Around the Neighbourhood

Never say winter is boring, or colourless. Driving into town lately has been a joy, with all sorts of surprises around every corner. Here are some of the things I see regularly:

 There really should be a 'road hazard ahead' sign near these little Suffolk lambs. They are way too cute to drive past without gawking adoration, especially the little ones with their woolly vests on.

This daffodil farm reminds me a bit of Holland's tulip farms... rows of gorgeous flowers in different stages of market readiness.... just all yellow.

 Then there's our next door neighbour on the upper side who has just planted a vineyard beside our top (hay) paddock. The view is pretty good too. The next photo is taken from down the road looking back. All the vines are planted and trained onto aluminium poles and wires, making them look quite mysterious. If you look closely on the right of the photo you will see the Cutchie farm houses and our hill paddocks in the middle distance.

 On our Sunday afternoon walk up the road, the quiet end of it, and next photo, looking back across the neighbour's lovely garden to ours, Mark driving down the drive

 Winter wattle, I just love it. All the way along the road to town

 My avenue. Planting for the future. Only one foot high today, but one day, a beautiful avenue of majestic Spotted Gums. I hope I get to see it.

The beginning of our breeding herd, 9 Fresian heifers. There WAS a nice round number of 10 until one fell into a wombat hole and broke its neck. Hole subsequently filled in, and a couple of others as well.

Winter clean up and fires. Quite enjoyable really, and every year getting quicker and easier

Winter Fun: mini movie

Autumn, beautiful and busy

The last of the hydrangea blooms, new and old.

Goodnight girls, see you next spring. Thanks for a lovely summer show.

Brand new calf and attentive mum

...cute as..

Life on the farm is exhausting, and a sunny verandah is irresistible.

...so is the back of the quad

Another great crop of Granny Smiths this year

...plenty for the freezer and plenty to give away

A good crop of navel oranges this year, about 20: only one orange last year

Our beautiful Pin Oak toppled by a winter storm, now year's of firewood

waiting for attention. That may take years too!!

6 new red flowering gums to replace one Pin Oak, an avenue at last.

 A small compensation perhaps

My sweet Cindy, back in action after losing an eye in an altercation with some electric fencing. Some animals are worth their exorbitant vet bills!

Breakfast on the vernadah.

Summer fruit and flower

 Dahlias looking like pink pom-poms

Cut and keeping company with some late cosmos in my grandmother's silver bowl, which is nearly 100 years old.

 Nectarines from my 3 year old tree did well this year....

...and will go nicely with weeties and yoghurt throughout the year.

 Tomatoes, small and large, mostly went into the cooking pot towards chutney and passata, the latter used in the slow cooker with whatever. Chutney disappears rather quickly and is great in toasted sandwiches with cheese or grilled with a little ham as well.

A few beetroot for the chap. I'm not a big fan myself so it's entirely a labour of love.

Sedums, geraniums and dahlias and Lola

The chicks at 3 months

First Chicks

What a summer! It has been rich with new life, not the least the new chicks that were born at Nanne's Garden. One of our kid's hand-raised chooks, a part Isa Brown called Everest, went broody and sat on two of her eggs. I had been waiting for just such an event so that I could take advantage of a friend's offer to let me have some fertilized Barnvelder eggs, gorgeous bronze lacewing chickens. Six went under Miss Everest. Of the 8, she hatched 6, one Isa and 5 Barnvelders. Timing was excellent, right in the middle of holidays when the city cousins were visiting and all of them excellent chick-sitters when the time came for some free-range time outside of the 'maternity' cage. The first born was named Hilary due to its adventurous spirit...(trust you like the connection!)

 Here they come!

 Who doesn't love chickens?

 Proud mum Everest.

 Two best little chicken-sitters

 I"M UP!!! EEEeeeh!!!

 Molly maremma, ever on duty

 "OK kids, this will be the new digs!"

 Afternoon nap under the nectarine tree

 "Mama's left the nest. Now it's just us!"

EEEEeeehh!!!

They are all now independent of mum and promising beautiful plumage. Thanks to Katy my Barnvelder lady!

Summer holidays

Summer holidays have come and gone and even though grandchildren have returned to the city and are preparing for school, there are still several weeks of summer left here in Nanne's garden,
The highlights of this year's holidays were: cutting, collecting and storing hay and driving cars; playing in the hayshed; baby sitting chicks; riding lessons on  Cindy AND Mez for the older girls; motor bike lessons (with gears); buggy rides with Cindy; playing with Molly and Lola; playing in the old barn loft, and for me, feeding them all their favourite foods and just having them here. A great summer!

..... and visiting Grandnan