Bundle of cuteness

What's not to love?

Welcome to Penny, the latest addition to the Hunt household.

Eight weeks of cuteness and mischief has just entered our home and she is making her way around easily.
Penny is a pure bred Border Collie, second born out of five pups from Orbost.

She has fabulous markings and has quickly made friends with Mia, Meep and Lilly (well in truth the cats are not so enthralled) I did hear some hissing under the table.

Two babies of the family

 We intend for Penny will be a working dog as well as a companion to Mia who has been terribly lonely since her buddy Milo went to sleep. No doubt we will waste endless time enjoying the antics that will follow as the two pups get to know one another.
It's hard not to fall in love with such a bundle of cuteness - soft, fluffy coat, angelic eyes, and puppy kisses. She has personality plus.

Day one she is already learning what it is to be a farm dog.
Lesson one is sleeping in the tractor.
Lesson two learn to walk through mud.
Lesson three learn to chase small furry animals though the paddocks.
Lesson four learn to sleep on her own mat inside.

Tractor snoozes

So you may be wondering how we picked her name. Well, we both agreed that she could not have a M name, given we have an assortment of M names in the family, both canine and human, already. Despite this fact, after deciding to make her ours last night, a range of names were thought of including Maggie and Molly as the most popular!!!!!
Today, I suggested a variety of alternatives: Lucy, Abby, Gracie, Chloe, Cleo, Andy, and Zoe, however Penny was the winner. Now I feel like we are in an episode of Big Bang Theory, just imagine Daryl calling 'Penny, Penny, Penny' a hundred times a day.

Penny has big shoes to fill with our last two dogs being fabulous companions (so long as we ignore the first five years of Labrador puppy-hood).
For now we look forward to shredded blankets, missing shoes, freshly dug holes, and chewed work boots, not to mention lots of cuddles and snuggles.

Until next time.

N

Snoozes for everyone

Dead chickens in the morning

Best efforts couldn't save her.

And then there were 14.
Clumps of scattered feathers across the paddocks, chickens wandering in the morning fog, and the chicken coop door wide open greeted us this morning. It was a stark reminder that foxes are at work. On the previous occasions where we have forgotten to close the gates we were just lucky, unlike today.  The loss of six chickens overnight, follows the loss of a single chicken the night before, who stupidly flew into the dog yard while we were looking after the neighbour's hound. We tried to save her, wrapped her in towel and put her near the combustion stove to keep warm, but the trauma was obviously too much. On both accounts I was responsible. Some days it just sux.

We are fortunate to have not lost them all. The remaining girls are in reasonable health although a couple seem short of a few feathers.

New mulch = less weeds

Cold mist,  no wind

On a positive note the day did improve with the visit of two of my daughters, just ahead of friends Carol and Zac (our faithful farm hands). We had just finished mulching the rose garden and cleaning out the chicken pen, therefore collecting a few more bags of fertiliser, if anyone wants some. Timing was perfect for our visitors. After a cup or three of tea, a few munchies and casual conversation it was time to work again.

Just a little more tension

Despite the misty rain, we donned coats and boots and headed to the front boundary fence to strain some barbed wire. What should have been a relatively quick job, even for us amateurs, took a couple of hours. Endeavouring to be frugal we tried to use an old run of wire and use as a puller for the barbed wire, but despite the best of intentions it created more problems and it was soon passed in for new wire. This soon improved the pace of the job, coincidently the rain also increased. Using the quad bike to run messages between the workers and provide tools as needed we soon had the job running efficiently.

Mia, always willing to help

Quad getting a tow home

Before long we were adequately drenched, cold and unable to see through our glasses but the fence was tight and well strained. With a plan for hot lunch (albeit late), a well earned drink and dry clothes, Carol and I got ourselves ready to go, but then I broke the quad bike! Seems the gear selector stripped - the bike was towed home.

Carol and Zac have headed home, Daryl has gone off to work (night shift on no sleep) and I am left with my new computer, a warm fire and my youngest girl resting next to me as we watch the English murder mystery Shetland.

Time for another cup of tea.
Until next time.
N

Love a long weekend

Early start may not have impressed the neighbours

It is the end of the long weekend and the prospect of heading to the office tomorrow is not so thrilling. We are sitting in front of our lovely fire, the two cats are cuddling each other, as close to the heat as possible and the pup is running laps (in her sleep) as she rests comfortably on her new blanket.
Daryl and I have enjoyed a bottle of wine and I am just about done in, sleep is calling me.
After an early and very crisp start this morning, the eyelids are heavy.

But I cannot complain in any way. My dearest friend, also writes a blog, and she explores an entirely different world - one where making small talk is a challenge, as is shopping or driving the car, and some days making the bed is simply overwhelming - so I am thankful I can be tired because I have been busy (and slept like garbage last night).

We decided to get our butts out of bed early as we knew the day would be shared with friends (birthday brunch) and we didn't want to rush them away because the farm wanted our attention.

Crispy greens anyone?

So at 7 this morning we donned gloves and a few extra layers and crunched our way toward the wood pile and fired that chainsaw up. In less than an our we had a nice pile of wood ready for the fire in the coming days and the trailer was full.

Even too chilly for the pup - she rode inside

We are currently burning through about a metre of wood per week. We burn two fires - the slow combustion stove in the kitchen and the large wood heater in the lounge. I certainly would not want to be buying wood. Ouch, that would be expensive and we would be investing in a few more jumpers! After the wood was stacked we did the rounds, counted cows, tended to the horse (Bek was sleeping in at a friends), collected eggs and marveled at the beautiful morning we were enjoying. Mia was more than happy to make tracks in the ice and she tore through the paddocks chasing whatever rodents she could find.

Found this guy wondering what all the noise was!

We bought some winter vegies and they are now planted in the garden beds, hopefully the frost will not burn them before they get a chance to establish.

We did indeed enjoy our friends and daughter's company and celebrated a birthday with crispy bacon and eggs rolls, tomato and cheese optional. A zillion cups of tea and a few birthday beers later, it was time to say goodbye. Hastily, we rushed around getting night time jobs done before the blackness overtook us. We weren't quick enough and found ourselves feeding hay in darkness. Once again the chill began to etch into our bodies, but the warmth of the fires soon welcomed us indoors.

Yesterday saw some more house keeping jobs completed - our rose garden was finally freed of weeds. Daryl managed to drill holes into 30 red gum posts along the front fence line in preparation for wire. What a job! As the timber is green the drill bit continues to get clogged up. Daryl has discovered extra brute force and a screw driver are helpful ways to push the drill bit through.We enjoyed the noise and nonsense of kids and grand-kids who travelled over for tea, and after a whirlwind visit they left us to enjoy the serenity.
 
The first day of the long weekend was pretty chilly here and finally cold enough to convince Daryl it was an inside job day!! Yeah success. I suspect I may only get one designated 'inside job' day every year so I need to make the most of them.

What a way to start the day.

It has been a great long weekend filled with plenty of work, family, friends and fun times. Tonight I suspect I will sleep soundly.

Goodnight to you all.

N

Daughters

Life at Rivergum is not always about pasture, produce and paddocks. Some days it is consumed by our offspring.

I have three daughters.

I am blessed. I am also stressed. My three girls are never far from my thoughts or worries. There is roughly five years between each of them and if I combine their personalities, they remind me of a younger me. Which is a good reason to be concerned.

Recently my three girls caused my ageing heart to beat a little faster.

Daughter number 1 announced we were going to be grandparents for a second time and if that was not enough of a surprise, she is half way though the process - 20 weeks -no idea- unbelievable. Shock, Joy, OMG let's get organised - baby on its way!!
 
Daughter number 2 - Blows up her little car - this is bad, but not so bad when you compare it to crashing her grandfather's little car a few weeks later; now car-less (we have run out of little cars) she tops it all off with the breakdown of her washing machine... she is thankfully  physically recovered but no doubt a little frustrated (especially when it keeps raining and she has to walk everywhere.)

Daughter number 3 - Following her hospital stay, shocked us all by deciding she would like to spend a year in Italy in 2017 - 365 days away from me, not just up the road but 14,373km away - come è successo? (How did this happen?)
Now the plans are gaining momentum and in a few heartbeats I will be standing at Tullamarine airport whirling in a world of worries as my baby heads off on the adventure of a lifetime.

I'm not fussed how many 'gender gurus' sprout about no difference with boys and girls, I will disagree with them. They are different and I am thankful for that. We should not be striving to make everything the same - difference and diversity bring colour to the world and I am glad while my girls have similar traits, similar looks and similar styles they are unique in every way and (thankfully) very different to their brothers. 

Life, as new farmers, brings challenges all of its own and when you add a couple of jobs, multiple responsibilities, large extended family and 8 kids (you know the adult kids), daughters-in-law and a granddaughter  - days can get crazy busy. 


 

The farm never completely lets you go, it demands your attention,whether you are present or absent and we are learning to juggle competing priorities, sometimes simultaneously, day by day.

Crazy or calm we are indeed blessed. 

Til next time

N

Patch of paradise

Low cloud in the mountains

It's hard to resist the opportunity to get back to the wilderness.

So when the message came through that my father-in-law, Max, wanted to celebrate his birthday by heading up bush, we initially jumped at the chance. That was until the weather gods turned their wrath on us and decided to send showers of rain to most parts of our region and beyond. In the lead up to the birthday bush trip some words were exchanged between family members about cancelling the trip, rescheduling to a day with a more optimistic weather outlook or changing the location, preferably to indoors, with a fire. However, my 88-year-old father-in-law is not like most men his age and he was set to go regardless of the "100% percent chance of rain for Licola" according to the weather app. I have no doubt Max would have set off on his own if the family had abandoned him. 

So this morning, after seeing to the animals, and sending a message to our neighbour letting him know we would be out of phone service, in the unlikely event something happened, Daryl and I headed off for Licola, while the rain poured around us. A quick call to our brother-in-law, Tony, and he said the weather was fine at Toongabbie and that he and Geoff (another in-law) were on their way to light a fire and set up shelters in the Alpine National Park, Licola. We doubted Tony's weather report. 

Daryl and his father-in-law

En-route we picked up my father Guy, from his nursing home in Heyfield - it was still raining - quite heavily. My father has dementia and suffers further cognitive impairment following a stroke, 18 months ago. He talked alot about the weather. As I get nasty travel sickness I took over the driving from here and we ventured up and over the mountains, wipers swiping all the way. The rain kept us company and I wondered if the fire would cope with the continual soaking. We arrived at Red Box Camp ground on the Wellington River and drove into an oasis of dry skies, an established camp fire and familiar faces of family. The rain gods were clearly on Max's side! I'm not well versed in weather gods but my bit of research revealed some interesting results. 

A little slippery

There are four options when it comes to the divine power responsible for our fine weather:
The first could be Tlaloc, "He Who Makes Things Sprout" is the god of rain, lightning and thunder. He is a fertility god, but also a wrathful deity. He is responsible for both floods and droughts. Clearly today however, he was in fine mood and only sprinkled occasionally.
Or it could be Zeus, Ruler of Mount Olympus, known by many names, including Lord of the Sky,
Rain-God, Cloud-Gatherer, and Zeus of the Thunderbolt. 

Red Bluff

If Zeus and Tlaloc don't tickle your fancy, then how about CHAC the Mayan rain god, he is the god of agriculture, fertility, rain and lightning.
And finally, if none of these gods answered the call, then maybe the Christian deity did a good deed and blessed us with a small patch of paradise in the high country.

Regardless, those that made the effort to drive up enjoyed a perfect bush barbecue. A few of them even went fishing! Bush walks were enjoyed and the billy was boiling.

Always a fire

Birthday in the bush

Max's official birthday is Thursday, he will be 89 years young. He is such a gentleman, father of five, grandfather of  seven and great grandfather of four, step-grandfather of  six, step-great grandfather of one and a half. He still cooks a smashing roast for the family (up to 15 at any one time), drives independently, and is always keen to get up to our farm and lend a hand. Max exudes calmness and wisdom,- he has suffered great loss and experienced great love - he is a true role model. He loves the bush and has spent more than 50 years exploring and fishing the rivers of the high country. He raised his children to love the bush environment and now Max is returning to places filled with happy memories and  the sweet sounds of  natural bushland. We pray there are many more birthdays by the camp fire with Max.

No fish, still fabulous

Remember that text message we sent to our neighbour, the one just in case something happened while we were away?  Well something did go wrong! Nine of our calves went for a walk down Fisks Lane and thankfully Corey saved the day (again) and returned them to their rightful home. Little schmucks then played chasey with the 4WD as we tried to get them back into the right paddock. The Kelpie, Mia, escaped the house yard and before we found the calves she had bolted up the paddock to 'help' us. All this in darkness, I'm amazed I didn't go arse over in the slippery paddocks.  Maybe Tlolac or Chac were watching over us.

Always nice to be home :)

Until next time

N xx

Exploring childhood memories (Daryl)