a new home

Well the mobile chicken palace is finally complete - and is SPECTACULAR! far better than I could have imagined. FP is quite brilliant at pulling together components and ideas and creating an original design that not only is made out of whatever bits and pieces are close at hand - but is also vastly superior to anything you might buy for large amounts of money.


Its quite roomy (especially given that we only have the 3 bantams!) - it features a lovely ramp entrance to the upper story (a gentle slope with traction mesh for all weather conditions), 2 hinged entrances - a large swinging door at one end (to facilitate ease of moving the birds from different housing arrangements, cleaning and feeding), and a side drop door...




for egg collection, cleaning and to change bedding (FP hasn't put the clsoing clasp on yet - we were so excited about moving the birds that we couldn't wait)




The best thing about the housing is the ease of moving it around - FP added removeable trolley wheels and a pull handle so even the kids can move the coop. I love how the axle becomes another perch for the birds - so they can choose to go unpstairs (for greater protection from the elements) or downstairs (catch the breeze in the shade)



EJ was keen to catch a pic of Benny, Cinta and Maddy as they were moved into their new home. So far they look very happy!


I want to add an automatic water dispenser and feeder to hang from the bar throught the middle of the cage - then I will call it perfect!

champion man

I've always said I married a champion.... and each year I get proof - again this year at the Bega Show FP came home with a swag of impressive ribbons and trophies - this year we took home a very nice wok as a trophy for 'champion steer vealer' of the show... great stuff - just what I was hankering for!

But I always have mixed emotions about beef - I'm such a long-term committed vegetarian (I've been vege for more than 20 years... all my adult life...) I always look at all the lovely animals and feel sad that they will end up as dinner for someone - somewhere - and that's just the simplistic reasoning behind my vege choice - I runs far deeper than that.

Yet I live on a beef farm, and my partner is a beef farmer....

I feel pride in FP's achievement - he raises the very best beef anywhere on the planet (in my humble, non taste-tested opinion!) and he does so with a great deal of knowledge and understanding, compassion and caring. I've seen his eyes well up when he has loaded some of his loveliest creatures to go to the sale, or had to bury a favourite cow. If you have animals their lives are in your hands always - and it is a duty to ensure that they are well looked after.I know that our animals could not have a better life - they are not shoved into hideous feedlots, forcefed grains and antibiotics and growth promotants, transported kilometres to massive factory abbottoirs to be slaughtered without dignity. Our creatures live a natural herd existence - the calves (vealers) stay with their mothers until they are naturally weaned (around 9 months - the age varies) - so they are milk- and grass-fed (a lifestyle that ensures not only superior beef - but is kinder to the environment and the cattle) They are generally sold locally (we only use 'Dave' to transport them - he's on our wavelength - never abuses or stresses the animals, just takes his time) and mostly they go to the small local abbottoir and then to small local butchers....


I think the simple point I'd like to make is - I know the equation is far more complicated than beef=bad, vege=good... and perhaps I understand this better than many folk as I have to live the dichotomy...


Goodness I hadn't intended to get into a whole philosphical discussion - I just wanted to show off FP's ribbons!

say hello to 'Boots'

This is Boots...

he is the latest addition to the clan at the creek - we saw him at the Bega Show yesterday and as we have been catless for a some time now (and consequently overrun by rodents...) we just HAD to bring him home with us...

all the trip home we bandied about potential names for our newest baby.... it was valentines day so 'cupid' and 'cassanova' and 'valentino' did the rounds.... but they just didn't seem to be right.... EJ and Sass tried out the obvious 'misty' or 'cloud' or even the hopeful 'rain'.... no.... not quite it really

then - as we came around another of the swervy bends that mark the journey to Bega, our newest sweety lost his food all over FP's boots.....


'Boots' he became!

He has already won a permanent place in Sass and EJ's hearts... not to mention FP and myself... He is very playful - and has been bombaded by a collection of stuffed toys and a special 'blankie' that our 2 insist he requires....

I suspect he is going to be a dreadfully pampered moggie.

cooked apples

it has been so incredibly hot here over the last week (yesterday was another 40C+ day) that my apples have cooked in their skins on the tree.



but I must say in all humility - it is a small thing to whine about given the devastation from bushfires in victoria yesterday - more than 66 dead, more than 600 properties destroyed... whole towns burnt off the map...

a few apples roasted is a nothing really in the scheme of things....