Unfortunately , inspired by the success of the Pergola, Bodgie Bros has created another blot on the landscape. What was formerly an open wired duck enclosure, has been converted to weird looking Pavilion affair. Perfectly good hardwood was used to create the pitched roof, which has been clad in a patchwork of corrugated iron, (most pieces look as though they have travelled around the country on the edge of a tornado!) 
With absolutely no idea what we will use this structure (a euphemism  for this thing) for, the sheep have adopted it as a toilet and sleeping place. Sure we will be glad of it next time we have snow when lambs.

I don't know how many of you suffer from the malaise of not being able to read anything without glasses, but only need magnifiers to see everything else. Then there is the twenty pairs of glasses that are never to be found, when needed and turn up in places like the feed bins, nesting boxes, washing machine etc. So enter the clip on pocket. I found it in the trade section of the hardware store and it is great. The glasses don't fall out, and I can carry a heap of other handy things that are always with me when outside. Pruners/foot shears, pocket knife, gloves, tiny torch, dog whistle and pen and paper.  Best $15 I ever spent.

Can't believe that two weeks have passed since I last posted. Very dull for anyone who regularly reads this blog. I have been away for a week, on another little road trip north, to the wedding of an old friend's daughter. I had a great time, but Martin had to stay home and look after everything. I don't think he had so much fun. The "casserole kids (baby poddy bunnies)" all died of mysterious causes. Sad when early on it seemed we would manage to raise them. People say they are easy to kill with kindness. Then he needed to pull a couple of lambs, check lambing ewes in horrible wet windy conditions, and feed things, while he would rather be inside, in front of the fire while watching NASCAR racing, American football, baseball or bull riding, (never was a bull that couldn't be rode, never was a man that couldn't be throwed )

The night we got home Laura's first goat kidded, and we have been in goat mode ever since. I think our imagination failed us when we said yes to goats. If we are to milk them, it means we have to be serious about "getting up and out there" at the same time every morning, and dedicated to milking for months. I am not the worlds greatest morning person, (especially since the children have grown up). Martin has spent two days building a milking stand, and is fed up with my constant modifications, ah well such is farming! ( Anyone for goat's cheese at a $1000 per kilo?)

You know the tough guy who lives at our house? The person with the meat rabbits to make delicious stews and fricassee, golden and perfect. Well I think I might be waiting a long time.

One of the rabbits had 13 kittens and after two weeks four of them looked hungry and thin. The solution, rabbit poddies of course. Tiny mouths, tiny teats and special milk. A whole new challenge (not that welcome from my perspective). Thanks you old softie.

With no ewes lambing, and an inspection of the other block, showing that all is well with the stock there. No need to drench, sort, or mark anything, we were free to potter. We are often so busy that we don't get to enjoy where we live, and have time to do some of the little jobs around the house.

Then on Sunday the most glorious weather, friends for lunch and then some work on the veggie garden. I am determined that this year will be the year of the garden. 

All is quiet here on the sheep front, but down the road, Martin's brother and his wife (John and Mary Pye) have been busy with local innovation. They have been successfully growing organic garlic for some years, and like many farmers, they have been on the look out for ways to value add, to their already popular product. Hence, Bredbo Black Australian Fermented Organic Garlic was born. The raw garlic is aged and fermented at a special temperature for a period of time, and ends up sweetish, garlicky and delicious. I am told it is very much an "it" food for chefs at the moment, and having tasted it I can tell why. The product also ticks all the boxes, of organic, locally owned and Australian. We wish them every success. 

The big family history road trip is over. Broken Hill was the highlight, where we were looking back in time to 1888 - 1912. My Great Grandfather was the Mayor of Broken Hill in 1901 and the Architect of the iconic  Trades Hall.

Sometimes you get a poddy lamb that touches your heart strings more than the others. This little lamb is so feisty and full of life. But she is a week old now and time to move out of the house and in with the other poddies. Sorry sweetie.

We have been sweating on it for weeks and now the results are in. We passed, yay!!