And so the new year begins ...

Well I am back in Sydney again. Could have stayed the extra week but DH reigned in his stray wife, I think it my cooking he missed Now I just reread my last post on Aussies Living Simply, and I already told you all about my new secondhand gas fridge, what a lovely fridge, so pleased with it. Remember We don't have power or townwater on our block

The sheep had a great feed ... only they wrecked all my corn and potatoes and munched all the sweet potatoe vines, but that ok it will all grow out again... in pumpkin patch veggie enclosure. Then finally we had their new "Crownland" area properly enclosed with strands of wire on new posts ... it poured on and off for days while DS and DH were doing all the work. But when they moved in we never hear any more Bahs from them again....The area has lasted well with 11 sheep eating. Only one more problem Dogs and Dingos, someone warned me about them just as DH was heading back to Sydney, so I bought a roll of dog wire and asked a local farmhand to put it up for me. I learnt more from him about fencing the correct way ... he had a good giggle anyway. Glen did some more work clearing around the containers mostly lantana with a tractor and bucket.

DH built the framework to my new bush kitchen with my old buttercup yellow cast iron zink, which (framework) I promptly painted white, now he just needs to enclose it, make some doors and add a extra shelf and connect the plumbing. I bought the zink at auction a few years back and being so heavy and awkward to move, George kept threating to bump it. 2 weatherboard walls went up and roof extended to enclose the kitchen. Now all I need is a little gas water heating system to run for the zink and shower ... that also waiting to be installed someday soon I hope ... then I could go feral no more washing in the round tub and boiling water on the gas.

Orpingtons have just increased by 2 chicks ... Tally now 7 chicks this summer ... first time mum will be looking after them. I am ok with this as they are strong little ones. Lets hope there a few pullets amongst them.Nelson the Ram got lucky and 3 ewes joined him in his paddock, he's very excited curling his top lip up sniffing the air and piddling everywhere .......... just wondering what they got to say about it all. (sorry got a headache)

That's it for now

Rina

Happy New Year

Just popped in to say Hi to everyone and wish them a geat New Year.

I am still at Bellbrook for the next few weeks and only plan to go back to Sydney the Australia Day weekend 26th for you lovely folks in USA. George has go back to Sydney on the 3rd so atm it's Cobi and Myself here. We had heaps of rain only 3 days so far has the sun really come out. The sheep are having a ball with all the grass, our only worry is Dingos and dogs but I got a local farmhand to re enforce the fence with dog wire and now I can sleep a little easier. We had a midnight visitor through the only hole left (were the extractor fan used to be) a ringtail possum. I took a few photos but forgot the cord to download the photo's.

What I woun't do for a computer right now, withdrawls!!!!

Until nexttime
Rina

All they need is love, a home and food

There on the Community Board stuck down with a pin was this notice

"Free to Good Home" DD did a double take as she walked past. Not believing her own eyes A Golden Retriever and he is beautiful. Chief is 10 years old, "past his use by date " and needing a home.

Well yesterday he moved in, here he may live out his next 5 or maybe 8 years until he is an old man. and is ready for Doggie Heaven. He is the best Christmas present anybody could have given my husband, who has always wanted a retriever but could not due to us having so many animals. The thought of ending his life at this young age was all it toke for us to take him in. He is going to be one happy dog here with us.

Until nexttime

Rina

Look what is under Henny

Yep you guessed right ! 3 tiny little chicks and we got 3 more eggs to go, with a little bit of luck we might get some more chicks. Mum is an austrolope and chicks are orpingtons. Henny is doing a great job looking after the Matilda's eggs, they're orpingtons. One of the Matlidas decide she also wants to be broody and she is sitting on 2 eggs ... this huge bird on 2 eggs, I wish I had more eggs atm.

Check out the white stuff on the walls, that is lime that I sprinkle to get rid of lice and mite. Everybody has this problem sometime or the other, so prevention is better than cure. This treatment is done once a month.

Henny was not getting off those eggs and leaving chicks, so I took her off gently and had Dear Husband hold her while I climbed into the hutch to take photos of the little ones. He was already to take a pic of me inside the hutch, but I don't do pics.

Until nexttime

Rina