All too soon its over, and time to go home

Today was the Debleu family's last day on the farm, Lindy enjoyed a ride on the quad bike, Hazel had fun with the chickens and ducks, a few laps of the garden and a long soak in the bath and Antoine had time to chill-ax before it was time to head off to the airport.  They havent even been gone an hour and I've found the first thing left behind - Lindy's camera!!  That will take some careful packing!!

On her recent trip to Melbourne, Hazel received a birthday present from Great Uncle Phil and Great Auntie Leonie, she was very pleased with it when she unwrapped it :)

And today she modelled it for us :)

Here in Tyra Banks mode!!

Autumn is here and Winter is definitely coming

Yesterday morning as I rode out the gate and down the road I met a herd of Angus cows coming the other way!  I moved off the road and let them pass and asked my neighbours where they were headed with this mob - just the other side of your place they said.  A little later, I noticed that the alpacas were all staring in the same direction, and when a cow moo-ed very loudly they gave an alarm call.  I took my camera and went down to see how they were coping with new animals in the next paddock... turns out they were all just coming to see how I was doing!!

Maggie hoped I brought llama lollies AND the camera, but unfortunately I just had the camera.

All along the creek the leaves are turning yellow, the mornings are chilly and winter is definitely coming.

 Misty has just been weaned and is in the morning lead and halter training group, she's doing well, but is quite strong willed and not included to indulge my wants ahead of her own!

A little more of the autumn colour - this is the Nashi Pear tree in the orchard - very speccy against the blue sky :)

Happy Days

Hazel is pleased that Mummy and Daddy have been using the wheelbarrow for its 'proper' use - ferrying Hazel about the orchard!!  Kiki is pleased to supervise activities as usual!!

And here's one of Arctic Dreamer, in happier days - miss him :(

This year Florence, one of our modern game bantams, has thrown her heart and soul into moulting with outrageous results, when she gets her new feathers she'll surely look amazing good, because now...

While she's been here Lindy has been making clothes for Hazel, here Hazel models an ambitious jumpsuit and carries it off beautifully!

Yep, winter is definitely on its way, the sunsets are getting more speccy, the trees are loosing their leaves and the mornings are definitely getting a bit chilly!!

Good Things and Bad Things

When I started farming someone said to me, you've got to remember if you're going to have livestock, there's going to be dead stock.  I knew it was true but it was not easy to accept.  We had a terrible week recently when we lost Azzura's 2 1/2 week old cria Arctic Dreamer, it was a terrible blow to us all.  The vets tried everything they could, but couldnt save him, and I returned his lifeless body to his mother to help her come to terms with his passing.  She guarded his body for 2 days before she finally got up and began to walk away.

Before the crows could get him I took his little body and buried it.  This meant not only digging a hole, but collecting a quarry's worth of rocks to put on the grave to prevent it from being disturbed.  Hazel loved the ride to the rock pile.

And then the trouble started.

Hazel did not want anything but herself in the wheelbarrow.

Finally the job was done and we can all start to move on, a very sad time for us all, and many tears shed, hopefully next year we can do better and Azzura will have a new cria.

Hazel, Kiki and the TV

Hazel is having lots of fun here on the farm, and she loves spending time with Kiki - they take it in turns to be too rough with each other!!  I am very pleased that Kiki is being very patient and not even slightly aggressive in her treatment of and with Hazel, couldnt ask for a better natured dog.

Hazel likes to spend time naming body parts, here she helps Kiki with 'mouth'!!

Hazel is also enjoying feeding the chooks, here in the modern pen

Not much time to watch TV, but when there is a down time, its a good way to spend the time.

 Kiki enjoys watching too!!

A visit to Apu Royalla

Its taken me much longer than it should have, but today I went to visit Apu Royalla to see the lovely cria that will be coming to Mt Tanga when they are yearlings :)

They look gorgeous in the photos, but even better in the flesh!

My first good look at them as they come into the yards for food treats :)  From the left Machu Picchu, her daughter Aymara, Tikal and his mum Ara.

Ara, Aymara and Tikal.

Aymara, has her mother's good looks and soft expression.

And this is Grandma, Bella, enjoying her role and her retirement.

 Lorraine and Ara share a quiet word.

Machu Picchu.

 Tikal is still a little shy, but has lovely markings and lots of fleece, and gives super cuddles.

The publicity shot!

Lorraine's garden is looking good, she told me the name of this rose, but I've forgotten it already - lovely though :)