Saturday 29 October 2016

Tiiiiiiimmmmbbbbbeeeerrrrrr

Before the weather gets any hotter we decided to get in and get some timber for a few projects that we have on the agenda. 



So we hired a nanny (aka grandma), cut some lunches and set off to where the ticks are friendly and phone reception is dicey. Justin cuts down the trees and then I come along and slice along the tree so that the bark will come off when dropped from the extended height of the loader. 




 Once I've split the bark down the side, most of the time the bark will pop off fairly easily, as you can see here. Sometimes it calls for us to use a pry bar to remove it, but fortunately we've had a few showers of rain recently and the added moisture helps. We also try to make sure that we take the bark off as soon as the tree has been cut, which also helps.

I love the look of freshly barked timber. I would love to make a house with all exposed beams like this. 

Our week was not incident free... the loader caught fire at one stage and I was so lucky that Justin happened to be hitching a ride with me at the time, because the amount of smoke that comes out of her normally, I would not have discerned the exhaust smoke from that of the fire (seriously I have to wear a mask for the amount of smoke that comes out of this old girl). Fortunately it was only a small fire that we could literally blow out. 
The temperature gauge is a gas line and it came into contact with the battery, which of course shorted it out and then the rubber hose of the oil pressure line caught fire........ My mechanical knowledge has expanded significantly this week, which to be honest doesn't take much as I know nothing! 
So Justin made a trip to town for a new gauge and fittings and we were off again. But it wasn't too long before the ram of the tyre "popped off"..... Not good. Anyhow a couple of hours, with some of that time spent with me standing on top of the canopy of the loader trying to relay to Coolee (our diesel fitter friend) over the phone what the problem was, without much success. But we managed to right the problem and off we went again.  
We still need a fair few posts for the jobs we have lined up, so we shall be back to the grind next week, although I do have a pass for the Melbourne cup which will shorten our week a bit. 

Even G-man got some ear muffs. 
 With the break downs we managed to get home a bit earlier and check on all our babies that are multiplying.



Cheeky. 


I must say I'm enjoying being out and about at work again, feeling more productive but I miss my baby terribly. Especially when we are off early and home late. Poor grandma has probably had the worst of it as my little G-man is getting some more teeth...... not one but four bloomin teeth!!! Oh well, hopefully once they are through he will be right for a while. 

 Even when he is miserable as hell with his teeth, still manages to give me a smile!


Like father like son, no?
I must say I'm a little sore this weekend, so I'm appreciating a bit of R'n'R.

Sunday 23 October 2016

Short Farewells



This week we farewelled Mango, Thomas and Greer to the greener pastures of Springsure. They have opted for a tree-change, to get back to their roots and away from the city drudgery that presents itself to people who are country born. It's a bit sad to have them further away now as I'm sure the distance will lead to less frequent visits, but we will no doubt try to make the effort as often as we can. 

As I've said before, family photos are a bit precious. I love this one! 

This photo does not even remotely do justice to the size difference between these two cuties. Garrett is such a big boy at the moment. 



We went for Dinner at the Gracemere pub and I must say, it was lovely. The atmosphere there is lovely since it's been renovated. 

Hanging out in Bunnings with dad. 


My sampling crew for cooking. 

I've started a new blog Day to Day Cookery that I'm sure will test my commitment to blogging. But I plan to cook my way through my favorite cook book. Here are some Macadamia Crunchies that were lovely.


My little G Man is getting about the house more and more now, finding his way into the kitchen and reminding me that I need to clean my floors more regularly. 

 Out and About. 

"This lucerne is good stuff mum!"
"It's not meant for you mate!"

Every now and then you just get a photo that you love! I really love this one! 


Yeehaaa dad! Giddy up! Go Pirate! If you recall our introduction to Pirate a couple of years ago here

Dad to the rescue as she casually walked away. 



There have been a few showers here and there and the weather is totally bizarre for this time of the year. As I'm writing now, we have had drizzling rain all day. It's hot one day and then I have slippers and a coat on today. Very strange indeed for October!


Few self portraits while we watched the storm go past. Was more productive than the fish I was failing to catch, I was certain that in the still, muggy weather we were having that I would land the big one! No such luck I'm afraid.


Was a beautiful day for fishing, despite the lack of fish! 

Perhaps these are the reason that I wasn't catching anything?!?
 



Our ploughing project is now complete, well the first round anyhow. It still needs another go with a different plough and some seed, but it's looking really good! This rain will help!


This is some drone footage of our salt pan. I've sped it up a little so it doesn't drag on.


Saturday 15 October 2016

Bulls and Dust!



This week my dear husband went bull shopping and brought home these darlings! They aren't flawless, but I'm really happy with them and you can't buy fillet mignon on a mince budget! So welcome boys, here's hoping that you're feeling amorous!





This week has also been the start of a new project that has expended a great deal of research and conversational topics from hubby's perspective. I swear, if I have to listen to another conversation about seed and soil, I will surely snap my carrot. Not that I don't appreciate the lengths that he has gone to to get this right, completing soil sampling and having conversations with more experienced people. He must ensure that what we are doing will be effective, as this patch of land has been developed before with the tree 'suckers' laughing at previous efforts and returning ten fold. Every effort has been made to ensure that we are tilling the earth correctly for maximum germination and that the seed we have selected will prosper in this particular soil. At the end of the day though, we are still at the mercy of the weather and as such we are hoping for a shower, which may be a little greedy considering the season we've had. We had hoped to have it all done earlier, but as we have hired the dozer we were subject to availability of machinery and operator.


The plough seems to be doing a good job, so fingers crossed we get some good results. 


Weekender

 
Last weekend, I was almost on my own again, but had a lovely visit from a uni friend, whom I've stayed good friends with and she brought my mum/babysitter along for the ride. Was so good to catch up, and with mum acting as our babysitter, we had a good chance for a girly afternoon riding horses.

We won't mention the fact that my horse had a go at bucking me off...... my own fault for not lunging a young, fresh horse. And we also won't mention that Ange lost her phone out of her back pocket along the way. I'm pleased to say that, as we had a 'not so huge' search area, Ange returned early that morning while we were still in bed and found her precious phone. Precious because of the 2000 photos that would have been lost! It's amazing how much we have come to rely on technology nowadays.


Great mates!! 
The Sunday after Ange and mum's visit, I was feeling a little seedy for some reason and so I opted for a whopper of a lunch! It was the BEST!! Then Master G and I managed to get some sleep which was even better! So a fantastic weekend all round! 


Honda was being particularly affectionate! Not like him at all! 

Master G at the commando crawling stage! Was not at all interested in the sparkle bottle that I made him! 



Looooves his wheelie walker and races down the verandah to greet dad when he sees him! Notice the esky barricade! 


More baking! Fruit cake this time! 

Cool dude with dad!