Bungendore Show was last weekend on Australia Day and there was plenty to celebrate and enjoy. I was the Chief Steward for the sheep section as a last minute thing. Thankfully, we have shown sheep or I would have been completely lost. In the true style of being encouraged to volunteer, the job was sold as a turn up on the day thing. When I went to the first meeting I realised that I was it. Lucky the last steward was available to talk to. My big problem was getting a judge at short notice, but a thousand thank yous to Jess MacIntosh of Claremont White Dorpers who agreed to do it and did a fantastic job. All those Dorper Schools finally paid off! We ended up having a great day and all the exhibitors went home happy having helped clean up. Can't beat a country show.

How hard can it be to sex a rabbit, it should be simple, take a baby bunny turn it upside down, see if it has boy bits or girl bits, next.... But for some reason we are terrible at sexing. Recently we sold a trio of meat rabbits, so it was pretty important for the buyer that we got it right. Go out to the shed look at rabbit bottoms, no idea. Go into the house watch Youtube video on rabbit sexing. Can't be that hard, back to the shed. "Is that a slit or a round bit? Back to house, Google rabbit sexing tutorial, study hard, examine pictures, check out the pyramid shaped bits the conical bits, check out the bit to press not too hard. Finally we got it and off went two does and a buck. Full refund if we still messed it up. 

We erected a new shed in May , with the help of Eileen's brother, and I have been busy ever since creating a flat for Laura inside half of it.
It started by building a frame inside using treated pine 90mmX 45mm. Fixing it to the concrete slab with dynabolts, then rafters over the top.
Stress started with gyprocking the walls, having no idea, watched a Youtube video, everything for the DIY enthusiast is on Youtube.
Though couldn't find one for a DIY vasectomy! ( My former doctor did his own using a mirror).
We lined the ceiling with limed pine boards, and in the process found the joys of the nailgun( Unfortunately Eileen has also discovered this, and everything that wasn't nailed down, is now!) 
Still windows to install, flooring, etc

Huge smoke haze over the MFD. No fires close by but the smoke is unsettling.
Plenty of people calling by our display for a chat and to buy little mobs of sheep for their blocks. Owning some Dorpers sure beats mowing.

The big event on the small farms Field Days calendar is this weekend. We will have a display at sites 205-208 with plenty of sheep, dogs, eggs, meat rabbit talk and for the first time, Pye's famous Skin Salve and two goats. Just hope the weather is nice, as we are sick to death of wind. If you read this blog call in and say hello.

Wednesday, we trundled off to the Cowra Show with Laura's Toggenburg or is it Toggenbugger goats. We had a great time, the goat people are a friendly mob and the Judge Anne Hill was very helpful in making suggestions to Laura as to how she could improve her presentation. Well worth the f am start.
Interesting the tradition of the interbreed judging, the goats are lined up in the order they came to Australia or were developed. The Saanen goat is first, it is believed they arrived with the First Fleet or the earliest settlers.

Flushed with the success of the building of the Pergola, and then Laura's Goat milking shed, Bodgie Bros has entered the kitchen to produce sour dough bread!
Yes, taking 100G of bread flour and combining 100ml of lukewarm water, the culture was started in the cave of many yeasts ( Martin's so called dispensary) , left for 2 days, covered with a moist tea towel near the warmth of the fuel stove, and the magic began!
With bubbles showing, and the gentle aroma of slightly sour milk, the culture was fed again with the same mixture. 24 hours later, the culture looking highly active, was halved, then fed again.
after a further 24 hours, 200g of the culture was mixed with 240ml of tepid water, added a tsp of salt, then mixed with 500G of bakers flour, then I cheated by putting it  into our bread machine on the french setting ..voila..the loaf as pictured!
Can you imagine the look on my grandchildren' faces when I present them with their heritage and inheritance, the family sour dough culture !

Sometimes the bush throws up strange things. Walking the dogs this afternoon I came upon this mummified creature in a fallen tree. Not sure what it is, looks like a bat, but it could be anything.

I think we must have a sign on the gate that says "soft touches" or "suckers". Maybe etched into a tree in the way of the old swaggies or travellers as a sign to others, that a feed is to be had or a few odd jobs. Recently, we had been discussing with Laura about getting a cat and she was investigating breeds. Then on Saturday Martin went out to the shed and a little cat was calling to him, just perfect.

The Toggenburg Dairy goats have started kidding. We have been watching the udders and behaviour for a week now and thought it was never going to happen. Now, six kids have been born in the last two days and two does left to go. We have recently upgraded a shed, to give the goats a larger, healthier space and it looks like we will be needing every inch of it. Better get out the cheese book.