Time for change

29.1.2013

It rained a little last night, and when we woke the dry, bleached grass was a stronger gold colour and all the trees seemed to be sighing with relief. It was Edd’s first day of off farm work since the fires so we got going a bit earlier than usual and as I could miss out on the vegetable morning watering work it was more peaceful than usual here. Beni and I milked the goats and fed the animals before separating to tackle other issues. For myself I had a mountain of washing to sort and iron and Bernie went off looking for a job.

It was Australia day on Saturday and we hosted a party for the members of Edd’s Welsh choir and their wives. Luckily the day was slightly over cast, so although it was dry it was not too hot. The ruins are a perfect venue under these conditions and I think between fifty and sixty guests shared the day with us. Bo did the catering and that left Edd and I free to work on the venue. Everyone was interested to look round the underground house so that had to be cleaned up too. It was all very possible and went as well as I could hope for.

This concludes all the festivities around the turn of the year and we can now get back to sorting out farm issues. Edd fixed the fence between the hill and us yesterday so that we can move the horses there for the next half-year. It is a good place for them with a hill for exercise and shelter in the ti-tree thicket around the dam. I checked last week and there is very little grazing left. Kangaroos, rabbits and wombats seem to have eaten everything low growing. One day I even spotted a herd of about a dozen deer up there! The horses are still fat and a little hay each day keeps them going through the colder months.

Once we move the horses we can start feeding the sheep barley, if we tried now the horses would chase the sheep away and make themselves sick on it. We are waiting for John to do the shed wall foundations so that we can get a wall up to protect the hay and fire wood before the weather changes. A change has already started. The goat’s milk has dropped enormously this week and it is time to wean the kids and make sure the bucks cannot get near the does.

Justin came today with the metal screen door for our only west-facing window. It is designed to reduce the light if needed and give some protection from fire. Once again he has used a bull rush design and it is a wonderful artwork even when pulled back to the open position. He really is a very talented young man.

India phoned yesterday asking if I could pick her up from Alexandra and give her a lift down to the Yarra Valley. She first said Friday, then Thursday, but today I hear from Bo that she really meant Wednesday, which is tomorrow! I am not sure if her car will be ready by then, Edd is checking tonight. It has needed a lot of work doing to get it in good running order. Once I have sorted the ironing and packed away all the party table clothes.  I now need to concentrate on the accounts. I do not feel like starting new jobs or doing any art until everything is ship shape.