A busy weekend

This weekend we finally got the old four wheel drive ute started and decided as the ground was so dry (due to no rain) we would take advantage and do a few jobs that we didn't think we would be able to get done until much later on in the year. The first was to take the old Galv tank up to our fence line at the back of the property and set it up as Geoff is going to build a ram pump into it over Summer.. This will give us a gravity feed water supply to the troughs and garden.

The cows watched with great interest from their little pallet shelter.

We got it off the ute with ease, left it there and headed back to do our next job...........

So dry. This area here is usually an absolute quagmire of sludgy mud that all the animals hate. Even driving the heavy ute through did no damage except a few tyre tracks.

Next job was moving the Camping Wagon!!!!

As we had to tow this one though the Hay Paddock we decided to push it down the drive ourselves so we didn't have to try and manoeuvre it and the ute through the gateway. l pushed it and Geoff steered from the front.

Don't feel bad! This isn't as bad as it looks!!!!! It was sort of downhill and l had just stopped pushing and ran out to get a photo before it rolled to a halt.

In came the ute and with dogs inside the cab and out, me running in front to get the driest path through the paddock and open the gates, off we went!

And this is me running ahead to open and close the gate into the next paddock. l seem to recall doing a fair bit of running that day!

Through the next gate to its final resting place. Note Geoff's ingenuous buffer bag to stop the wagon rolling forwards and hitting the ute (it was only hooked on with a chain) It's a bag of sheep wool and worked a treat in the dips of the gateways!

After some serious pushing and pulling we finally got it pretty much where we wanted it. We have to dig out the front wheels a bit to get it level but it's not too bad at all how it is.

Big strong draft horse came up to say hello once it was all in place.............

We then headed off to have lunch then back up to the tank to get that finished off!!

Note large heavy Shire horse stuffing his face in the background as we carried all the timber up to the back paddock for the base of the tank..........(sigh)

About four trips back to the house later to get all the things we forgot...!! (like the saw and more timber for unexpected woops and doops) we finally got the base down.

Then we tipped the tank onto it. The plan had been to put a few inches of water in the bottom as we were expecting strong winds the next day. The transfer pump wouldn't start for love or money (or cursing!!) so we eventually secured it down with pickets and strapping to hold it until we could get some water in.

It was a bit of a worry leaving the tank in charge of the cows given their love of sucking and chewing  everything! Poppy assured me they would leave it alone and NOT undo the straps so it would blow away! How could we not believe a face like this??

We ended our day taking the goats and the dogs for a walk down to the Rivulet to give the goats a feed on the fresh new Willow shoots which they just love.

We lit up a heap of Willows that Geoff had cut down last Autumn . Check out his head!! It looks like it exploded!!! Most bizarre!

A great weekend with lots done. Now we cant wait  to get across the paddock for a sleep out in our Camping Wagon!

The Gate Maker

l am quite proud of my gates! This is the second one l have made. This gap has been needing a gate for a long time now so this morning l gathered my pickets and scrap pieces of timber and made one!

If it looks a bit wonky it is because it's tied to the posts with baling twine....(what would we DO without baling twine??.)..........The challenge NOW will be to get the hinges on!  Don't be surprised if the baling twine remains in place for 'a rather long time!!! ' It's always the little jobs that get us!!

Some of the timber l used was a bit warped but l don't mind. l think it's lends itself to the character of the gate!!!

The sheep who were on the other side of said gate seemed suitably impressed  and watched me most studiously. They DID make life difficult though as they kept breathing over my shoulder and l had to be extra careful where l knelt...............!!! Hello Lala

 Louise....

Fingal....

And the chickens!!! l did feel popular!

And the last of the daffodils. They have been amazing this Spring.. The ones down the drive are still going strong under the shade of the Blackwood trees. It's always sad to see them go for another year. Just beautiful.

Beast of Burden

This last week Clips has been thrown into work mode. Nothing very strenuous, just a little packhorse work! Every morning he dons his collar (for no real reason apart from good practice) and carries up to the paddock his hay for the day. And Max's too!  It sure beats US carrying it!

Initially he carried the hay nets tied together but he kept stopping and eating them! We progressed to hay in chaff bags but every now and then he still has to have a check to see if he can steal a bite!

Grumble grumble grumble......

Looking like he is carrying the weight of the world on his back as opposed to three biscuits of hay!!!

Nearly there!!!

Maybe he should start feeding the cows too!!!??

l am sure the girls would appreciate that!

l might add that onto his daily run!!!

Pickets again!

Another picket fence today! Just a short one. l pulled down the  ugly sheep fence and metal gate and finished off that corner of the garden with a picket one instead!

The old line with the new posts in as well. PRE PAINTED this time!!!!!!!

It's all a bit bare at the moment but Spring is soooooooo close and all those trees are bursting with buds.!

A quick check on what it looks like from the veranda.....................

Straight as a die.....phew....thank goodness!

The gate will go on in the morning. l made it today but time got the better of me so l painted it in the barn ready for tomorrow.

So what with Geoff putting in his posts for the grape vines......................

There's been a lot of digging going on around here whilst the ground is soft!

AND a lot of noise!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeeez he can honk!!!!

A Weekend Fence

We got to work in the rather large grassy area beside the house this weekend, known as the Orchard. It's a big space mainly where the ducks and geese hang out and the odd sheep.. l planted 5 Silver Birches which will give us a bit of Summer shade in the hottest months (days!!) and a bit of colour and beauty around the house as well!

We also built a picket fence to divide the area in two. For no real reason..... but we think it looks nice.....even better once it's painted!....!

We had to move the Hills Hoist too , to accommodate the Silver Birches. It's now plonked out in the middle of Geoff's Vegie Garden!! A bit further to walk but that's ok. I would rather that then look at flapping washing out of the kitchen window!

Now only the wallabies and the Garlic get to see it!!

 

A visit from the past

A few weeks ago we were lucky to have a visit from a man who lived here at Candlestick Farm from 1958 to 1976. He lived here with his wife and raised 4 children. He still lives locally and we spent a very enjoyable few hours with him wandering around the property, hearing his stories and picking his brain on a few things! His wife recently passed away which was sad and his four children live across the globe and Australia. l think he enjoyed his visit back. We certainly enjoyed having him here! He brought with him a few old photos which was just fabulous. l took copies of them on my camera and they haven't transferred too badly! This is him with two of his kiddies standing in front of our Raspberry bush He thought the bush was there all those years ago and on closer inspection of the trunk it looks like it might have been. It's very old and has been cut right down to ground level ,so what we have today is its re shoot!

The exact same spot today!

One of his little girls on the lawn in front of the Walnut Tree and the old garage which no longer stands.

The Tree is a lot bigger now! Amazingly the garage we made last Winter is in the exact same spot. When the old wooden structure got old, Barry knocked it down and built a car stand which is what Geoff and l park our car in now. We were quite chuffed with ourselves when we changed that part of the garden to accommodate a car never realising that is always WAS  a garage from all those years ago!

This one l love. He still owns that same tractor today! 

Same view

The Apple Shed. Barry built this himself. And here is an amazing photo when it was in its heyday. He was pleased to see part of his old Fruit Grading machine is still in the shed. Now the legs of the workbench! 

 The same corner

This one is my favourite.  The huge pine in the background is now just an old grey stump. The shed as well is now bumpy foundations in Maxie's yard. The Apple Shed wasn't even there yet!

The only visible thing that remains today is the telegraph pole.

The huge tree behind Barry is gone as well and replaced with our Colorbond Shed.

A much smaller tree than today!!

His four children

The same hill line now. Lots more trees then in those days!

The house....how amazing to see this one!  

Hard to even see it today!!! The pole has moved slightly too!

And the last one is our Hay Paddock!! This shot was taken directly at the front of the house looking down towards the River.  

No trees left today. Even the Plum Tree left in there is not from this era. The whole orchard was pulled out in the 70's so this tree must be from the next plantings after Barry left

My job is to now track down the next owners who planted the it! !!!