11am to 4pm. It was really hectic as this is show weekend in Scottsdale. I was very glad to knock off and go home to do the farm chores.

When I got home Jason was cutting the two paddocks I have set aside for hay. He'd done a field walk with the weather over the next week in mind and decided that now was the peak combination of quantity and quality and it was all downhill from here. Baling should happen in the next few days depending on the heat and wind.

Geoff and I went down to Little Rivers Brewery for a couple of drinks and some pizza with Shane, as Juliet was working and Pete had visitors at his B&B. 

Don't forget, you can click on these pictures and see a larger version.

16th November, 2023

I did some more work on setting up watering systems. The main aim is to be able to connect a hose or sprinkler and not have to drag hoses around or go hunting for sprinklers. It costs a little bit for all the pieces, but will save heaps of time over summer.

Here are some photos from the Small Farm Living Field Day.

 

Derek and Kelly in the foreground, me in the faded high vis in the back looking at NRM brochures.

 

Me in the front row listening to a talk on biosecurity by Bruce Jackson, who turned out to know Deb Maxwell, my boss from the UNE on the ParaBoss work.

 

Me parked on the grass watching a butchery demonstration

15th November, 2023

Another couple of sunny days, nice breeze, good drying day. Four loads of washing nice and freshly flapped.

The surveyor came on Tuesday, he worked for most of the day surveying the line of the road then finding survey marks to pin it to. I haven't seen him today so hopefully that meant he did everything he needed to.

Annie has started filling her udder again, looks like it will indeed be a November calf, which makes the sire Jason's speckle park bull. It can't be angus until May. I prepped the dairy ready for when she drops.

I took another paddock tour with the lontrel and sprayed a few thistles I missed last time, it's all looking good. The rye grass paddock is waist height and may be ready for hay quite soon. 

I bought sweet potato, zucchini and golden nugget pumpkins for the raised gardens down at the other cottage. I need to weed, mulch, fertilise and water this week to get them going.

I did a hunt for sprinklers and came up several short. They may turn up as the grass gets cut back, but I went down to Mitre 10 and bought some more, along with hose joiners, as I use a few of those. We also assembled the new whipper snipper/brush cutter. It's heavy, but I will use it for maybe 15 mins at a time and work through jobs.

The heart study people rang and advised that my genetic test for increased risk of heart disease was negative. That's good news.

13th November, 2023

I spent yesterday at the small farm field day at Lilydale, it was a very interesting day, with talks on many subjects. I had a conversation with a vet who works for Biosecurity Tas and it turns out he knew Deb Maxwell, the lady that I worked for when I did the remote work for UNE. It's a small world.

Today I went down and cut the plastic tree guards off the trunks of the established trees down in the soak. I'll go down another day and pick those up, plus all the ones that the trees have busted off themselves. I went via Jaffa's group to check on their feed situation, and Robyn had some jersey bulls across the fence. They were bellowing and posturing at me, so I discretely went back a different way. A jersey bull is one thing I never want to face again.

The calves are turning their noses up at the mix of muesli and pellets. Maybe they don't like the pellets or maybe they are full of grass. I am going to lock them into the shed for a couple of hours and see if they can chew up the rumen full of grass and get hungry again.

I watered the side garden as the dogs had been accessing the front yard and decided to dig up the one area that I had under control and looking good. So I locked the dogs out again, replaced the mulch and saved what plants I could, then gave it all a good water to bed it in again. I am going to start the full summer watering rotation as soon as I can get it all set up.

11th November, 2023

The temps reached into the upper 20s today and yesterday. It feels like we've skipped straight to summer. The grass will speed up development quite quickly, and in dry paddocks will shorten the time frame for getting good hay. Thankfully Jason is keeping an eye on mine and will cut at the right time to maximise both nutrition and yeild.

Well, as far as the kava goes, I can't speak to any anxiety reduction as a wolf spider, ran over my hand at 2am and I think dealing with that would be a tough ask for any medication. On the unexpected side effects part of the ledger, the persistant ligament pain in the top of my right foot went completely for most of the day. Correlation is not causation, but it is an interesting coincidence.

I was given some leftover produce at work, three bags of tomatoes that went to Leigh's pig across the road, cold juice bombs straight from the fridge. She was impressed. And two bunches of grapes that went to the sheep. Mixed reactions, some were horrified and others scampered around hoovering up the scattered fruit. You can never tell, Annie turned her nose up at strawberries, though I suspect if she broke into a garden where they were growing she'd eat every last one because that would be naughty.

One of the concrete troughs across the road is overflowing. I will be going to the NRM North Small Farm Living field day tomorrow, so that might be a job for Monday.

I rescued the orchard irrigation line from six months of being overgrown and repaired one small break. Once the orchard grass is mowed I'll lay it out and start watering. I think the grass has moved beyond ride on mower length and needs a visit from the zero turn mower.

I watered the bases of the hops that I think might have died, just in case they are late growers. I am watering the little fern in the blue vase/pot out the front and it's come back from winter burn off.

The critters are all eating well and looking glossy, especially Annie who looks like black silk. The calves need a little more oomph in their feed, so I've added some crushed barley to their muesli and pellet mix and that will help.

The cleaner came today and all is fresh and clean for another week. I do need to get onto some of the clutter. Sigh.

There was a bushfire out near Pioneer and Sth Mt Cameron, the smoke came into Scottsdale on a stiff wind. By the time I had knocked off work the wind had died right down and the air was clearing, so hopefully that change has helped get it under control. It was started by some of the random little thunderstorms that came through this morning.

In big news, the surveyors have advised that they will be here on Tuesday to do one to one and a half days field work, then the office work required to fix the plan of subdivision. Fingers and toes crossed that this is the end of that and the plan will be approved.

9th November, 2023

What a gorgeous day ! Sunny, with just the right amount of breeze.

I cut down the hops irrigation line from where I had tied it up on the wires to keep it out of reach of sheep and set it up. The hops were set right back last year when I didn't realise how dry the ground was and didn't start watering soon enough. I gave them a few hours of water today and will set up a twice a week routine. I also started watering the succulents by the back door. The young silver birch had the water on all night, hopefully that will have soaked the clay soil around their roots and give them a kick on.

I went out to Ringarooma and picked up the meat from Josh the butcher. He said if you were going to eat 16 year old beef, this would be the best. It's marbled like wagyu and the kill was absolutely low stress. He put anything he thought might be tough into mince, and kept the first and second tier cuts as normal. Plus lots of brisket and ribs for slow cooking. It is a good thing that I could combine looking after Little Moo's welfare with not wasting his life.

The cats are locked in at night most nights. They mustn't have worked off enough energy today as all three are racing around the house looking for trouble. I'll be lucky if there are no breakages when I get up.

I am going through perimenopause and some nights my mind won't turn off, and combined with the hot flashes I don't get alot of sleep. Maybe once a week. I have picked up some kava powder from Coles and I'm going to try that about half an hour before bed as a sleep aid. I had my first dose tonight, starting with 50% of the recommended dose. I had it in milk, and it's no more bitter than nutmeg, which I enjoy freshly grated into warm milk. I'll see how that goes and take a 100% dose next time to assess the difference.

Here is a photo I stole from the Bridestowe Estate lavender farm. Go and see it if you come to Tassie !

8th November, 2023

It was steamy today, patchy storms and spits of rain. It wasn't until after 9pm that the cool change drifted in. The dogs aren't convinced that the storms are over and are crashed out on the loungeroom floor at the moment.

I put the sprinkler on the young silver birch trees. I don't think their roots have made much headway into the clay soil once it started to dry out, so they will need some supportive care in the first year or so.

I've nearly got the back bedroom cleared out and freshened up for the vet student coming here for a placement later in November. Between visitors it tends to become a bit of a dumping ground. It's quite a pleasant room when cleaned up.

The broodies are in their third night of confinement. One more night and they can be let out. Usually it's three nights, but it's warm enough overnight that the cooling effect of the pen might not be working as well. With a broody hen it's the cool air on the breast provided by a perch instead of a nest that breaks the brooding cycle.

There are 12 tiny houses being built on a block on the outskirts of Scottsdale. One and two bedroom houses to be rented to long term tenants instead of tourists. This is the best thing that has happened to the town in ages regarding housing. I can't wait to see the landscaping done and take a look inside.

7th November, 2023

Back to being a bit overcast today. I used the lower contrast conditions to help pick out and pull some barley grass plants in the hops paddock. I think we are nearly on top of the barley grass in that paddock, but I will have to walk it to see.

We also changed the back up battery in the power unit for the automatic driveway gates. This powers the gates if the mains power goes out. We charge the batteries in the house and swap them out to keep them at peak performance.

I did alot of admin today. I think we are a long way from the paperless office that was foretold. There is certainly no lack of red tape associated with modern life. I just recieved an email to let me know my passport is due to expire. There is a problem that wasn't even on my radar !

The calves are coming in at my call for their muesli now and eating it straight away. This is the best way to keep chickens from mucking around in the feeders and encouraging possums, mice or rats.

6th November, 2023

I got up early today to get some outside work done in the cool of the day. Stop laughing you people who know what real heat is ...

I finished off the thistle spray in the main paddock, planted two black passionfruit plants to replace some lost hops vines, and set up the broody pen again. Four more chickens into the pen, grumbling and fluffing at the indignity. I think there must be a new nest to find, the broodies occupied the current ones and the other hens have stopped laying in them. Another item for the to do list is the door of the broody pen. Due to a calf incursion it is rather tattered and might not last too much longer.

My samsung phone froze and I figured out how to unfreeze it, but that does beg the question of backing up the info, contacts and photos that are contained on it.

I also picked up all the dog bones laying around the main driveway and we disposed of a large pile of paper and cardboard that had been filling up Poppy's room.

The cider apples are in full bloom, here are two photos.

5th November, 2023

I got up at 5.30 am and had the sheep shifted into the shearing shed at 6,00 am. I let the shearer know about having them put in last night and he came at 9.00 am. All done and back out by 10.30 am. A nick here and there because they are great fat bags of attitude that kick and carry on, but otherwise a great patient job from Craig the shearer as usual. He earns his fee.

I noticed an udder developing on Susie, and maybe one on Emmaline. Looks like Jack the ram managed to get to some of the ewes back in July when he let himself into their paddock. That should make them due around mid December. It's just as well I got them shorn now so they weren't any heavier in lamb, nor were they sitting in their fleeces as it got hotter. Some had mucky wool close to the skin from the prolonged wet weather followed by some warm days. This could have turned into fly strike. They are alot happier now.

I found the remains of a possum in Poppy's room this morning. I assume it was headed towards the fruit trees. I have no idea why they come into the yard that the dogs have access to, given there is no shortage of barking. There are so many ways to cross this farm, or even live on it, without coming into contact with the dogs.

4th November, 2023

The calves have had their last drink of milk and are now on muesli, cut with 25% grower pellets. This bag of muesli will transition them to grower pellets, which they will get for at least another three months. They are eating with enthusiasm now, they go to their feeders when they see me coming.

Moved the herd around again, Flora is now in with Annie, who was keen for adult cow company. The calves are still with her, leaving Jaffa and Sorcha and their babies in the far end paddock. The sheep are now in the loafing shed and will be moved into the shearing shed at first light to empty out for the shearer coming at lunchtime tomorrow. Then they will go into the sheep shelter paddock and Annie's gang will go into the cowmahal section. I am playing ruminant tetris.

The cider apple trees are flowering and the yucca by the chook house is too, it's a nice change to smell the scent of blossoms on the breeze. If the wind is right I can also smell the hay being cut around the area, lovely and sweet warm grass.

I picked up a heap of items off the clearance table at work, most notably a little bottle divided into three sections, vanilla sugar, caramel sugar and cinnamon sugar. A shaker for pancakes or french toast.

Another shot of the chard trees in the little greenhouse. Who knew they would just keep growing upwards ? The cows snuck into the back yard and found them this morning and there are shards of chard everywhere. We'll have to see if they regrow.

3 November, 2023

Most of the days are starting off lovely but windy, clouded over by mid morning. Still the same snow wind. Then it clears again in the afternoon. Some of the locals even declare it hot. Hmmm.

I made all the preparations for Little Moo, then left him in the hands of Geoff and the butcher, Josh. Josh confirmed that the cartilage in Little Moo's joints had nearly worn away, he'd have been feeling every year of his age and I am relieved we helped him before it became miserable. I still miss him though.

Before I returned Bruce to Robyn I moved the hay rings out of the paddock and onto a concrete pad for storage. I can move them by hand if necessary, but they are heavy and unwieldy and this saved me alot of huff and puff.

Annie and the two bottle calves took the opportunity to race out into the main paddock and careen about, then spent the rest of the day hanging with Jaffa and her group up the far end. I will need the calves closer to the hayshed where their muesli is, as tomorrow morning is their last milk feed. I'll need to go and get Annie with the halter and hope the calves follow.

I went to a heifer raising seminar in Derby on Wednesday night. It was at "Main Street", the newly opened restaurant. The meal was lovely and it was a very informative night. Kelly and her husband Derek came along for the education, I hope they enjoyed it.

The chickens are laying well, but I think we are due to put another round of broodies in the pen. This will go on all summer, every couple of weeks.

I had lunch at the new Thai restaurant at Anabels, with Robyn. Then we went up to Cleone's nursery in Bridport, where I bought a couple of passionfruit vines to replace some hops that didn't make it through winter. And a jasmine. Which I will need to locate somewhere I can smell the flowers. Robyn also gave me a packet of white mulberry seeds, so I will attempt to grow some of those as paddock trees.

This is the sort of thistle I mainly get at the moment, I think variegated thistle is the variety. They are harder to kill as they have a waxy cuticle that is harder for the herbicide to penetrate. Lontrel is my go-to for thistles, and it does african daisy too.