The Dirt

They don't call the Redbank Nature Reserve the Bealiba Second Cemetery for nothing (mine shafts everywhere...)

"I've got a plan for a spot of stress relief."

Yes, but the ground will be too hard for grave digging...

Alas these days, some of the excess boys do end up on the table.

Whilst I end up in the back room pretending they aren't on the table.... others in the house are less conflicted...

I guess they're not destined for a yummy Duck L'orange when they grow up?

It's ok - I'm slapping myself - bad Sally!

Oh the conversation was had.....

I dare you to change the sign to say, "Fresh Eggs. Direct from a chooks bum to you."

I don't think temperature has much affect on chook hatchings, mostly it's a quantity game.

In order to get enough hens we just have to hatch more eggs than we can when "patiently" waiting for somebody to go clucky, stick and stay. We've had a couple of chooks recently that just gave up before the incubation period was completed and the goose last year kept pushing the eggs away so she could hatch more straw..... Once she starts laying again in Spring we can get goose eggs into this incubator as well as ducks.

So chook eggs aren't like crocodile eggs - the temperature they're incubated at defines the sex?

I was going to plant a second run - but I'm bloody glad I didn't now. We've got a few plants that have just started producing now as they were under the locust proofing shadecloth for a while - so they are behind. Either way I suspect we won't be craving them for a while.

Good work! Mine is slowly dwindling now. But I got a very early start this season. I best get some more in before it's too late I think.

I don't think they'll do much with the ducks... too high off the ground (vbeg)

At least they'll help with the mosquitoes. *Ducks*

The only problem with the new coffee machine is that the grounds are really sloppy - but we have been using them as well :) Makes for a very interesting smell when you first put them out.....

You might want to try chucking the grounds from the coffee machine on the garden beds. That's suppose to keep the snails away too.

Sounds like you've been having fun.

I have been watching your videos and stuff and you do seem to be a long way ahead of us - would your season keep going?

I plant rocket all year here - it doesn't like the really bad frosts so I just chuck frost cloth over it on the nights where it's going to be bad - but it survives better than most other salad veg in the winter. Out in the open anyway - the hot house can normally keep going over winter.

I love compost tomatoes - sounds like a real bonus. And you never know what they are...

One of the feral toms this year is the little yellow grape tomatoes - my favourite grazing food :)

Wow everything looks really good. Never heard of shell grit for snails... Adds to brain bank...

I got started really early this year and some things I think are nearly done already. The crappy weather hasn't seen me outside much lately so it's all gone a bit feral. I haven't planted anything new lately either.. I really must do more rocket before it's too late. I have enough free compost tomatoes to sink a ship, i hope they all produce.

Good to have an update from you.. Thanks!

Hi Karen

Heartened to know the lame ducks of this world are well defended!!

Cheers

Sulari

LOL - you have reminded me about dogs and bandages Jane - our German Shepherd boy had to have his leg heavily bandaged after an operation on his elbow as a puppy and they used a bright pink bandage. We often wondered whether it was the faulty elbow or the bandages that meant he never ever did learn how to cock his leg (or just that the female shepherd house trained him for us :) :) )

I felt like i was there, strapping duck legs. When our late dog had to have her leg wrapped, my daughter Miranda used multi colours of pet wrap to make a fashion statement, and our dog loved it !

My sister was very much the horsey person in our family - I could dodge horse events and chores for the Universe in those days... It's amazing the difference when you want to do something as opposed to "have" to do something....

Get a pony! (and I'll be sending my daughter to your place next school holidays! Win-Win!)

I visited this coffee shop in Brunswick once, that was selling these tshirts that had, "I Still Want the Pony" written on them - which I though was very cute.

Yeah

But

If I had a pony

I could maybe get out more

In a jinker cart

Like the pony and cart that a lovely old man rides around Avoca in - seems like a very civilised way of going to the pub to me.....

Oh honey, you do need to get out more LOL. What a fun story :D

LOL - it got much much worse overnight (it's 0.1 and 9.00amish!)

1.8 degrees!!! So glad I don't live where you live! Makes me feel warm looking at your temperature. Thanks for fixing your weather station and hence improving my mental state of mind during the frosty months.

Hey Jude - we decided on an "us" long weekend which involved lunch in Horsham and a bit of touring around, then a slack day at home, a bit of rushing around on Monday and book club. Needed a bit of down time that's for sure. We're around over the next few weekends though I think (no need for shovels he worked out a cunning plan for burying the pipe!).

So glad that all is working out well for Tim, also yourselves and when all settles down a bit we would like to join you in a visit to see him also. Will catch up soon I hope. regards
Jude

Well technically the two Aussies (Jedda and Clancy) as we are still stopping short of "claiming" Meg - although the idea of giving her back to the neighbours doesn't appeal :)

You need to share the story with me :)

How many dogs have you got, these days?

I must say, I'm becoming increasingly disenchanted with cats at the moment - but that's a long story.

We are only 1 and a 1/2 hrs away if you need just let us know or come on up welcome anytime, chocolates will be supplied as suggested Kaz!.....lol

Models???? What are they....

I've got the Sisters in Crime already, so I'm wondering about a set of overseas authors now....

They are lovely looking girls,hey Adam you're really out numbered now. What about top models names?

He's still whinging about sweating and having a sore back - and the temperature's just dropped to below 20C so I "think" he enjoyed it...

AAh, teamwork. Did Tim enjoy the experience?

Hi Jude - problem was it wasn't a let's do this sort of a job - it took us weeks in the end, just doing a few hours here and there.

Strawbale building is still being contemplated - at least we're managing to clear the decks to get to that job anyway - you're on the roster for that I can assure you :) :) :)

Very nice job and you forgot to ring and we would have lent a hand but you managed without the 2 J's very nicely well done.

Hi Gina - Giant Tomato trees / cool climate sounds really interesting - we may have to discuss a seed swapping campaign :) We're around on the 9th, although Jedda's going in for an operation on her knee next week so I'd imagine that keeping faces out of stitches will be a full on activity for 10 days - plus we've got Tim here at the moment (Adam's mum managed to break her collarbone the week before Christmas and she's stuck in Hospital in Rosebud).

Adam will have to show you his salsa on the bbq recipe - it's rather (well extremely) good!

Great photos, Karen and Adam!
Hoping you both had a wonderful Christmas and a lovely start to 2010. I'll be up at Daisy Hill on the 9th for a couple of days.
I'm going to be growing giant tomato trees this winter - very excited to have cool climate varieties growing as I really like to eat tomatoes every day. You can tell I'm an Italian! I may even learn how to make a Mexican salsa.
Love,
Gina

Thanks Jude - it wasn't our finest week - we miss her dreadfully still - such a quiet girl in her old age.

So sorry to hear that Phoenix has passed away, she was a lady too the end always glad to see you and I will also miss her when next visiting again so sorry

Love the plant boxes..and the kingswood country girls!!!

Thanks Katherine - there are some benefits to living in the middle of nowhere :)

LOVE the entire family! Fantastic.

Gee I know I went for birthday celebrations today, but you really had me worried I'm glad there are 9 and I wasn't seeing things after all and I can imagine the postwomans face because mine was a bit of a study I think too, will look forward to meeting them when next we call...... even from a distance

Not only that - the whiteboard's going to have the property design on it as soon as we finish off a few ideas (and it lifts off the front of the shelves where there are books tucked away behind it :)

Starting to look like home.

Well done you! That's excellent news - looking forward to seeing that go in.

Well done, you will be pleased that I have qualified (have been advised) for the Solar grant before it was cancelled and are just waiting for the gov't to let me know when it's a go'er then the company will come up and install the lot free......
just waiting!!!!!!

Jude - 25kph top speed, "soon" might have to be a flexible thing (to say nothing of him having to creep through paddocks because it's not registered :) )

Hopefully your toy will arrive soon.

Evan - you realise these kitten stories are doing my argument about needing a cat no good whatsoever. (I have high hopes of something that could hang off the end of furniture and swipe Madam every time she sashays past!)

One day when you're up here you'll have to see the size of the "big gizmos" that wander up and down the highway!