Winter in Autumn!

These last few days we have certainly been plunged into an early taste of Winter! An usually large dump of rain in the lowlands and snow in the highs these past few nights have left a beautiful Winter Wonderland on the surrounding hills of the Huon Valley and Hobart suburbs.

Taken by a lucky friend who DIDN'T have to work yesterday!

Photos from Clips' previous owner. He lives quite high up on the outskirts of Hobart as evident from these photos.

And Clips's old paddock...... l think he might be glad to live on the Lowlands now!

No wonder Lilli did her most pathetic shivery act and plonked herself in front of the fire.........on the cold hard hearth.............. 

 It worked!!! Geoff soon relented and gave her the prime spot on the footstool!

Happy little hot dog!

 

Honey Pots and Bulbs in Autumn!

Today l found some lovely yellow and green hanging honey pots at our local Op Shop! They are gorgeous!! No doubt if l tried hard enough l could find a way of inserting a candle in each one of them!! For the moment though they will do just as well swinging off the Walnut Tree!

Well not actually right now as we have a raging gale sweeping around Tasmania at the moment! l don't somehow think they would still be hanging in the morning if l had left them there!!

Due to our rather strange weather we have hyacinths flowering  right now which is odd as l was sort of expecting them in Spring not Autumn!!

 And these! (((((l know what they are........... I just cant remember!!!))))) We also have 3 inches of Daffodil stalks popping out of the ground as well. Most peculiar and l am hoping it doesn't mean we are heading for a rather bare Spring as some flowers will be well and truly spent by then!

So tonight during our wild weather, the sheep are tucked up in the lean to next to the barn. The horses are snug in their shelters as are the goats. The cows have been left out to battle the elements but l think they are fat and round enough to be able to cope with most things!!

After all, eating is terribly important and they do a lot of it!!

Heads down, it's serious business every morning!!

And Maxie agrees!

Misty May

May has begun with all the promises of Winter to come. Misty mornings, cold nights ,and now pouring rain! The common goal for all beasties, four legged and two is to keep warm!!

The sheep seem quite happy just to sit under the Plum Tree. No problems there with being cold!

 The Walnut Tree has started the Big Leaf Drop!! (groan!!!)

All hands on deck needed to keep them raked up!

 l just love Autumn.  My favourite Season without a doubt. I  love the colours

I love the richness of the leaves and the different layers the colours create

l love the fact that the garden is a jumbled  tangled mess of fallen leaves, bare stems and fading flower heads.

l love the mists...............

((((((((And Maxie loves the mud!!!!!!!!!!)))))))))))))

Love it all................

The Tarp Game

l thought l would spend some quality time with Max over the weekend. For a bit of fun l would start to create a bit of an obstacle course in the corner of a paddock and teach him to do a few things to keep his mind bright and interested. l thought first up l would try to get him to walk over a small tarp lying on the ground. l took the tarp down to where he was and then decided l needed a few weights in each corner to make it secure and not "scary" when he walked over it...........possibly.........if l could GET him to walk over it............................l left the tarp lying on the ground and went back up to the house to get some heavy things for each corner. l came back down the drive to  be met with this................

What WAS l thinking..................................l should have known better.........................silly silly me.........."Scary"??????

He thought it was a hoot!!!!

Then........... along came the big fella................

And it became a game!!

That THEY played!!!

And my plans were totally forgotten!!

Silly me indeed......................

First Frost

Our first major frost this week! Not solid white quite yet, as there is still enough leaf cover to protect a lot of the ground but enough to ice over the water buckets and make our fingers freeze!

The Sun wasn't too far away though!!

Then up to put the horses out in the paddock and it's all so very beautiful.

And then bang, here comes the Sun! Just glorious!

There's still enough warmth in the hot house though to fill my lunch box with snow peas and tomatoes, as well as Nasturtium leaves, chives, parsley, oregano and thyme! Until possibly the next frost that is!

And the trailer gypsy wagon looking snug in the flowers and more and more colourful every day!

A very obliging cow!

I was in the paddock the other day when Poppy came up and stared at me!!! It did cross my mind that it was a bit strange as she sort of had a slightly worried look on her face! She looked well enough though so l didn't take much notice of her. l looked around for Blue but couldn't spot her anywhere which isn't unusual. There are lots of places they can hide under the trees.

It was only when l went to hang out a load of washing later on, did it all make sense...... Poppy WAS trying to tell me something........she was trying to tell me her first born was in the Vegetable Garden!! Great! There's no gate out of there into a paddock, She must have rolled her little fat belly over the fence. The only way back out is through the garden!! Out came the wheat tin ....and Geoff with his trusty stick!

And we were off!! Apologies for the quality of the pictures. It's hard to run backwards, rattle a tin, take photos, stop laughing and call out 'C'mon Blue' all at the same time!

Through the first gate.................

A quick stop for a chomp of an apple...........must be hungry!!

Second gate....only just fitted through that one!

Then for some reason she took the long way round the orchard via the geese and the ducks. Much to their great indignation!!

A fly by past the veranda! Possibly to reassure her Mum she was fine and that she would see her again soon!

Through the third gate and still going strong!! Poppy in the background wondering where on earth she's going!

Just gone through the fourth gate and a squish past the Wisteria!

Fifth gate!!!!

Sixth gate!!!! Poor Geoff was shutting them all behind her!!

Seventh gate!

And back out into the yard!!! She never out a foot wrong! Although she stopped here as if to say "hang on, l know where I am now!!"

There's my Mum!!!

And a slow casual walk back down the drive to the eighth gate!

A minor hiccup at the final gate as all the sheep wandered OUT (Lala in front take note) as they heard the  rattle tin of wheat........Food??

AND Poppy who shot up the drive to see were Blue was! Back they soon came though in their usual portly fashion with Geoff still on their heels!

Back into the paddock! Lovely cows! Thank you Blue!!!

It could have been a lot worse!