Scarlett - Rose, the Garden, Llamas at Nowra and Minto the Wonder Dog

Not so much colour in the garden at present, so I am pleased to have these little perennials that pop up and perform every year:

And even though if you asked me I'd say I'm not a fan of geraniums, these guys are adding a welcome splash of colour:

Even the leaves are looking good:

In the veggie patch we are preparing to havest the Marina de Chioggio pumpkins :)

A trip to Nowra on the weekend, Minto's time is nearly up.  Here is getting comfy on the couch with her huge baby bulge!!

Xena, the one winged rescue goose, continues to care for and very robustly protect her adopted family of Call ducklings

Equally vigilant and protective is this tag team of Muscovey mums with 'their' ducklings:

Another stay with Shayne and Brad meant that I also got to catch up with Tikal and Tarquinn.  Tikal is doing so well,and filling out nicely, he was first to front up at the fence in the hope of 'treats'.

Tarquinn is ever the handsome lad:

Cambewarra Mountain road was closed for roadworks, so I headed off for Canberra via Nerriga.  The Oallen Ford crossing was following swiftly and looking very picturesque.

In Canberra I was greeted by Rocky, Dan's dog, he looks quite fierce, but is very friendly and obedient.

Got to spend time with Freya and Scarlett-Rose who is much more animated and smiling like crazy - except when I get the camera out!!

A full on photo sesh is very tiring... going going ....

Gone.....

But earlier:

Berry Ag Show, Pumpkins, Valentine's Day and Sweet Pea Pops

On the weekend of Feb 15/16 I made another quilt run to Nowra :)  On the way I stopped in at Berry Ag Show, right across from the poultry pavilion - where I was delivering ducks - was the animal nursery, always a fun spot :)

As usual I enjoyed my stay with Shayne and Brad at Camberwarra and got to catch up with Tarquinn - outstanding in his field!

Also talked to one of Shayne's bunnies - DJ - hardly ever still!! but very friendly and very soft :)

And her Call Ducks

And her geese :)

Not sure who this goose had just told off, but whoever it was, they are minus a few feathers!!  LOL!!

Exciting garden news is that the Marina de Chioggia pumpkin has started fruiting.  This pic taken 13 Feb:

Growing well - 25 Feb:

Last, but very definitely not least, in the way of news was the early arrival yesterday - 24 Feb - of Sweet Pea's cria.  Finally a break in the series of males, she's had another daughter - YAYYY.  She is mostly white with some pale blue patches, on the back of her neck and her tail... will take a few days till she's all cleaned up and we can really see, and it will also take a few days for her to get over the premmie traits of floppy ears and low on her pasterns.  She is up and about now, has figured out where the milk supply is and seems to be doing well so far :)  We've called her Bianca.  Late afternoon birth, but text book in every other way, luckily a nice warm day so plenty of time to dry off before nightfall.

When I posted this entry I forgot to put up a pic of the gorgeous red roses Eddy got me for Valentine's Day, here they are:

Three Fat Ladies and Ducklings

In the home paddock we have 3 fat ladies, not so much 888, as a mad hatter's tea party style, late late late!!

Michelle:

 Vynka Lee:

Tiana Rose:

Jemma doesn't need to be in the home paddock yet, she not due until April, but she said if she can't be in a paddock with a dam, thus one of her favourite activities - wading, is out, could she please at least be in a paddock where there are 3 meals served every day, not with the riff raff, who only get 1!!

The ducks are showing how it should be done, Roxie (Call Duck) has 7 ducklings, one mallard coloured one behind her.

And Black Betty (Black East Indies Duck) has 11 ducklings… and her cranky pants on!

The first bearded iris, the pink rose, chickens and other ducklings

The first bearded iris for the season are out - and taking a hammering from the wind!!

The pink rose bud is getting better and better, fantastic salmon pink:

Judy has 7 ducklings now, (I have sold 7!!) those remaining  include one mini duckling (blue fawn, extreme left) and one micro duckling (fawn at the rear left), they are hearty eaters, but just grow more slowly than their siblings.

I am growing out a few araucana babies from our own stock, and they are growing up with a couple of crazy (but gorgeous) polish chicks and a lone modern game bantam, who has of course turned out to be a roo!!

Ducklings!!

More ducklings hatched yesterday evening, and overnight in the incubator - 4 in all - and I was wondering where on earth I was going to put them, since I already have 3 brooders running!!   And they are all full!!  When Shake-Me-Up-Judy came out of the nest box for brekky this morning with ducklings in tow!  YAY!! Problem sorted.  Quickly set up a mummy pen for her, rescued the ducklings, gathered up all the unhatched eggs, moved Judy, added my incubator ducklings and sat back and waited to see if she'd take them.  She did, bless her.  I have one baby drying off in the incubator, it was just hatching when I moved them, and lots and lots of eggs, bit worried that some of them may be later additions from the other duck that was in the pen, so there may be a delayed and rolling hatch happening!!