Small Break in Transmission

Hopefully not too long..... but my computer is Fried / Cactus / Kaputt.  Don't think we've lost anything, but I have limited computer access while we decide which way to go with a new one.

Strangely enough (or maybe not) this has coincided with my decision to actively seek paid employment again - mainly for financial reasons!   Flitting around the property taking photos of chooks doesn't pay too well..... and child raising (he is now a pretty independent 16 year old)  isn't an excuse any more.

I recently updated my resume thinking that it had only been 'a couple of years' break.  However, it's actually 5!!  Time flies.  If and when I do find a job, it will only be part time hopefully, so plenty of time for blogging.

So I should be back soon - just thought I'd let you know!

cheers for now - Wendy

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thanks for all the gooseberry comments!

What was that 'D' word again?

Oh yes .... Decluttering, that's right.  Probably the reason why most people started reading this little blog.  Possibly too, the reason that I started writing it as well.  A way to chronicle my path through the clutter.

I was reminded of this after reading the lovely Fox Lane.  Although Kates' blog  has evolved slightly differently as her family enjoys a really big adventure, my blog too has evolved somewhat.   Now I seem to waffle more about dogs and chooks then decluttering.  This is/was a decluttering blog!

However, today just for something different  I'm showing off my Gooseberries!  Although previous success with Cape Gooseberry escaped us, this year we hit the jackpot.  Well, maybe jackpot is not the right word, but we have some at least.

I'm thrilled to be able to show off my plate of gooseberries.  I love them, and after consulting Mr Google, now know they are high in antioxidants as well.  Not enough to make jam as this stage, maybe if they keep fruiting there will be.  What do you think Gooseberry Jam Karen?

They look a bit rough straight from the garden, and I didn't take a photo of the particularly messy plant in the particularly messy veggie patch at the moment.  It's the end result that counts right?

By the way,  I love to eat them in my porridge (a bit weird?) with my homemade yoghurt (thanks to my thrifted Easiyo and some LSA (linseed sunflower & almond) mix.  Yummo.  After that I'm ready to start on some decluttering.

I have been doing some actually!  Little by little I am working my way through the garage which has seen lots of cluttering over the years.  Nothing too interesting, so I haven't been posting about it.  I mean who wants to hear about all the old books, cassette tapes, broken cane baskets, old sailing and fishing gear?

Although this was potentially a huge Garage Sale in the making, I couldn't get much interest from The Others, so  I've been carting it off to the charity shop.  My new cause is the local SPCA and they are very grateful. 

I've had to be pretty tough and unsentimental and look at it as a donation to a good cause.  I've had to gird my loins which is a strange expression, but when I looked it up, means to prepare for battle, suck it up  and punch through the pain.  Sigh.   A lot of it is pretty good - so someone is going to have fun. Time to move on in terms of material things.

Our colourbond garage could feasibly hold 3 cars.  At the moment it holds 1.  Get the picture??  Once I've worked my way through there I'll start on the house again, which I will post about.

Cheers for now - Wendy

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Waving hi to new follower Angela!  welcome to my little blog

Comments from previous post:

Nelly - glad to hear you have some chooks too.  Good luck with the new pen - and thanks for your help with the Comments.

Kim - I'm kind of new to bantams and am quickly becoming a fan!

Claire - Hi Claire, and thanks for your comment!  I laughed at the ticket dispenser, or should it be chicken dispenser??  I'm actually in the process of creating a separate pen for the bantams, though it all depends on the chooks.  Having said that, we do have a bantam rooster with our other hens.  He seems to manage .....

saving for travel - I thought you were serious about the snake skin actually!  Yes, that is little Dexter in the photo on sidebar.  He looks different all the time depending on his hair cut.

delia hornbook - Hi Dee - yes, it looked a bit like trick photography I thought!

Ali - I wish I could give you some, but I was planning on keeping the hens. ... pity I can't give you a rooster, but I know the rules of suburbia.  What are the chances I'm have more roosters than hens?!?

 Kate - I'm sure your chooks will be happily waiting to hear of your adventures!  Love your blog.

Hen Happenings

Well nothing too exciting to report - not really sure why I haven't posted for a little while.  Anyhoo.... I'm back with a few snaps of what is happening around the hen house at the moment.

The hens have all been very busy, back in full swing with the egg laying.  This is rush hour in the hen house some days.  There is of course, several other options available for more comfortably egg laying.

However, this is the preferred nesting box it seems.  Looks pretty uncomfortable to me!  Does make for a funny photo though.

Little Banty is going well with her latest batch of little chicks.  They are so cute, and about  6 weeks old now.  She has decided they are big enough to nest on the perch at night.  So there they all huddle, as close as they can get to her... and a couple under her wings.

 I'm wondering now how many little hens there are in this batch.  What are the odds I wonder?

This little beauty is the last of the previous surrogate batch of Little Bantys'.   Sadly, she is the only survivor as the other 5 have all died.  They met their Maker in (when I think about it) very surprisingly different and diverse ways.   Strangely, I don't think snakes were involved.

Can anyone tell me -  what do you think she is?  I'm assuming just bantam Pekin, but her colouring is lovely.  Such a lovely little creature too, so friendly.  Laying eggs already too at about 5 months.

I call her Little Dainty :)

(I have just re-read all this and realised how many times I have used the word 'little' with regards to Bantams.  Apologies, but obviously they are little and cute!)

cheers for now - Wendy

My comments from previous post :

Fiona from Arbordale Farm - thanks so much for linking up Fiona.  Your morning walk definitely looks more rural than mine!  Do you see any cars I wonder.

Bruise Mouse  - yes it is lovely - wish I did feel more invigorated than I do some days!  I do appreciate it though.

muppy - nice to have some un-cultivated spots I think too Muppy.

saving for travel - let me know about the snake skin if you are serious! I still have it.
sophie...^5  - yes it is an attempt at civilisation anyhow!  Dexter loves his walks.

Suzanne - please do, would love to see it!

Judith - Dexter well behaved - I think not - he is a terror/terrier!  Photos can be deceiving.

Morning Walk (Part 2)

I've realised that I didn't continue the post about my Morning Walk - here is Part 1.

The first part of the walk takes in the 'rural' aspect.   I enjoy walking past our neighbouring acreages, most of them being between 5 and 10 acres in size.  Not a lot has changed in this part recently.  The ones who live on these blocks are seemingly like us - enjoying the natural surrounds.

Continuing this walk to the end of the street I can access the park.  It has a concreted track which is open at two street frontages, and it also loops around through the park.   It is (I'm guessing) about 10 acres.

This particular park however,  is a little different from most. 

This is what makes it different.  An innovated person in local Council some years back decided to do things a little differently.

Half the park is mown, with large groupings of native plants, heavily mulched and thriving.

Effectively in the middle, there are the usual park settings of swings and BBQ seating.

However, on the opposite side, land has been left to re-vegetate.  Of course, this area would have already been cleared of a lot of heavy timber many years ago.

 

 

 

The most exciting part for me is to see, over the years - how the natural area of the park has evolved. More and more birdlife is becoming apparent, along with other native wildlife.

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that there are very few areas for little birds to hide when all the undergrowth is cleared from properties.  The little finches are just amazing, but of course I wasn't able to take photos - they are way too fast for me!

A few people I have spoken to on my walks have mentioned 'the lack of mowing' in this section of the park.  What about the snakes?  What about fires?  To my uneducated eye though, it appears that this section of the park is just how things should be in the natural balance of things.  

There is a low lying swampy area. 

Swaying grasses for the seed eating birds like eastern rosellas and others to feed on.

 a nicely undulating hill with scrubby trees like Black Wattle

Plus ones that have been planted to show what used to grow in the area before clearing, like this Blue Gum.

I guess we are pretty fortunate to live where I can enjoy this walk daily.  All in all it is a nice morning walk - a bit rural and a bit civilised.  Dexter likes it too.

I would encourage you to photograph your daily walk.... I know that not everyone has rural surrounds, but it is amazing how different things look when you take photos of the everyday.  I know that just by taking these photos, my eyes have been opened a little more.

Take some photos of your everyday walk and feel free to link back to here!

Cheers for now - Wendy

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saving for travel - I'd be happy to send the snake skin onto you SFT - if you can clear it with Customs first!

**Anne** - chickens are always so cute aren't they - just have to keep them apart from the snakes.  I think we have the pens snake proof (I hope!) now

Fi - I agree with the snake sentiment - &  I can understand why NZ is nice on so many levels!

Shaheen - thanks for the push about my other blog which I haven't started yet!  I will get onto it soon I promise.

Kim - I'm surprised your bantams aren't clucky Kim.  Surely it will happen soon?  when the weather warms up more maybe.

Gooseberry Jam  - yes, she's a very clucky hen and a very good mother too.  Sounds like someone I know!

muppy - yes - absolutely to both!

Spring here means ......

these things - in no particular order -

Lovely wisteria in flower

Spring Chickens

I treated Little Banty with some more little chickens to take under her wing (literally!).   They are buff Pekin and they should end up very much like her.   You may remember from this post that my favourite little bantam is a great surrogate mother.

I happened upon an advert recently for these little guys. They were a little old (2 weeks) to put under her, but I was reasonably confident that she would take them. .... and of course she did!

However, snakes have woken up after winter and are on the move again.  As evidenced by this snake skin that has been shed on our back verandah!

This looks really big, but I'm pretty sure that it was the skin of a green tree snake I spotted lurking a few days back.  Have to make sure those chicks are locked up tight at night.

 

Another wisteria vine, but this is the native wisteria it has more of a rambling growth pattern, and the flower spikes are upwards.  I'm sure there are much better images than this to be found - just Google it.  Very pretty flower and the bees (and birds) love it!

Lastly, thanks for all the kind comments about Dexter.  He is, of course, just fine and back to his feisty self.  Just thought I'd include a close up of his bite mark, which I have highlighted in green (you may have to double click on it).  Can you see the canine mouth imprint!?  Lucky there were only 2 puncture wounds.  Could certainly have been a lot worse.

 

Cheers for now - Wendy 

Waving hello to my newest follower Julia - welcome!

My replies to comments on previous post:

Kim - small dogs are just different somehow aren't they?  Not just size, but attitude!

librarygirl - ouch indeed, and for a few days after too.

Judith- thanks, yes a bit of a shock to both of us!

veggiegobbler - it was so quick, I don't even think he had time to yelp

Lyndel - hugs appreciated by both Dex and the footy boys, thanks Lyndel!

Fi - those cones are just wicked I think... they do the trick (usually) though.  EasyYo- I've found that the greek yoghurt works best for us too. Thanks for the water tip, have tried that and it works a treat Fi.

Shaheen - thanks a lot, that's sweet of you.  He is fine now.

saving for travel - thanks SFT, he is well and truly up and running around now