We had a bit more rain over the week, about 8mm, and a few nice days and another windy day. So, the usual mixed bag.
Today Craig, the shearer, came and put Pickle down. It was also the first day she hasn't hoed right into her treat bucket, so it was just in time. I will really miss her, first Suzie and now Pickle, and Toot is probably next. It's always the sweetest ones that go first, a manky temperament seems to be the key to a long life. Perhaps there is a message in that ?
I've laid out the line for the ciders, but haven't tested it yet because of the rain. The cabbage palm is in full flower and the wonderful scent drifts in the back door and pleases me no end. Hopefully Beefy will come and give the front yard a good cut back this week and I will begin by spraying down the grass in a corner of the yard that matches the needs of the wildflower seeds I have on hand.
I never use the lawn for lawn uses as we have the circle in the driveway for picnic tables etc, and a self maintaining wildflower meadow has appeal. It will supply cut flowers, feed the bees, be lower maintenance and look pretty out all of the windows. I'll keep throwing seeds at any bare spots and I should end up with a set of plants that are happy with the conditions and keep coming back. Sweet peas, carnations, californian poppies, nasturtiums, mint-type herbs, calendula and forget me nots seem to do well. I will also add cornflowers and mixed natives like paper daisies.
No word on the May Shaw job yet. There is a receptionist job at Ochre Health and another casual admin job up at the hospital open now, and I am trying to decide if I should go for either of those. I'll probably skip the Ochre Health one as that is pretty thankless, I know they cop alot of flack from people who want appointments right now.
Jason has been keeping an eye on my paddocks that are locked up for hay, and called this morning to let me know he'd be cutting one of them today as it was on the turn. I love that I have neigbours that look out for me. We'll put it into 4 1/2 foot or 4 foot bales for ease of handling. I came home from lunch with Juliet, Robyn and Brit to find it done and I could see him cutting his own hay fields up on the ridge opposite me. After doing the sums the cattle I sold him covered the last two years haymaking and should do this years as well.
I also tidied the craft room after the last round of improvements and shifted down some craft supplies and some paints, brushes and working surfaces that I got on clearance from Temu. Next jobs are to connect the internet and get the second power point working. I've found someone who makes custom garden shed sink shelves and I'll get one made up for my sink with some shelves and hanging rails.
This photo shows the paddock next to the house, the Sheep Shelter Paddock. You can see alot of longer patches of grass, which are also darker than the surrounding grass. Each of those spots has a cow poop or pee, and the grass is responding to the nitrogen.
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