A sweet surprise....and a chase!

Just the other day we were having a family debate about who last saw the Red Hen and when.  I could not remember seeing her in a few weeks, neither could Grant.  Will insisted he saw her a few days ago, but I didn't believe him.  He has a habbit of saying the opposite to us, just because he likes to debate I think.  (He gets that from his father...) Grant and I promptly concluded she had been eaten by a fox, or escaped and thought nothing more of it.   

But the other day, when I was unwell with gastro, I found out otherwise.  I have no idea why these things always happen when you least need them....

Henry rushed into my bedroom crying - "Ronnie is going to eat the baby chickens!"
Me - "Is the gate open?"
Henry - "No!  Ronnie is going to eat them!"
Me (with all my motherly wisdom) - "Well if the gates not open he can't get in there."
Henry - "They are getting through the fence, quick!! There is lots of them!!"
Me (patiently explaining) - "Henry, there is only two, they cant get though the fence they are too big."
Henry - "Quick Ronnie is going to eat them, the lots of baby chickens!!"
Me - Gives up on bed rest, haules nauseous self out of bed, cradles bucket and stumbles outside feeling like I was going to die.  (OK, I'm exaggerating a little....)

Where I find that Henry was infact, right.  Ronnie is actually about to eat some baby chickens, LOTS of baby chickens.  But not the big babies, there are a bunch of new tiny day old chicks that are running back and forth through the timber lattice.  Where Ronnies nose is pressed up ready to catch one next time it pops through onto HIS side.  Turns out Will was right, he probrably had seen her.  She had simply been hiding so well that we had failed to find her.

Me - "Oh shit, there are baby chickens.  RONNIE!!!!!"

I quickly sent Henry inside with Aggie.  I then tried to haul Ronnie by the collar away from his tasty snack....instantly realizing he had slipped his collar AGAIN and I had nothing to hold onto....The stubborn dog REFUSED to leave his post despite enthusiastic calling, then scolding.  I briefly considered dragging him away by his fur, but quickly decided that would be cruel.  So I did the only thing left.  I put down my bucket, cursing under my breath and picked him up.  All 20kg of Boarder Collie.  I lugged him to the laundry so I could keep him out of the way.  My head was pounding and my stomach churning.  The second I got him in, he made a mad dash to escape and I fell to my knees trying to force him back through the door.  With one hand pushing on him, the other trying to close the door without shutting it on his nose.  I was, at this stage swearing under my breath, feeling rather seedy. 

Next I called our old Labrador Tess who happliy trotted over and I gently closed her in the bathroom.  Tessa, the good one, is MY dog.  She actually listens.  (Fancy that...)

I returned to the chook yard where tried to capture the little chicks.  They took great delight in popping back and forth through the fence, making the job as difficult as they could.  Lucky they were cute.  Eventually I caught them and popped them in a basket.  I secured them in the chook shed so they were safe.  Then I grabbed an empty milk crate and popped it over a very cranky Mother Hen, slid some mesh under her and safely transported her to be with her babies.  Thank goodness I got them all.  I filled up the chick feeder and water feeder and closed up the shed tight. 

As I brushed myself off I wondered to myself....Why does this stuff always happen when Grant's not home?!  I mean seriously..... *rolls eyes* 

I let the dogs loose and good old Tess wandered out completly un-fussed.  Ronnie ran straight back to the fence, dissapointed his self serve snack was no where to be found. 

Some days, hey?

When I rang Grant to tell him later, he of course thought the entire situation was completly hilarious.  Which in hindsight it may have been.  Though I do wonder if the old neighbours next door were watching through their kitchen window, which has a beautifully clear and un-obstructed view into our yard now the lean-to is down.

Mother hen and her chicks.  Two red, and two yellow.  She is a hyline so the yellow chicks are roosters and the red will be hens. 

Aggie is getting big!  She stole Ronnies bone here, doesn't she look proud?

Ronnie, however looks a little puzzled as to what exaclty happened and how he got pipped from "Top Dog" by this little black bear. 

The back yeard is a mess, though we are lookfing forward to a jumbo bonfire this winter!  I look forward to the new foundation to be layed in a few weeks.

Cloth napkins, a vintage plate, handwoven basket and embroidered linen.  All op-shop finds, bought for next to nothing. 

Well the weather here is glorious, though Grant has been working on a jack hammer bringing up the last of the foundations which has had a bit of an earth shattering effect on my peace and quiet.  He seemes to have finished now and has moved onto a crow bar and shovel which is signifiacantly quieter.  I best pop the kettle on and make us a cuppa and force him to knock off. 

Much love,
Emma
xx

Down she goes!

We are once again in demolition mode.  Our yard is a discrace.  Piles of things to be taken to the tip, burnt, or to the metal scrap yard for cash. 
The cement being pulled up....

The verandah coming down.

The back porch and 3rd bedroom gone....

And Grant kindly leaving me a tiny corner of cement until the last possible moment for a clean path to the toilet and bathroom.

Look, I finally managed to make a proper loaf of sourdough! 

So good.  Like seariously wonderful.  This weekend I hope to make anough for a few loaves to last us the week.


Aggie is our faithful little follower, full of mischeif and little nippy teeth!  But gosh she brings us lots of joy.  Look, here her ears are nearly standing uptight. 

Much love,
Emma
xx



A wonderful farm visit!

Well school is well and truly back, and already I ache for the free unstructured days of the holidays! 

This post has been a little while coming.  I have been so enjoying our time off and I have been making a far more conscious effort about being fully present in each beautiful moment that comes our way.  So much so my photography, which has never been my strongest point has slipped!  I completly forgot my good camera so excuse the phone photos.   

In the last week of the school holidays we were so lucky to be able to catch up with Sally from Jembella Farm.  It was one of those mornings I just wanted to saviour.  The boys were in their elemant.  They loved every second, so did I.  As I walked around I dreamed of our "one day" farm.  I may have said a silent prayer or three that our shop would hurry up and sell so we could get on and DO it.


Watering the pigs.  Good looking happy animals, completly able to carry out their natural behaviours. 

When we arrived, Sally has left a few little jobs so the boys were able to help with a few simple morning chores.  There was cows to feed, pigs to water, chickens to check on, bees to examine and the most beautiful mulberries to pick, much to Grant's delight when he came home that night! 

Checking on the geese.

It was a truly beautiful morning.  Wonderful company, and so special for the boys.  A morning they have talked about so much since.  I do believe this is going to be one of those things they remember in life.

Who needs a cup when your thirsty?

They were facinated by the old farm house.  William especially loved it, that kid is going to be a picker I reckon!  He adored Sally's old farmhouse, and all the intereting things on display.  He loves a story that kid, and old things that have a story behind them.   

Meg the farm dog was on patrol, it was a warm morning and so she took a dip in the trough, much to the boys complete delight! 

Picking mulberries, sooo good!  Eating them warm and juicy straight off the tree.

We really did have the most marvelous morning.  This morning gave me hope, and reminded me of all we are working for.  The warmth and contentedness that crept upon my heart, seeing the boys on a farm similar to what we want to do, will sit with me along time.  A beautiful morning. 

Thankyou dear Sally.  I am so very glad this strange blogging world has brought us togeather and we can be come friends through it. 

Much love,
Emma
xx

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