Winter here has been the perfect balance of sunshine and showers. We had some frosts, but we also got rain and fine days to bring the pasture back to life.
Pie by Abby
AT HOME: It was quite a cold Winter, but not so awful that we stayed indoors too much. Our inside activities have included Dr Who DVDs, knitting, reading, computer games and cooking.
We have enjoyed lots of bubbling soups and fresh-baked sourdough, and have been making more cheese. The girls have been baking sweet treats because we don’t buy anything like that normally.
AT WORK: Apart from co-op blog posts, I haven’t been writing at all this winter.
The Spiral Garden site is glitch-free now, and we’ve enjoyed sending parcels far and wide over the past couple of months. This week we’ve been buzzing like bees in the Spiral Garden office as we pack up Spring delights to post to excited customers. There are some lovely new products on the site and I feel blessed to share such beautiful objects with others who appreciate them.
Through my local volunteer roles I have recently been involved in our local council’s planning process, as they consult with the community regarding planning for the next 10 years. This has been an interesting experience and will conclude with a Regional Summit on September 14th.
I did some volunteer work at the local theatre during their recent production of The Female of the Species. I love our local theatre’s shows, and the people who come together to make them happen!
ON THE FARM: The new cow, who is with us for a few more months, is such a delight to milk and be around. Lucy is growing very rotund in the larger paddock with Wags and Poppy. We aren’t milking her again until after she calves in Summer. Honey, our first calf we raised on Lucy, had her own calf last week, so I am a Grandmoo! Honey and her baby Mable live with our friends about 40 minutes away.
Imogen has a new horse, named Foxy, who has been here only about a month. He is a sixteen year old gelding who seems really quiet. He is currently being fed and loved and has been ridden around the house paddock. Abby has been training and riding Rosie, our stockhorse mare, who is coming along nicely.
The 9 Australorp chicks we hatched in the incubator are now living in the big chook run and doing very well. We have just shared forteen eggs between 2 broody hens, so should have more little cheepers in 21 days! Poppy and India also had babies this Winter, and it looks like not too many roosters amongst them, so the flock should be nicely replenished with young layers by next year. We have been getting more eggs from the hens now that the nights aren’t so cold.
I think the muscovy ducks are secretly laying in the long grass beyond the fence, with the hope of ducklings! Our oldest duck, Pepper, was sitting on her eggs for over a month when recently we found the nest destroyed and Pepper missing. This was quite a sad discovery as she was our favourite duck. Her eggs were just days short of hatching and they were all eaten or broken.
We have a little orphaned piglet in a pen. Her name is Pig and she likes to drink milk from a bowl. She is quite timid and curious. I think she will become bacon…
Rocket the dog is a big boy now. He enjoys exploring the farm with the children and barking at the cows and horses. He is usually gentle with the poultry, plays with the cats, wonders about the pig and sniffs the guinea pigs. He sleeps by the fire and is perpetually hungry!
Rocket - six months old
HOME ED: Some of our routines have gone out the window this Winter. But I’ve learned over the 12 years or so we’ve home educated that this is okay. We will return to our routines when there is space in our lives to do so. Letting something go always makes room for something new too!
Steam Train
Our home ed outings this term have been interesting and varied. The Steam Train ride at Ravenshoe and historical walks at Herberton were my favourite days out.
Building has been the focus of the last month or so - making forts and stone walls, fixing the go-cart and playing in ‘houses’ in the forest. It’s amazing what some imagination, wood pallets and a bucket of nails can become…
I hope your Spring days are happy and fun!
Bel at Kuranda - new dreadlocks!
WINTER 2011
I travelled to… lots of meetings. And I travelled back in time, by visiting our district’s historical attractions!
I listened to… the crackling wood fire in our lounge room.
I read… recipe books, magazines and some books about The Great Depression.
I watched… more great documentaries, and a few good films - also a couple of series of The Good Life! So funny!
I wore… jeans and boots for months on end! And a new-to-me red coat. And shiny purple gumboots. And beanies of all description! Oh, and creations from Mama Yali - love my funky jewelery!
I planned… a holiday, Events and pantry solutions!
I celebrated… my 37th birthday.
I dreamed of… feeling the warm sun’s rays on my bare skin, ripe tomatoes, a cleaner and sleeping in…