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.