Round Two!

Our lovely Lala is second cab off the rank with this cute little lamb born this morning. Clever girl must have known it was going to be a cold frosty white Spring morning so had it in the barn in the hay. As usual l missed it being born by probably 30 seconds! l don't think Lala had even turned around to see what she had back there when l checked her!

Does seem to have a slight resemblance to a Camel here! Sweet little thing.

Oh and happy ending for the Bull Terrier. Frantic owners collected her from the Dog Pound the next morning. Good news!

Wedding!

Today Geoff and l were witnesses to a wedding of some very good friends of ours in their home here in the Huon Valley. Ron Brooks is probably one of Australia's most well known illustrators and today married his beautiful (now!) wife Yvonne.
http://www.thelitcentre.org.au/author/ron-brooks

Geoff, the groom and one of his son's Henry!

Hanno, his youngest son, who was a little bit young to understand the goings on of the day. During the Ceremony he happily played with fallen rose petals from his Mum's bouquet.

One of Ron's original artworks on the wall from the book "The Dream of the Thylacine"

 Congratulations to you both!

First Lambs!

This morning just before l left for work we got our first lamb. A little yellow girl to our lovely gentle Fingal. She was only about 20 minutes old in this photo!

A quick pat and a photo and l had to rush off to work. We had a HUGE amount of rain last night but luckily today was fine and sunny so l was OK to leave them outside on the hill.

 l popped back at lunch time though to make sure all was well.

She was up,strong, clean and dry and feeding,with,.................a sister!!!

 Well done Mama Fingal!

We brought them into the barn tonight as a night on warm dry hay has to better then a cold wet paddock! The first drop of our six ewes. Whose next?

Then..........coming home from work today,driving down the busy Huon Highway l saw something coming towards me in the middle of my lane. l slowed down and realised it was a dog! l pulled over into a lay by and straight away she waddled over thankfully off the road. Sometimes dogs take off as they are so scared and lost. Not this one! She shuffled over and what could l do except open the door! She heaved herself in, had a great big huff and puff, looked around, smiled at me, then collapsed fell asleep and started snoring!!!!

That was it! On the side of the road with a huge heavy Bull Terrier crashed out on the back seat! No mobile phone and no idea what to do!

l drove back into Huonville and easily found someone l knew who lent me their mobile. l rang the Ranger who luckily was very close by so he met me within 20 minutes which was great.The big thunderstorms a few days ago have kept him very busy. Stray dogs everywhere.
As darkness fell she happily hopped out of my car , refreshed and reinvigorated..... shuffled over to his and between the two of us (as his Ute was higher than my car) we managed to heave ho her into his front seat. She was quite an old dog. Very well cared for. Such  a sweetie. l do hope her owners find her.

Even if she DID have a face only a mother could love!!!

Treasure catch up!

Mondays is usually what is now known at work as my ' Treasure Day'! l traipse around all the Op Shops in town (we have 3) plus our local secondhand /junk shop searching for goodies for a few dollars! This was a great bargain! It's copper, old, sort of Turkish looking, beautifully made with what looks like an ebony handle. No genie popping out but a steal at $10!

And this hangy thing. Guess you would call it a candlestick really..............

This l love! It's a brass cake stand! Quite old l think judging by the wear and tear on it.

Best of all it neatly folds into a little plate sized package! Perfect for slotting into the hampers in India during the British Raj maybe?

 Oh and another candlestick......we could do with a few around here.....

And another one...............Sort of looks like a spider but it's rather fine.........$2... it screamed out to me......had to have it....

And THIS!!!! Not from Huonville l must admit. Had to venture further afield to my favourite shop the Margate Train for this one. Heaven knows what it is and heaven knows where we will put it but l HAD to have it and for $20 how could l not!! It's about 2 feet long. Ornate and engraved. Looks like a very elaborate towel rail but more so like an old door handle. From some huge ornate door perhaps? A Railway carriage seems to spring to mind! We might put it on our front door or save it for the Gypsy Caravan!

And these beautiful amazing overly ornate candlesticks!!!.. (ok.....ok....so l bought a few... but this has been over several weeks........).Which candlesticks??? The two with the black swirly  tops and bottoms on them! Fabulous! l love them!

As l write this the rain continues to teem down. The Huon River had flooded in town with road closures on the Esplanade and the River due to peak it's height at 8pm tonight. The little black duck was happy though!

Update!

Lots has been happening at Candlestick Farm... in rushes of enthusiasm .....good weather and slowly extending daylight hours.

Trees have been planted. Lots of them. Two Tulip Trees in the garden.

And two whose name escapes me have gone into the Chook Pen for some Summer shade

 Some Bulbs are finally budding

As the last of the wild daffodils wilt in the paddocks

Lattice and boring difficult bits have tediously been painted

And a fabulous winding path has been dug down to our Silver Birches

Ending in a circle of benches and lamp posts! More to come as this develops! A perfect place for Summer night bbqs!

Blossom is blooming everywhere!!!............

 The chook pen has undergone a revamp............

Now complete with bird scaring owl sentinel to scare the Wedgies away!

 As well as a few bones, feathers and skulls for a bit of variety and humour!

The poly tunnel is bursting with lettuce and peas..............

And plenty of seedlings are on the way!

40 grape vines have gone in............and.....................

Phew!!!!That's all folks!!!

Suitably Chastised!

Well, getting an email from Mother in Law asking if everything was OK down at Candlestick Farm has given me a huge attack of the guilts!! 20 days since the last post??????? Oh dear! It's not like we haven't been busy.....we have......l have just been very slack and l will endeavour to get back into the routine. Promise!

 

Pony for a present!

Today on his birthday (whether he liked it or not!) Geoff became the proud (??) official owner (in the eyes of the Welsh Mountain Pony & Cob Society of Australia Inc ) of Cazebo Mack also known as Max!.

So now......(whether he likes it or not!!!) he is fully responsible for Max's bad behaviour, his tantrums and his sulks. l no longer claim any responsibility for the little terror and gladly and happily pass this over to my dearly beloved. Happy Birthday Geoff! xx