Flood worries.

January last year was a really tough time for a lot of people in Queensland. With the break of the drought completed, the rain returned in all its vengeance. It rained nonstop for weeks, causing widespread flooding to thousands of homes in Queensland. The most affected areas were the ones along the Brisbane River and the homes close to creeks, dams and rivers. It was a sight to see as people were evacuated every minute of the day. To see the loss of your earthly possessions is heart breaking not to mention how helpless one feels watching the destruction take place before your eyes. Waters’ destructive power is unreal. No-one could have predicted the damage it did in January. Sure enough afterwards the blame was pointed in many directions and those in power had to be accountable. Vital lessons were learnt through this tragedy and many people lost everything they owned. Through the darkness though, the light shone. The people of Brisbane united and formed a “mud army.” Armed with spades and wheelbarrows, cleaning detergents, clothes and gloves the volunteers were organised into teams and set out to clean up the big wet mess. The sites on the television were unreal. The kerbsides were littered with fridges, lounge suites, stoves and every household item you could imagine. For miles and miles this is all you saw. Such loss is indescribable. Here at home as the Logan River rose, we watched and prayed we would be safe. The gradual decline from our house to the creek was steady and I had never seen the creek break its banks and so we waited. By mid-morning the water was lapping on the brink of the creek banks. By lunch time it had flowed over and filled the bottom paddock to ankle depth. It was rising fast and suddenly I was unquestionably concerned. Could it get up to the house? All of a sudden it was on the cards and I was terrified. By the afternoon, it had come within feet of our bottom dam threatening to engulf it. It didn’t make it any further and although I was fairly relaxed that the movement had slowed, the sun began setting and as the dark closed in, I could see nothing and had no idea what was to progress. Through the night I woke and with a floodlight on I tried to see the level of the water and judge if it was moving or not. It was impossible to see which in its self was a good thing I guess as it meant it was still very far away. In the morning, I was relieved to see it hadn’t moved much during the night and so I guessed it would start receding during the day. A tense evening but we were spared the tragic loss so many others had felt. As the waters went back it left a muddy residence that would take weeks to recover. A muck that was unwelcomed and stayed without being asked…..

A visit

Yesterday I was overwhelmed with life. So much to do and so little time. After spending most of the day at the office, I came home to feed the “nations”. It wasn’t quite 3.30 and every four legged and two legged animal was hungry. It must have been the cold snap we are having. It was a noisy affair. As I wearily made my rounds to the bellows of the cows, the crowing of the roosters, the quacking of the ducks and the meowing of the cat, I had to dodge the dog who had suddenly found a spurt of energy to play with the cat right under my feet. With everyone watered and fed, I sank into the couch. I glanced up at the clock and sighed with tiredness. It was time for Michaela to arrive home and the doorbell was ringing. Somebody was here. I hadn’t even thought of dinner yet, not to mention the hundred chores that still waited for me. I had planned on dropping in to see the cattle at Megan and Carlos before the end of the day too. I hurried around, not wanting to arrive in the dark, attending to chores I could still do quickly. The phone began to ring, and I had another task to attend to. I had to pick up Jonathan. The sun was setting and the cold was returning. There was wood to be chopped and washing to be taken indoors. There were so many chores left to do, that I only got to think about them. They would have to wait until tomorrow. Days that are as busy as these, happen more often than I’d like. At Carlos and Megan, I spoke to Sophie their daughter. I explained I couldn’t stay long but wanted to drop off the money for the feed and asked if she would mind me quickly checking in on the girls. I smiled as I walked over to their pen where they were with Sabbath. They wandered over when they saw me and Queenie affectionately stuck out her tongue. They looked good and were totally occupied by Sabbath. Kiarra is in season now and she would be covered within hours as she was what cattle people call “standing for the bull”. Queenie was totally not interested in Sabbath and I have a sneaky suspicion we’ve missed her time. I’m not worried as they will be there for a full month so he will catch the next cycle. It means perhaps we will have babies a month apart but hey that’s no sweat. I left the girls and waved goodbye to Sophie with a message to her mom that I’d be back next week with feed money. On my way to pick up Jonathan now. I sure am tired….

Mr Murphy (as in murphy’s law) was here again.

Around the middle of 2010, we got the tragic news that Johnny’s dad had suddenly passed away. We were so unprepared for the next two weeks it was crazy. Bags were hurriedly packed and a ticket bought. We waved goodbye to Johnny as he began the very long trip back to be with his family and attend his Dad’s funeral, leaving the children and I at home to hold down the fort. During the two weeks Johnny was gone, Felix, the bull we had at the time, decided to get his head stuck in the feeding bale. His bellowing got my attention immediately and once I saw what had happened, panic set in. A friend (angel in disguise actually), just happened to be visiting this day and between the two of us we managed to saw one of the beams off and use the g-clamps to open the space up so Felix could remove his head. It was quite the adventure when I think back to the day in question. Felix none the worse for wear sauntered off to graze and all that remained was the piece of metal in my hand. The smile pasted on my face was one of pure shock. It took a while to sink in that we had resolved what could have been a rather big disaster all on our own. Emergencies never happen according to your clock or calendar but I guess that’s what makes farming so unpredictable.

Meet Caramel

The latest addition to Pine Haven. She is the cutest thing!

Old people are cute.

I’ve never been uncomfortable around old people. I’ve got a few fair years to go until I fit into that category too, although I imagine my own children already see me as old. Old people are full of experience and wisdom. Growing up, it was something I missed the most. Having no grandparents as a child created a longing and curiosity inside that has never left. My grandparents on both sides of my family passed away while I was a wee one. I have one photo of my nanna with her hand in my crib. I have a memory of an elderly lady my folks would visit and remember quite vividly that she told me one day to call her “granny”. She was no closer to my blood than a stranger on the street but I was elated when she told me that. I had someone to call Granny. Grandparents are so important to children. Now as I get older and wiser, I realise the value and impact they have on us all. Take time to enjoy the older folk around you. You never know what stories they may have, what wisdom and most of all how much they may enjoy your company.

“Hello Sabbath”

The moment arrived. I waited patiently outside for the animal mover to show up. The girls were eating hay and blissfully unaware of how their lives were going to change any minute. The animal mover turned out to be just a horse float and Carlos reversed it as far as he could. We had a short conversation and then the girls were led away from the hay and up the ramp into the float. Kiara had to be put on a short rope so she couldn’t move much. The back of the float was closed and we gave them some time to settle before taking off. It was so uneventful and I let out a huge sigh of relief. So much for all my fretting. They were very well behaved. At Carlos,’ the three bulls and seven heifer’s picked up their heads the moment the float arrived. It was late afternoon and there was a cold wind blowing. The goats came up from the paddock and stood to the side watching. Sabbath was in his enclosure and he caught on quickly to the scent of the females. The sound the bulls were making can be described only as a low rumbling. The gate was opened and he was led away to the far side of the enclosure by the ring in his nose all the while making sure the girls knew he was there. They seemed happy enough and after we exchanged the necessary cash, we made our way inside the house out of the wind and had a hot cup of coffee. The wind had stopped blowing by the time we left, but the temperature was still dropping for the night. We left Megan and Carlos with the promise to visit often. I'm really hoping for two female calves - now wouldn't that just be incredible.

A Date

Today we booked a date for our heifers. At long last! Carlos will arrive with his animal carrier and we will load them up this afternoon. They will go over to his farm where Sabbath awaits and board there for four weeks. We bought halters over the weekend and Johnny put them on. I was expecting a fight as they haven't even been in one before. It wasn't as hard as we expected and they placidly accepted the halters and allowed us to walk them by the lead. It was a great relief. There's a million questions going around in my head. How will they go into the truck? How will they handle transportation? Since they arrived on Pine Haven life has pretty much only been here. The last thing I want to do is stress them out. What about Crystal here at home? How will she take the separation? Will she bellow? So many questions waiting for answers. I’m hoping the expert hands of Carlos will help the transition but must be honest – I’m a bit nervous on how it will go. I plan to follow them over to his farm. Hopefully all will be good. Watch this space for an update......

Three things I love…..

• Freshly washed laundry drying in the wind. • Grass that has just be cut. • The smell of a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning. What three things do you love?

Chillies

This has to be the easiest plant to grow. There are not many bugs that will destroy this crop. So far I’ve dehydrated a few, turned a bunch into a chilli paste and the rest go fresh onto the boy’s lunch sandwiches. I turn my dehydrated chillies into a dry version, which I then pound in the pesto and mortar, which turns them into a fine chilli powder. It then gets bottled and placed on the shelf for the future curries I will make.

A big day for me

Today was out of the ordinary for me. It was a day at the office. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent the whole day in an office. I was away from the animals, away from my old farmhouse and doing a whole lot of other stuff I haven’t done in years. Will I make it? Will I stay? Time will tell. In the meantime, I’ll learn new computer programmes and answer telephones. I’ll reply to emails and make copies. Who knows where this opportunity will lead but it’s sure to do a heap of good for me all round.

Moulting and chickens

My chickens are moulting. The egg production has dwindled to nothing. Not one egg has filled the laying boxes in over a week. I’m desperate. The chickens look like they have been through a war zone. Like they’ve been in a cat fight or something. Feathers lay everywhere and continue to fall. I rushed off to the feed store and asked for some advice on dealing with moulting birds. I left with a bag of different food. It is supposed to give them a massive protein kick. It’s a feed that show birds eat and it comes at a price. Double the price of a normal bag of laying pellets.It better be worth it. The girls will appreciate a little help. Producing new feathers is stressful and they use a lot of energy in the process. The extra protein will do them well.

Miss Daisy!

A couple of months back Johnny decided to expand our herd of cows. Because our dream is to someday produce cheese and dairy products from them, the Dexter’s supply is not really adequate. This led us to finding Miss Daisy. Our Daisy was bought from a dairy cattle yard and is a Jersey cross heifer. The trip collecting her was long and took us into unfamiliar territory. We didn’t mind. The windows were down and with the wind taking the edge off the heat of the day, we sang along to the radio that was playing an unfamiliar station. We rolled on through hills and farms and eventually reached our destination. It was near nightfall when Johnny picked her up and placed her in the little homemade cage on the back of the Ute. She bellowed in fright and I’m sure she was stressed. As we waved goodbye to the owner, Daisy seemed to settle. At home we introduced her to Crystal, her foster mom. Crystal had just said goodbye to her own calf a few short days before. This was the second set of calves we have bred and sold. She was moping and so she latched onto Daisy instantly and it was just like a match made in heaven. I was surprised how easy it was. The first few days Crystal had to be persuaded into the milking unit so Daisy could drink, but this lasted only a few weeks and then they were out on their own in the paddock, having adjusted so quickly to the introduction of another cow. Over the months, Daisy grew strong on Crystal’s milk. She fattened up quickly and before we knew it she was ready to be weaned. What I didn’t know was that it’s not so easy to wean a calf while mum is still in the vicinity. Add another calf to the mixture and you have a problem. In hindsight now, I have learnt valuable farming lessons. I’ve learnt the value of the weaning ring and learnt the period it takes to wean a calf. I’ve learnt that if you want a quiet change, do not separate them. They are happier that way and so am I. The weaning ring cost $14, every cent worth its weight in gold. Now we have a new calf that is growing stronger on Crystal’s milk and a fat, healthy Daisy quite content with life.

Change of seasons

The leaves are beginning to turn. A clear sign the season is changing. Across the road the chicken farmer has a row of maples. The browns and yellows of these trees are the prettiest thing to see. Mother Nature is wonderful and time is told through the undressing of these trees. We are having a taste of the wintery weather to come. It’s time to start preparing for inside fires. It is time to freshen up the winter wardrobe and linen cupboard. It’s time for the blankets to be hauled out and aired. Summers light and airy clothing are replaced by Jumpers and long sleeve shirts. Yes, the comforts of winter. In the outside animal world it’s a time to slow down too. The grass stops growing and takes a well-deserved break. The small animals go into hibernation and the world is slowing to a less harrowed pace. Inside the old farm kitchen, there are lots of plans going on for winter. Yes, father winter will wrap his cold thin finger around the garden very soon and I welcome it. There are so many things about the cooler weather to enjoy.

Closure of another chapter.

Romeo began to continuously escape and I had many stressful days with him. Iris was becoming very impatient with us and I don’t blame her. He was restless and not happy without the girls to keep him busy. I decided to put him up for sale. He was snapped up by a lovely lady who already has a herd of mixed goats. The day we delivered him was a good day. I needed to see where he would be and that he would be well looked after. I visited a few days later and he didn’t even realise I was there. He was acutely aware of the females around him that were in season and he was kept busy. I was satisfied he was in the best place for him. The fences were good and the company better. I got back into my car and sighed with relief. The baby boys at home would be okay for a while and then the nonsense started again. This time it was easier for me to advertise them and again I did the deliveries to see where they would be going to live. Both were good homes and they had lots of company for them. That day I honestly can say was a good day. Goodbye to goats for now and I never looked back. I’m grateful for every ounce of learning I had and the experience of breeding but I’m even happier that the goat chapter is now closed. Will I get more someday – who knows? Time will tell.

Goodbye Darling Carla and Lady,

Carla suddenly died one night with no rhyme or reason. She died before she had babies which is so sad. I had fed and locked them up for the night and the next morning she was gone. The vet was at a loss and so was I. It was a sad day when we said goodbye to her. The herd recovered from the loss and life resumed the normal pace again. I became more observant of the poo and instantly recognised any changes in the goats through this. During this time I experienced a loss very close to me like no other. My Dad passed away suddenly with heart failure. I rushed back overseas to attend to matters and the funeral and while I was away something happened to Lady and she got ill too. The day I returned from my trip back to attend my Dad's funeral was to be the last day I saw her. She too died over night. My heart was sad as I had experienced too much loss by this time. But this was what farming was all about. Life and death is the cycle of life isn’t it? Animals get ill and die. It’s a fact that each and every farmer must deal with at some stage of their farming lives. It’s sad, it’s hard and it’s a loss every time but life goes on.

Baby goats

The duration of a goat pregnancy is roughly four months. The experience of seeing the two male boys come into the world here on Pine Haven was amazing. I watched momma like a hawk waiting and expecting something to happen each and every day. The day they finally arrived was a cool day. Lady needed no assistance, and Max and Tyler, as they were affectionately named by the children grew strong and healthy on their momma milk. Romeo was a Dad and once he conquered the girls, the hormones in his body would not rest, and so began the mischief. We have dog wire around the large paddock and Romeo quickly figured out that his head would fit through the squares it had. The problem was that goats are pretty stupid and so his horns would get stuck and end up there for a few hours. Now this won’t do much harm if its winter and a short while but middle of summer and I am out for the day! You can see how tiresome this becomes. This began to happen day after day and slowly but surely the girls would copy Romeo even though the grass on the other side of the fences was trimmed and kept short. I learnt about having the right fences for the goats in those days. With all the pushing through the fences, the girls quickly discovered holes they were making and started to escape. Iris to the left of my house, has prized gardens. The goats never got near her gardens but she was so quick to see them get out, quicker than me and so the pain began. Goats can and will destroy relations with neighbours if not properly supervised. A fact to this day I don’t think she has forgiven me for. I learnt a lot through the goats and quickly realised that their time on Pine Haven was running out.