Ownership

 Darwin removed his bed from his kennel and he was protecting it from the bossy one.

This is the "innocent" bossy one.  Mopsy has her own bed but if she can claim another all the better.

The Adventurous Chook

This chook (chicken) is an escapee.  Every morning after I have opened the door to the chook house and come inside our house she has been over the fence to freedom. All was fine until one night we were a little late locking up the chook house and  one chook was missing. I sadly thought that Mr Fox had come around early.

But Mrs Chook was fine.  She found a good hidy hole and settled in for the night.

David trimmed one wing and still she got out.

Here she is telling her friends how good it is out in the big wide world. Mrs Chook was climbing up this fence to get out, she wasn't flying over the fence at all. Now the fence has tree branches at the top so no more climbing over the top.

The goose prefers the big yard to himself

 

And Darwin, well he just enjoys any action!

The Echidna is Back!!!

Darwin was barking at a bush!!!  Brie thought it may be a snake so very carefully investigated

No snake to be found.  Instead the echidna had returned.  Well I think he or she lives around here now.

Darwin ans Mopsy had to come inside and be quiet.  Within about 20 minutes the echidna was all brave again and wandered off.  Thanks for your quick thinking and the photos Brie.

And I promised photos of Darwin swimming in the creek. So here he is having a look around.

Each day Darwin likes to swim in the creek or the dam.  Mopsy likes to walk but is not so keen on the swimming.

Darwin's life has not been dull after the echidna left for a more secluded home.  Cows and calves have moved into the paddock opposite to eat down the grass.  One cow gets out at least once each day much to Darwin's amusement.

Which way shall we go???

Brie has been home writing essays which means the dogs have been on lots of walks.  Walking Mopsy and Darwin is an adventure time for them.

They are vaguely thinking of going in the same direction.  So many smells of rabbits, hares and foxes.  And horses have been up the road as well.

 

Mopsy may have found something more interesting over there. 

For a short distance Mopsy and Darwin are walking in the same direction.

I forgot to take a photo of Darwin swimming in the creek.  Next week I'll take a photo before Darwin shakes water all over me.

All Creatures Spiky and .....

Our week of adventures began when Darwin found a snake when walking with David.  Darwin thinks all things that move make for play material.  Luckily no snake bites and we will be very careful where we walk now.

And today we have earth moving works happening.

Darwin is the guard dog. Maybe he will divert me from finding out what is going on in dog world.

This is the echidna, the cause of much barking, interruption to my afternoon of wool dyeing and a cross Mopsy.

An unhappy dog.  I have shut Mopsy out of her yard as she was digging  like crazy.  Firstly I thought she was trying to retrieve a hidden treasure.  Mopsy has many hidden treasures.  The digging frenzy made me then realize there was more to this.  After the snake sighting I became wary as I saw movement under the kennel.  Then I saw the echidna.  The echidna has obviously gone into shock or is just stubborn and won't come out from now a lovely soft earth home.

Still have barking dogs, an echidna on strike and dog yard fence to repair.  I am surprised how far down Mopsy has now dug under her gate trying to get back into her yard.



The End of the Week

No, these candles are not on the table to set the atmosphere for a special dinner.  Last Friday I had finished my work, packed early for the market and was ready to relax.  I came inside to cook dinner and the power went out for a couple of hours. 

 

When the power was restored Darwin came inside.  He was obviously as tired as the rest of us on Friday night.

Frost and the Fox

One morning this week we had quite a frost.  I've had trouble loading photos for some unknown reason.  All working again today.

On this frosty morning I took Darwin for a walk.  We were happily walking up the road when a sable fox slowly walked across the road in front of us.  Darwin barked at the fox who didn't bat an eyelid and just kept walking.  At least the fox was walking away from our chooks (chickens).

As we walked back who walks in front of us returning from his walk  but Mr Foxy Loxy.  Even closer this time.  This was too much for Darwin and he just let out a big sigh.

Other mornings have been cold and sunny.  This is Darwin soaking up the morning sun and maybe expecting to see the fox again.

Our road.

Record no of blurry photos

A certain young man had his summer haircut today.  How handsome is Darwin!  We have been waiting for warmer weather as he is not the bravest when the weather is cold and he has been clipped.  However the time had arrived when there were too many knots and Darwin went for a ride in the car today.  I have been trying to take photo to put on this blog so that his owner Brie could how great how great he looks.  I am not going to tell you how many photos I had to take.  Darwin wanted to keep the camera as a trophy, then he thought my shoes were worth looking at and then there was a cat in view and on and on it went.

Hello from Dawin and Mopsy

A boy named Jethro came to visit the farm shop with his Mum.  Jethro was far more interested in meeting and playing with Darwin than looking at wool.  Darwin is a big dog and not used to small children.  This big dog was so gentle, no jumping or silly behaviour.  Jethro and Darwin are best friends forever and Darwin wanted to say hi to Jethro.

Mopsy of course wanted her photo taken.  Well rather she thought we could go for a walk and take the piece of rope a long way away from Darwin.  The ownership of this rope changes many times during one day!

Darwin the Fabulous Dog

 An exhausted puppy.  This is Darwin just after Brie had collected him from breeder  Jane  It was all too much so the puppy just went to sleep.  Darwin has grown a lot since then.

 When Brie moved house Darwin came to live with us and Mopsy who is also a Portuguese Water Dog.

 "Just having a stretch and letting you know I might get bored any minute".


Darwin is a wonderful dog who is interested in everything happening here and for 20 kms around.  He has days when he just likes a walk, then there are days when we need to smell everything and there are the days when he needs to carry everything.  He loves nothing better than to lean on you or sit next to you on the verandah.

David had just been out with the lawnmower so Mr Darwin had to have a roll in the grass.  Then of course he wondered why he was all covered in grass so he had to do much shaking.

When we had a hailstorm today most people were under cover.  Not our Darwin.  He thought someone was throwing balls for play time. 

Shame on them............

I have lots of ideas for Blogtoberfest. Today was to be Mr Darwin's (dog) day. He however was so naughty this morning on our walk that its best that I don't write about him today. Estella, our oldest sheep has torn her lovely floral coat I made for her so she isn't in the good books either.

and as for these chookies saved from the egg factory.....

For 2 days they laid 2 eggs each day so I thought here we go.  Feathers have grown back, they have a very happy life, have been fed lots of silverbeet and grain but today not one egg!!!

Here they are waiting for me to feed them a second breakfast.



And enjoying some sunshine before the rain arrives.

Maybe tomorrow...

One of those mornings

It was a muddled morning feeding animals this morning.  No photos required!!  Firstly one of my gumboots stuck in the mud - not good.  I opened the goose yard and the goose promptly decided to eat Estella's (sheep) lucerne chaff.  Estella then ate the silver beet I had picked for the chooks. Estella is now in the goose yard so tonight's animal bed time will be chaotic with the goose refusing to go to bed until Estella has left the yard.  And remember the goose and I are not the the best  of mates.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring. This is always the first wattle tree to bloom.

Darwin enjoyed a swim in the creek yesterday until a small fish jumped out of the water and made a plop sound as it landed back in the fast moving creek.  This big dog is not the bravest dog you have ever met!  He is however a loving and loyal friend.

Yarn spinning day so its back to the studio. 

A Walk in the Park

At the weekend David and I decided to take the dogs to the park. They had so much energy and we felt like a walk.  Nature was producing some wonderful colour.  But once the dogs were out of the car there wasn't much of a chance to see anything.

It didn't take Darwin long to find the muddy pool.  For those of you who know Darwin you are not surprised at this.

So this muddy dog expected to get into the wagon to come home.

Further along on our walk we found a pond.  Darwin proudly showed off his swimming skills which have much improved and he even left the ducks to swim in peace.

No mater how much I encouraged Mopsy to join Darwin for a swim she was not swimming on such a cold day.  Sensible girl.

Today Darwin has gone to visit the lovely grooming lady.  He is having a tidy up clip and shampoo.  I was a bit embarrassed he was so muddy but no point washing him twice.

Celebrations this week.

 At the weekend our family celebrated T & A's engagement at a party in Melbourne.  It was a fun party and a joy to see such a happy couple.

Sunday was market day - I had a busy day and must admit I slept on the train coming home.

This photo of Mopsy and a puppy or two was taken by the Portuguese Water Dog breeder Jane.  Mopsy came home yesterday much to the delight of Darwin.  I took both dogs for a walk this morning and there was much excitement.  Mopsy was pleased to leave her puppies.  They have grown up quickly and will be off to their new owners in a couple of weeks.  All the puppies are sold.

Today I'm dyeing fleece, tops and yarn.  It is quite breezy outside so drying will not be a problem. So back to the dye pot.

Autumn Morning

On Saturday morning I was awake early.   Brie and I went for a walk, taking Darwin of course.  I spotted this green grasshopper hiding in the grass.  I went to get my camera and it took some time to find him again.  Thought he did well at colour matching.

Darwin has a fascination for his lead some days - only some days but not others.  Only Darwin understands this behaviour.

We walked out the gate to a view of Mt Buninyong in the distance.  Autumn mornings are blissful.

Basket of Apples

How proud are we.  I planted this apple tree over 20 years ago and nothing much happened.  Just the usual bullet apples and not much taste.  But this year we are celebrating.  This is the second basket and there must be at least 3 more baskets ready to pick.  The tree is in the goose yard so it takes immense bravery to venture out there.  When in the yard I lock the goose out so I can pick in peace.  I need to take the ladder out this afternoon to finishing picking.  The granny smith apples have been a dismal failure this year.  It isn't lack of water as we have on granny smith near this tree.  Last night for dinner we enjoyed our home grown zucchini, beetroot, spring onions, tomatoes, basil and apples.  This is so enjoyable and satisfying I am going to get more of the vegie patch ready for planting next week.

Some mowing was long overdue.  David got to work early this morning and mowed just the essential area.  We have green grass around the house and vegie garden but the remainder is very dry now.  Need some rain please.

What a surprise.  I purchase these lilies a couple of years ago - planted them and then nothing happened.  But all of a sudden this year flowers are happening.  Beautiful colours.  Another 2 to flower.

When someone is outside taking photos it is not possible to exclude me!!!!!  Darwin has been well behaved even though Mopsy is away  - should be news any day about puppies.  My brother and my sister in law stayed here last night.  Darwin was most upset he couldn't ride in their car to the airport this morning. 

Getting Life Started Again

Last week's funeral left us feeling quite lost. We have been pottering around and have a new vergie garden waiting for me to plant seedlings tonight. Have been working on my favourite knits - tea cosies. This grey cosy has yellow and white flowers and some vintage flower buttons given to me by a dear friend Terri.

A dark navy/grey tea cosy with a knitted and felted flowers, beads and braid.

The Hawthorne trees come into blossom with quite a flurry. One day they are green leaves only, then wake up next morning and some trees are all white. Then a few days later the pink blossom appears on the remaining trees. Same time, same routine each year.

And what does a Portuguese Water Dog do on a hot day when he sees the creek? Darwin just loves a swim. The creek was covered in Hawthorne blossom petals but not for long with Darwin splashing.

The clouds have covered the blue sky and reduced some of the heat this afternoon. Time for me to go to the studio and make some small dolls. Last night I cast on to knit a pair of socks although I really must finish the scarf this week. I am only knitting one sock at a time. Think I'd get in a tangle with 2 socks on one circular needle. However if I can find a second circular needle in the correct size I may work on the two socks alternately as I hate having one sock finished and then have to start all over again.