Farewell Goosie

Goosie has lived with us for 21 years. Last week goosie died peacefully one night.

Goosie was given to our son when he was in primary school.  Goosie and our son were special friends. Goosie gave me a hard time. When I fed him at night I would have to call "Go to bed Goosie" from behind the gate.  The time I had to wait  would depended on Goosie's mood.   If I hurried Goosie he would charge at me flapping his wings and with beak open ready to bite.  If the foxes were around the "goose alarm" would sound to protect the chooks in the yard next door.

It was a strange friendship but I will miss Goosie.

Having Words.....

Our little farm is lush and green this winter.  But every time I go outside a sheep or 2 will come and chat.  So maybe they are needing some hay???  This morning I put out a lovely breakfast but all did not go well in sheepland.  Goosie took a dislike to this sheep, they had loud words and the sheep ran away with goosie winning once again.

The sheep were not hungry and are waiting to go back out into the big paddock.

At last I can have my say!

I've been asking for my own blog for ages.  She (the boss) said no but maybe if my wool is beautiful a I can share sometimes and let you know what is happening out in the paddocks.

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You know it took ages to get shorn this year.  Had to wait in a queue for the shearer.  We are all feeling so light and bouncy now just like Shaun the Sheep.  I know she is going to spin some of my wool today.

The boss has been so busy with the glam shopping.  The son is getting married so you know what goes on with these humans, new clothes, new shoes.  We  (all 37 of us) check the letter box every day but still no wedding invitation.  Thought we could be a guard of honour. Everyday I'm teaching them but you know some baa doesn't want to be next to some other baa.  Our wool will have grown in another month and we will look quite dashing.  The girls are thinking anklets or even frilly socks.  Us men, well we thought gumboots if it is raining and perhaps a tie.  If she gets that spinning wheel going we could all wear a beanie - knitted in my wool of course.

This photo is of me and some mates.  We have lush grass this year.  Mr Boss is slowly cutting all the thistles.  It will be so good not to have those prickly things in my wool.

Well had best be off.  Need to book accommodation for this wedding.  Would like something close to the church.  Think there is grass around the church so we could have lunch there.  A snooze after the ceremony and then be sprightly for the dancing.  Wonder what the food will be.  Lucerne chaff maybe but that is a bit messy.  Must remember to get some wedding cake for goosie.  One of the mob was allowed to sleep in his yard last night.  This morning so as not to be left out we all went into goosie's yard.  That goose has a fierce peck sometimes.  The promise of wedding cake soothed the situation.



Goose with Attitude

This plump goose and I don't have have the best relationship.  I feel goosie has attitude problems.

This week I had one night when I was out in the cold for half an hour trying to get this goose to go to bed.  Foxes are always ready for an easy meal and as much as I have not too loving feelings towards this animal I would be very upset if we lost him to the foxes. 
Our son, who has long left home, was given this goose when he was in primary school - so add secondary school, uni years and now working.  That all adds up to a number of years we have had goosie.

Next week we have 3 Farm stay students coming to stay with us for 3 days.  I have been cleaning and planning.  As the weather has been rather wet I am planning farm and inside activities.  This time I have girls so if the weather is wet I plan to show them what happens with the wool - from washing fleece and dyeing to spinning, knitting and felting.  Hope we get at least one pleasant day.  Food has been planned also.  We will have a BBQ if weather is kind.  Always I plan for time in the kitchen making lamingtons - this I would say is the favourite activity.  Think it must be about 20 years we have had students coming to stay and by now I have the menu sorted.

A Morning in the Farm Yard

This morning has been a time to meander.  The dogs and I went walking.  At a distance we looked at the cats.  There was a lot of tugging on the leads but cats must have felt safe.

Daisy and Rufus were waiting for some morning sun.  Daisy is very old.  In fact very, very old. Each morning unless it is raining she spends a couple of hours outside.  Rufus is a very gentle being - unless you leave the door open and he turns into a rocket.

These two innocent looking sheep scared the goose this morning.  Goosie was afraid to come out of his yard.  Normally goosie is hissing his lungs out at me.  I put the sheep out in the big paddock to make peace.  Wouldn't want to destroy goosie's weekend would we?

As we walked down the paddock I could hear a cracking noise in the hawthorn trees.  And who should it be but the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.  Two of them were having a feast on the hawthorn berries.  I stood and watched for a while.  The cockatoos broke off a small twig with berries - this was the cracking sound

Much easier to eat without bending over.  Quite civilised really.

I have a feeling these birds may be too full to fly if they don't stop eating soon.  The birds were not afraid of me and the dogs, they just let out a few screeches and then continued eating.

Estella....a sheep on a mission

I would like you to meet Estella  aka Noisy Stella. 

We just need to put a foot outside the door and Stella lets outs a noisy baa.  The " baa" is not just a normal bleat from a sheep.  This is an English language "baa' and it means many things

• 
  
  Get me out of this paddock
• 
  
  Pick me some green grass
• 
  
  Let me into the goose yard
• 
  
   That hay was not too my liking
• 
  
  I want to play with all the sheep today
• 
  
  Give me peace and quiet

This girl is so pushy.  I've never seen a sheep move so fast to push between me and the gate.

Stella is the oldest sheep we have and a few times the shearer has told me "this one won't be here next year".  So far Stella has proven him wrong.

Stella can open all gates unless fitted with a latch.  I have been keeping the sheep out of the quince tree yard as the sheep were eating the leaves and pulling the quinces off the trees.  Stella had other ideas and on Friday opened the gate.  David had forgotten to put the second latch on the gate so one clip was easily removed.  I went out to feed the dogs and was met by a mob of munchers.

You can see the sheep in the front looking lovingly at the quince trees.  I lost many leaves and 5 quinces by the time I had banished Stella and mates from the yard.

The goose and the guinea fowl saying good morning! 

The guinea fowl wants to get into the goose yard in case anything might be left over from dinner last night.  Goosie is off for a bath in one of his many tubs.

By the time all this happens Stella is in the goose yard in case some special grass grew over night.

David found Stella with what he thought was a serious mouth issue on Saturday.  Stella had this huge lump in the side of her mouth.  All was fine, Stella was just eating an apple!!!

And I have been reminded by Darwinstorm (the real owner of Stella) that Stella thoroughly dislikes cats.  Maybe Daisy did something dreadful to Stella when she was a lamb.  Anyway if you are a cat and reading this blog stay out of Stella's way for  your own good.