Storm warnings, gale force winds, big trees and fences don't mix.

Kate and I have just trudged round every fence line after our first really windy night at Hill Shadow. The weather here under the mountain is truly wild, and though I LOVE a good storm, the wild winds do make a bit of a mess of the place!



Especially when you need good solid, safe electric fences for our horsey-charges! We always do a fence/tree/pony check after a windy night, just to make sure everyone's still got a fence and 4 legs!



Fortunately everyone is fine and fences are still standing! Just one medium sized tree down, but in the creek, away from any fences and buildings. Phew!

Someone who definitely wasn't affected by the weather (in a negative way) was Henry the orange mongrel, who spent all night in sleeping infront of the fire.



And so, to finish off this post - here's a joke:


Why did the chicken cross the road? ;D

Proof the Hill Shadow Farm hens have nothing to fear! Our hens have free rein of the property all day, so they often pop up in the yard or at the window to visit us during the day. They have absolutely no fear of people, our dogs, or our children! Why would they?!



Peg Sorting: Tara's favourite activity at present. I do wish she wouldn't post them all down the holes in the brickwork though! Fun for her, but annoying for me to retrieve for the washing! X(



Any Spring 'storm-age' in your area?
Storms: Love em or hate em?
Do your animals make themselves at home like ours do?



Check your fences!
x

Father's Day, Farmers Markets, and Baking Fails.

I've grabbed a quick 10 min with a cup of coffee to post this! Tara's napping, and I've still gotta wash up and get firewood, and bring in the bins and put the washing out, and empty the compost and go for a run, and... and...

 

...hmm.

 

A farm girl's work is never done!

 

 

So there'll be no curling up in my favourite sunny reading spot for me today. Well, yet.

 

But Lenin and the girls love our sunny front door step. So much so, that they are reluctant to move, and I often have to swipe them aside/kick them outta the way/trip over them coming out the front door! Originally, he was named 'Lenin' after 'The Good Life' tv series' rooster. But that rooster was named after a tyrannical dictator. And there's just nothing tyrannical about our Lenin. He is the most laid-back, peaceful, lovely bird I've ever met! So, I think maybe 'Lennon' is a more appropriate name for him, no? And he does like beetles... ;)

 

 

Hay.

 

It's been all about hay, here. We agist several horses - including Will my older ex-galloper gentleman - but in bushy, scrubby paddocks. So feed has to be brought in most of the time for our four-legged clients. Unfortunately it does this to my arms unless I cover them up while lugging it round.

 

 

 

And I sneeze, and I itch and I wheeze.... Luckily Katie doesn't because I quite often find her like this in our hayshed.

 







 

The weekend hay delivery, aka Kate's Stage Coach.

 



AND I made my first Hill Shadow Lemon Meringue Pie on Sunday, for father's day afternoon tea (We love you Ben/Daddy!)

The curd was TO DIE FOR! (that'll be those Hill Shadow Farm lemons and fresh Hill Shadow free range eggs! ;) Of course!)

 

But unfortunately even though it came together beautifully and tasted heavenly, something funny happened to the egg whites and I ended up with quite a bit of liquid white after I baked it and put it in the fridge. Perhaps I shouldn't have put it in the fridge?!

 

And finally here's a pic of Tara at the Lilydale Farmers Market - she loved those ducklings! We came home with some yummy local pink lady apples, and some seedlings: Spearmint, Chamomile, Parsley, Coriander and Basil. We've planted those into a space in our new garden beds - next are the veggies! Katie bought a lemon soap and an orange ice block with her pocket money. Who knows? Next time we may be there as stallholders?

 

How did you enjoy the gorgeous weather this weekend?

Ever had a baking disaster?

What do you love at your farmers market?

 

Ooh?! Is that the baby...?

Go and get outside!

xx



Who needs the gym?

We are certainly well and truly into farm-mode now!

Although it is officially spring, it's still been pretty cold at night here. Which means keeping the fire lit. Which means firewood. LOTS of firewood. We seem to burn it faster than we can collect it, chop it, stack it, and bring it in. It's a constant chore: The fire is hungry and constantly must be fed. Hubby just bought his first log splitter and tomahawk, and BOY have they been getting a work out! And so has he: Working out 'Lumber Jack-style'!

 

Since we just moved in, we've had no time to stockpile any firewood. And the former tenants didn't leave any. There's plenty about in the paddocks, but it all requires collecting, chopping, stacking, and drying. So: Job for next winter! STOCKPILE WOOD. 

 



I, too, am developing big callouses from shovelling clay aside in the garden, and carrying firewood to and fro. And splinters. Lots of splinters. Under my nails.

Note to self: Acquire some work gloves.

The other reason gloves maaaayyyy also be a good idea is that I am constantly wheezing and sneezing, and my arms are coming out in constant hives from carrying armloads of hay around the farm to the horses.

Yep: I'm allergic.

(Nope: I'm not joking.)

So has the novelty worn off yet?

...what do you think? ;)

 

I hope you're keeping warm through these first days of spring, and that the blossoms are starting to come out at your place! I'll be planting my first Hill Shadow harvest soon! So much to choose from!

 

What should I plant?

Have you planted yours?

The beginnings of a garden, and settling in.

Spring is in the air! 

We're still cleaning and unpacking - and probably will be for many weeks to come - but we're finally beginning to get into a bit of a home routine. the girls spend so much more time outside, whether it's collecting eggs and firewood, or just playing around my feet while I hang out the washing. 

I'm constantly scouting for potential kindling and firewood! I forgot how much a fire devours fuel! Especialy on a cold, COLD Melbourne winter's night! I have a funny feeling the chimney might be a bit blocked though... *sigh* I'll add it to the list of maintenance to see to!

My mum came down and brought my older daughter Katie home (She took her for a week to the Snowies, while we moved - THANKYOU MUM!!!). She stayed for a few days, and I wanted to pick her brains about the garden, seeing as my mum has the greenest of green thumbs (A trait i don't seem to have inherited. Dammit.) 

I felt a bit overwhelmed about the garden. I didn't know where to start! My head seemed to be spinning with 'aspects', and 'companion planting', and no-dig/organic/climbing/pruning/mulching/feeding/weeding snippets and tips crammed into my head from Pinterest!

What if I did it wrong? What if everything I plant withers and dies? What about possums? Frost? Grubs? Crows? Mould? Rust? Rot? Fruit fly? Slugs? Rats? Roos? 

Mum's advice: "*shrug* Just dig". 

So I started. I stuck the shovel in and I dug some little rows. And it's true: 'Begun is half done'.

I have a vegie garden.

...yeah ok it's got nothing growing in it yet... but I have soil! and worms! LOTSA WORMS! Which I think has to be a good thing, right?

The soil is pretty compacted and clay-ey. Luckily, the chooks and Will our Resident Retiree Racehorse can keep us in a constant supply of manure! Plus I've started composting my kitchen scraps (those not eaten by the chooks!) and newspaper, and dry leaves. So: I've started! I'm on my way! HURRAAAAAHHH!!!

Ever psyched yourself out of trying something new, cause you had TOO much info?

What do you mulch your beds with?

What have you planted?

Take care, plant something. 

And just dig.

xx

Blogging from my bed.

We're exhausted.

Yesterday I literally cleaned until my fingers bled. This poor old place has not been loved. I hesitated about writing about this for fear of offense, but I don't think it matters anymore. 

I cannot describe how much Hill Shadow Farm is run down. Yesterday, as I was scrubbing walls and window sills, it was as if the house was a poor old rescue dog getting a bath and a scratch after years of neglect. 

Everywhere there is mould, dog hair, dust, webs, stains, cracks, mud and debris. Everytime I start to clean something, I unearth a can of worms. And what was supposed to take a few minutes, takes hours. Yesterday "I'll just hang these 2 curtains" meant 4 hours of scrubbing mould and nicotine stains off walls, windows and the inside of the front door. 

I think I may be cleaning, painting, repairing for weeks to come. That's aside from the unpacking! And cleaning the house we just left for the next tennants there! 

Its all overwhelming and just makes me want to stay here in bed. But just look at this view...

Got any cleaning tips for me?

An odd thing though: I keep finding money! Not much, 20 cents here, a ten cent piece there. Yesterday Ben found 2 old pennies and a half penny dated from the late '40s! Do you think the house is trying to encourage us? 

Do you believe in 'signs'?

There's no place like it.

Well it's moving week! Boxes are appearing, cleaners are coming and going, trailers, trucks, belongings scattered to the wind.

I hate it. This is my most feared state.

I HATE feeling unanchored. I always have. I am a Cancerian through and through, and "Home" is the most important thing to me. I like to know where my safe 'nest' is. 

At the moment I am constantly on the edge of anxiety. There's so much to do! And so much to move! And I just want it all in, and done, and unpacked as quickly as possible so I can know where I am. 

So it is a huge challenge to me personally to 

Slow

Down. 

It is a process. I can take my time. I can unpack slowly, think about where I want to put my things in our new home. I do not need everything perfect now. 

I don't NEED everything perfect NOW. 

My 'home' is my family. I can carry it within. It is not 'stuff'. I am building it. Again. 

*DEEP BREATH*

But in the meantime, I may need lots of cuddles, warm tea, and a familiar favourite book to resort to now and again... ;) 

A childhood dream come true.

I've always wanted to look out my window and see my horse in his paddock. 

(Or being a sticky-beak at the front door!) 

This view will never get old ❤️ 

We puttered around today and did some jobs. Pulling rubbish out of gardens, shovelling mud, and checking fences.

I went walking and checking fences with my little Buddy :) It was the first time I had walked the entire perimeter of the property.

It's such lush beautiful bush land. And we took our dogs, who went crazy with the mud, smells and freedom! 

And I had my first cuppa at Hill Shadow. The first of many! 

What did you get up to this weekend?