Outstanding in her field

The girls in the road paddock this morning:
The lovely Cushla:

Either Azzura has been hitting the chocolates again, or she is having a cria for us this year - much anticipated after the disappointment of a phantom pregnancy last year.

Not sure, but I think Fresian has slipped.  Will be organising an 'at home' mating for her as she did not enjoy her trip in the float!

Cushla up front, Narcissus and Azzura at the back:

And Narcissus, slightly aloof but really quite friendly despite how it looks here!!

Last but not least...

Introducing the last of the new bugs, Nellie Melba, who as you can see is very fond of her food!  She and Wia are getting along well.

Nellie on the left, Wia on the right.

Tried to take some better shots of Alba as well, only mildly successful!!  He decided to take himself off for a bit of a wander some time after night fall last night and was found this morning,happily munching grass and completely ignoring the girls in their paddock!!  Now restored to his enclosure with Bracken, he seems equally happy with his late breakfast and the return of the status quo.

And back at the ranch

Bracken is very pleased to have some company.  He and Alba are getting on very well, they come over all Pinky and Perky!!

Alba, just up from a sleep in the sunshine and in the hay!!

These days Bracken is always looking to see where the girls are!!  He's a year younger than Alba, but he's pretty much sorted the world out as far as S-E-X goes!!!  Lets hope he's able to tell his older friend what interesting things girls can be!!

Meanwhile at Apu Royalla

Burnt to a Crisp has a proper name at last, she's Aymara, Mara for short - very pretty name for a very pretty girl, she has her Mum's good looks on Dad's colouring.

Ara's son has earnt the nickname Rusty, after Rusty Berther of Scared Little Weird Guys, because he's not a very self confident sort of chappie yet!!  Still, he's got the looks!!

 Even a visit to the poo pile is a group activity!

Nowra Trip and Catching up with Tarquinn and Freddie + new bug Wia

Newest arrival at Maison Mauve is Wia.  Freya thinks her name is pretty bad and has decided to 'apply' dyslexia to it and call her Mia!!  She's a lovely girl, unusual darker shade of Vicuna colouring.  Her eyes get as big as dinner plates when the Lavender Park girls walk straight up to me and eat from my hand - inconceivable!!

 I had a lovely trip to Nowra on the weekend, stayed with Shayne and Brad which is always a recipe for good times!!  Got to catch up with Freddie and Tarquinn :)

Shayne and Brad hosted the mega Oz Day gig, good food, good wine, good company :)

Liz and Tori setting up their eBay tent!!

Shayne and Kyles putting the world to rights!

And this morning, Jemma enjoying her brekky - as always!! and The Jester looking angelic!!

Chickens, Ducklings and MAKE IT RAIN!!!

The incubator has been popping!  Luckily I have a mother duck to take all the ducklings, but I am rearing some silkie chicks as there are far more than Tinkerbell can look after!!

Shake Me Up Judy is a good little mum, she kicked Saffie off her nest, so these are really Saffie's babies even though Judy hatched them!!

 Not far from here its raining cats and dogs.... please let it happen here!!

Shearing - Before and After

They look so different now!!  Hard to 'see' who is who!!

Carter and Totem, before and after:

Everybody having brekky before shearing, it was booked for 2pm so I thought it would be safe to feed them early, as it was we started at 12.30, but it all worked out OK.

And this morning:

Orchid said she'd rather 'pass' on the whole shearing thing, and jumped out of the 'to be shorn' yard and into the 'done and free to go yard'.... but she got caught and brought back, she was not best pleased :(

Joeley, before and after:

Bracken looks the most changed, he had such a lot of fleece! Our shearer was Ian Elkins, and helper was his son Michael, they were a very professional and efficient team.

Sweet Pea, before - with Noisette and 'on the table':

Rest time after shearing - tough day for us all, but fortunately its over quickly.

Pearl was first, looking a bit funny with newly applied zinc cream on her nose.

Christmas Beetle Overload

OK, really think this is tooooo many Christmas beetles, the tree's foliage has been decimated and the ground is crunchy with dead beetles, but there are plenty still going!!

The Orchard and the Garden

Neither the orchard nor the garden is doing very well with all the hot days we're having, havent had an under 35 day in so long I've forgotten what that would feel like, and 10 more lined up to come according to the forecasters.

In the orchard the trees have been netted in attempt to slow the crimson rosellas and cockatoos down - only mild success.  The rosellas sit on top of the nets and eat the fruit through it!! They cause quite a few as yet unripe fruits to fall to the ground where Kiki gets them and brings them back to the back step to chew.

This morning as she munched on this apple I couldnt help thinking of whole roast suckling pig with an apple in its mouth.

 Kiki cant believe I would have such unkind thoughts!!

The gladys are in flower and look stunning, but even so, the edges are a bit burnt - pretty much true of everything in the garden at present.  Even with daily watering some plants havent made it, hot north westerly winds have been devastating.