Tree stumped!

 Yip folks, a tree stump consumed our past weekend in all its glory. Moving into Pine Haven, we were overwhelmed by the number of huge trees around the house. Some were palms and some were not. After hearing the locals talk about the wild storms and bat problems, there was nothing to be done but to cut down the three big trees that were growing next to the house and water tank. Cutting them all down was the easy part, dealing with the remaining stumps, now that’s a story to behold. This weekend we were consumed with getting one of the two remaining stumps out of the ground. Over the past few years, we have tried a number of things to bump this particular stump out with the tractor. To pull it out with a chain and finally using a pulley like chain called “a come along”. Some suggested to set it alight and others said poisoning was the way to go, neither of these options sounded safe enough for me and grinding it out of the ground was not an option due to the proximity to the water tank, not to mention the price tag attached to this service. We persevered and every so many months, a few roots were chopped up or it was wrenched free a little more. Finally this weekend it was pulled out completely and moved out of the way. The massive hole it left behind was a crater and a half. The hole was filled up again and the ground flattened as if nothing had  just happened there. Without the memories I have, nobody would even have known there was once a huge tree there.  It was with a great sense of achievement that we ended this weekend. 

Meet Socks

Socks is a black cat, with white bits on three of his feet. He has the personality of every black cat you hear about in a story book. He is suspicious and reserved, always watching from a distance. He came into our lives by accident really or by default I guess. He was left on the property we purchased and was rather feral at the time. I’ve never had much time for cats.  I’ve never understood them or their ways. Socks is definitely a barn cat, he’s not much for lying around the house, apart for the porch at times. You won’t ever catch him curled up on a chair sleeping and the times he is found on the porch wall, he is in a position ready to escape when the moment calls for it. I guess that’s from previous years of neglect perhaps and probably a lot of his personality. The few cats I’ve come across have always seemed to be aloof to me, not caring one way or the other to be petted or fussed over. Now I know that a lot of people will disagree with me, especially cat people, but this is my experience with the cats I’ve met in my life.   Socks’ has come so far in the past three years and his subtle influences on my day have really grown on me. I have grown to love this old boy and I understand him better these days. I have gotten to know his personality and he has gotten to know mine. He has gone from appearing only in the dark to retrieve his dinner to spending some of the day on the front porch. From time to time, he will enter the kitchen while I’m cooking and preparing a meal to rub his face against my legs purring and I guess have a conversation with me in cat language. I doubt he will ever be one of those cats like the one at the feed store, which lies around all day on top of the food bags, content to let the customers and their children stroke him. Socks’ is as perceptable as an infrared camera, seeing all and sensing all new arrivals here on the farm. He knows the presence of strangers and disappears for the duration they are here. When I tell folk I have a cat, I think they disbelieve me as he rarely makes an appearance but as sure as the daylight follows night, once they leave he is there again meowing and reminding me he’s back.   

He has settled in here at Pine Haven and is a regular on my porch these days.  I expect that in years to come, he may become the cat you can stroke and pet and perhaps even pick him up.

Duck mystery!

A few days ago I really got a fright. I went down to feed the animals in the evening and saw that only the baby duck had come up for  her dinner. An uneasy feeling came over me. Where could Donald and Buttercup be? I strained to see down at the dam, whether they were still there, but I couldn't see them anywhere. I decided to go back up to the house and put on my gumboots as its still rather mushy down by the dam. I took a slow walk down to the bottom dam but they were nowhere to be seen. If they hadn't come up for dinner and they weren't on the dam, well that was not good news. I looked around the dam for any evidence of feathers or remains of duck. The fox doesn't come in the daytime so this was very confusing. I saw no evidence and continue to look for Buttercup and Donald. As the sun began to set, I went back up to the house. I was sad that they had gone and mentally kick myself for not taking Buttercup eggs and putting them in the incubator. Oh well that was a risk they took by going down to the bottom dam. I should really seal the top pond but don't have the manpower nor the energy at the moment to tackle the job of this nature on my own. The following morning they both came waddling up as if  nothing was wrong, which makes me think that perhaps Buttercup is becoming broody and has made an nest along the fence line and that's where they were instead of missing. They were both as hungry as lions and devoured a bowl of mash, then happily reunited with the baby and Waddled back down to the pond to go do what ducks do. I was relieved and realised just how important sealing off the top pond has become. With the fox around, and an ever present worry that he may be brave enough to attack in broad daylight, it was a job that  needed to be done.  I made a mental note, Come high water, the pond needed sealing off soon.

Sick bay for Ozzie.

 I’ve been treating Ozzie for another abscess in the same foot again. I noticed him beginning to limp a few days before and I sighed a deep sigh.  Not again! This poor horse, he’s had a real bad run of feet issues. Most people couldn’t afford or wouldn’t put up with the problems and I’m not sure how I’ve managed to get this far with him too. Everybody around me keeps saying give him away, some have suggested putting him down.  I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it. It is too hard and I love Oz so much. He has taught me so much and given me confidence in a field I would never have had otherwise. He’s just part of Pine Haven and always will be. Jen, the farrier suggested at his monthly trim to get a poultice dressing and a bandage. She taught me how to apply the dressing and gave me instructions for the next few days. I was nervous, as this was the first time I’d be applying a bandage, but there was nothing to be done as I was the only one available. Johnny was working long hours and coming home in the dark.  Jonathan was doing the same. The only person to help was Michaela and between us I don’t know who was more tense. I had to overcome this fear, Ozzie was depending on me.  Lifting up his foot was the toughest part and knowing how inexperienced we were, he stubbornly refused. Once the first bandage was changed and the second one was done, it was time to take it off for good.  I was relieved but the work wasn’t over yet, I’d still have to clean out his hoof daily and apply iodine.  The minute his foot is up, I have to be really organised and work quick.  Hoof picking out all the debris, I’d then give the hoof a quick rinse with some water, dry it off with some paper towel and then spray on some iodine. It doesn’t sound like too much but I have a healthy respect for farriers these days.  It’s a back breaking job. Of course Ozzie doesn’t always oblige me and he tends to pull away and then we have to start again. It’s exhausting work but it’s taught me confidence around him. I’m looking forward to seeing Jen in a week or two.  I’ll be asking for advice and have some questions to run past her. The abscess broke through and he is not limping anymore. I still clean his foot everyday now and he is on the mend. He is back out in the paddock where he is happiest.

Introducing Rosie!

She is a Swiss Brown cow.  Johnny’s had his eye out for this breed for a while now.  Finally he found what he was searching for and the deposit was made and the collection date arrived. We took off in the morning, bright and early, as the trip was to be about six hours return.  I wasn’t looking forward to a long trip but it had its perks. We were going to experience another part of this wonderful country of ours. We were travelling inland this time. The miles rolled by and the minutes ticked on. About mid-morning we decided to stop to get some coffee and stretch our legs. The name of the roadside stop was called “The creepy Inn”.  I wondered why anyone would name a café this, hopefully their coffee was good. I thumbed through a pocket trader on the counter while we waited for our coffee to be brewed. One thing about small towns is that there is always sure to be a bargain being sold. This book impressed me with all its goodies for sale.  The coffee arrived with a lady who had a cheery smile. We paid our dues and left Creepy Inn to continue our journey. I smiled and wondered if others had the same impression as me.

We travelled on for a while yet and then reached the flattest and most desolate land I’ve ever seen. The dirt was red and there wasn’t much grass. I couldn’t imagine anything surviving out here. But sure enough there was something.  Miles and miles of the stuff. The roadside was littered with tuffs that had blown free from a carrier at some point.  After a few minutes I realised what it was.  Cotton fields!  Cotton was tough and could survive and thrive in the most challenging climates. 

Just short of two and half hours we passed through a little town called Millmerran. We contacted the seller and he arranged to meet us at the end of his road about half an hour’s drive from Millmerran. The terrain continued to be dry and mostly scrub. I couldn’t imagine how hard life must be out here. The seller of Rosie was waiting for us and took us back to his home. There I was ableto see an alternative lifestyle only ever heard of. His family lived in a few different containers. They harvested wind power and solar power and used a generator to do washing when needed.  They had a few chickens, cows and goats. We stood around chatting and we heard about how most of their neighbours couldn’t handle the rough climate and had moved out. Their two kids were home-schooled and they all seemed content and happy with life.  I marvelled at his wife and made a mental note not to complain so much. 

After the necessary paperwork was exchanged and final payment made, Johnny loaded up Rosie who was bewildered and frightened by now.  After a bit of coaxing and persuasion, she walked up the loading ramp into the back of our Ute.  I took one look at her and named her Rosie.  We waved goodbye and left these tough hardy people to make our way back home.  We diverted from the GPS signal and decided to travel back via Cunningham’s Gap. This was a beautiful scenic route and much prettier than the way we had come.  Arriving home in the dark, we were exhausted but happy.  Rosie quickly got associated with the rest of the herd and after making sure she was settled, we went inside.