ho hum

Went all winter with hardly a sniffle really, and then like ninepins, in fourth term, they have fallen...biggest one declined to be photographed in what was hardly her finest hour...2IC found mum's bed quite comfy for a nap, thank you very much. Even though I had the rest of the bed covered in rejected clothing as part of my big ruthless, and realistic cull. Big girl Saturday, middle on Wednesday.

This one below though, prefers to do all of his upchucking nocturnally on Saturday night, which is terribly inconvenient to his mothers sleep patterns.

And of course, with about as much condition on him as a Kenyan marathon runner  hardly needs a day off his feed, has struggled all day and laid about looking pale and interesting (although it could well be the start of the male condition Man Flu)

His beloved collection of cars did not even tempt him, even though I tipped them over just so, allowing them to tumble slightly out of their bag (mesh peg back, has been the Best Place for storing, and carting about, a little boys favourite toys).

With luck, this week will bring far better health - and less need for sourcing non holey, suitable containers in the wee hours. (ie NOT a colander)

Must add Detol to my shopping list. Have run out in my disinfecting frenzy in the wee hours.  Hooroo.

sale-oh

Its that time of year, when we sell the bigger male cattle, for a host of reasons that I won't go into, but basically because 1. the money is good and 2. they aren't going to get any fatter from now on in and 3. money is required to keep the rest of the cattle enterprise chugging along. Bills to pay. You know the drill.

You may remember, the last steer mustering operation earlier in the year did not go as smoothly as one would hope. So this time around it was greeted with a little apprehension and worry. We booked our mate the chopper pilot in advance (last time we had hoped to not require his services) to flush the rascally steers out of the thick timber. Bigger steers, a bit like milking cows, seem to get rather opinionated about what they want to do (or not) but this time things went like clockwork. Our chopper pilot, an experienced cattle man, had the steers poking out of the woodworks very nicely, and advised the men on the ground to park up and let him do the work, and before they knew it, the steers were in the holding paddock, barely an hour after the chopper took to air. The men on the motorbikes then took control and and hour and a bit later the steers were in the yards. All well before smoko, my arrival on the scene half way home was hardly even warranted. I could have SLEPT IN!

I made this terribly exciting little video from the back of the mob. Just imagine this scene over a few hours in the hot sun, and that pretty much covers a morning or afternoon walking cattle in. Of course, things can get a little bit more hurried from time to time, however this is how you WANT it to be! Nice and steady.

We had time for a most leisurely smoko before the drafting and weighing commenced. My job was hardly taxing.

Sitting in the shade, reading and recording the weights. Occasionally I had to get off my bum and open and shut a gate, or persuade a reluctant customer to enter my office. It was hard work, I can tell you.

Not all as big as the fellow in the crush, but still not too shabby.

Four decks (two double decked trailers) were loaded this morning (I would have taken photos, but I was permitted to stay home, and sleeping in trumps taking photos any day!) and at some stage this evening these boys will board a southbound train, landing in Fiona's neck of the woods.

And I look forward to seeing the cheque in the mail :)

Bits and Bobs

yes, still here, no excuses, just laziness, pure and simple.

I attempted to try my hand at getting some photos of the kids, being inspired by the photographer in my last post. Was not successful. I admit though, I tried this a little early in the afternoon, the light was quite harsh. 

and the subjects? well.

   and maybe this one wasn't so bad, but it still doesn't have that...glow and crispness that I would love to achieve.

Then I tried these, a bit later in the afternoon another (obviously cooler) day. I have a favourite, that sort of comes close to what I was try to do, which is yours?!

In other news, we brought in the neighbour's milkers when they were away, and ran not only the dogs, but their pig as well. Pig was more use in getting cows than dogs. And our Wally now thinks he is quite the Cow Dog, although Cow would really like to grind him into the ground for yipping at her heels. Milking cows get QUITE opinionated about things, I've found.

We also went for a ride, helping uncles bring in some cattle. Our presence was vital to the operation of containing the wild herd.

Georgie had to ride poor old Charm, dragged out of retirement whilst Mum mounted up on the new pony to give him a tuning. New pony did not step a foot wrong, so any previous naughtiness we hope was a temporary aberration.

This pair decided to build a cubby house on the lawn using a set of sheets (purloined from the laundry, waiting to be washed) and the outdoor setting chairs. Here they are enjoying breakfast (as you do) at their new abode. They did request to sleep out there, but that would have lasted 2.5 seconds before someone got skeered. I currently am in the office, calculating my BAS, having been reprieved from drafting cattle duties today. Am watching via NAFI a fire raging to our north (and am quietly thankful it wasn't us again) causing a great deal of damage, with much loss of infrastructure and grazing land. Report HERE as well.

Hi de ho. This is not getting my BAS finished.