Al engaged, Ollie 9

Aug 19 2013

It is pretty cold today, but not freezing. There has been enough rain now to fill all the dams to overflowing and the daffodils and jonquils are in full bloom. Edd and I make use of any dry days and work at cleaning up the builders’ mess by the front entrance. The idea is to get the new fences up and plant trees before summer arrives.

I think we have found a good retirement home for Dot. She is a large ginger coloured goat who is now about ten years old. So far she is holding her own in the herd and looking good but she would probably not cope with another winter under these conditions and certainly not if she got pregnant. I thought she was too old to re-home but a friend is happy to take her as an addition to her animals and provide the necessary level of pampering. This is a great relief. I do not feel justified in keeping unproductive animals but Dot has earner her place for so long that I would not feel good at just letting her be pushed aside by the younger, fitter herd members.

Edd has now completed the tree week’s full time relief teaching he agreed to do and starts work tomorrow doing one day a week maths coaching. His finger is still strapped up but he has been able to do a lot more on the farm recently. Today we brought second hand fencing panels so that we can use them to replace the gates that are currently being used for goat yards. We need the gates to put in the new paddocks as they get fenced off.

We are fencing off a corner by the road between us and our new neighbour in the James’ place. Then we can hopefully put up a screen of trees before he starts on building a house and maintain our own privacy. Also in the fenced off section I plan to plant stone pines. I have not found many for sale but I have some seeds that I am hoping I can grow trees from. There is so much to do that I have not started on this project yet.

Last week Ollie had his ninth Birthday celebration at Bo’s place and the family gathered to wish him well. Al was very sad that his two boys did not come but Pi made a special effort to drop in on her way back from work. The big news is that she and Al are now engaged but they have not made any wedding plans yet.

Amy comes to stay

July 31 2013-

Al and Pi came to tea here yesterday and spent the night hear so that they could leave early in the morning. We get to look after Amy, the great dane puppy, whilst they are away for a week in Alice Springs. I am envious of them. I have such happy memories of living and working in the desert. We have given them addresses for our aboriginal friends and hope they will get to see them. I worry because so many of the people I worked with have since died. It was very much third world conditions and life is often short.

I spent most of the morning trying to catch Amy who barked and ran away every time she saw me. Last week Al held her whilst I took the stitches out of her foot and I don’t think she has forgiven me yet. I failed to get anywhere near her but I have shut all the gates to our house site and if we can keep her enclosed here she should not come to any harm. The hardest bit is getting our dogs out past her.

Al and Pi left very early and Edd got off to work. I started the farm work about 8.30 and there was still thick frost on the ground, and thick mist. The sun came out ,the dam and the cows started to steam and the mist lifted making it a nice morning to work out side. We are really low on hay and it costs a fortune at this time of year. We will have to get some this week end what ever the cost because the animals need it to keep warm.

My job for the day was to buy the tiles I found last week. I bargained for them and reduced the price considerably. Now I have to get them out of my car from where we stacked them in the back. I should have enough to put a skirting on all the house walls that need one. I also got two more tiles for the toilet so I have enough for that job too.

Yesterday we ate brocholi and cabbage as vegetables. It will have to be rocket today I think. I brought a punnet of Pak choi seedlings and planted that out so that we have more greens coming on. So far the snow pea seedlings have escaped slug damage but I should throw a few coffee grounds round them to give them a helping hand.