Conchita & Consuela...and the evil possum

Being a guardian of a flock of boks necessarily entails endless contemplation over the acquisition of more and more hens...who knows why this condition exists in chook keepers but it's always there.

Pumpkin mandarins and flowers from the garden

So when I found 2 araucanas in need of a new home I couldn't resist. I'd been thinking of adding to our flock for a while now anyway but the thought of a massive dustbowl that I thought might ensue always held me back.  5 full grown full size hens roaming the backyard without a care.

Another thing to ponder.  Why is it that araucanas are always named Conchita and Consuela?  Surely not every buxom lass in South America is a Consuela or a Conchita?  No doubt if I ever acquire an araucana rooster he will be named Inigo Montoya.  In fact I think I'll get a rooster just so that I can name him after one of my favourite characters.

I digress.

So in the peak of the crazy storm in Melbourne last night, there I was on a wild hen chase aquaplaning through water past my tyre tops on the freeway making my way to the hens.  Of course the part of the world they were in was quite dry but they endured crazy driving on the way back to my place.  I'm sure they snored in the dark the entire way ignoring the erratic driving and the pelting rain.

Today, their first day, they spent in the coop learning that it is now 'home' whilst the other bok flockers roamed the garden as usual.

Conchita (with tag on her leg) even laid us an egg!  A green egg.

 

The other girls however are still freeloading *FROWN*

Welcome Conchita and Consuela!

The tragedy that is feeding local wildlife unintentionally

Meanwhile can someone confirm that it is a possum (we have LOADS of them on our street) that has eaten ALL of our capsicum and ALL of the red chillies (having left the unripe green ones).  Surely not a chook could be so neat?  Not a scrap of fruit left.  Neatly bitten stalks left behind.  No signs of scratching.  I've never seen the chooks up on the apple crates but I have seen possums sitting on our fence laughing at us.

 

GONE!  ALL GONE OVER NIGHT!

GONE!  All the red chillies - GONE!

the late summer garden

It's late Summer in Melbourne.

Those hot arid days where the unrelenting sunlight dessicates any living thing in the garden still appear but we are getting a few cooler days of low 20's (thank goodness).  The garden has gone brown and the grass is still crispy underfoot.  We've pulled out most things now but a few remain valiantly and determinedly pushing out new growth.

 

Pulled out the kiwi fruit that was never really happy in this spot and I've planted a native gem lime instead.

The grass in the pot is lemongrass that has gone brown and resurrected many times...

 

The peppers, chilies, zucchini and herbs are still prolific but the rest have gone to vegie heaven

The chillies are thriving 

Have you seen white flowering thyme?  I love thyme in all its varieties but the white flowering is constantly covered in petals and is so pretty

 

 

Pulled out the cardamom - after nearly 2 years they never did flower let alone set pods so I decided it was time for them to go...

Valentines was lovely - I got the perfect gift, a speedball - not very romantic granted but I'm loving boxing at the moment

 

The yacon has been pulled up too to make way for a compost bin

The girls are getting bigger every day but no eggs yet. They are a funny old little flock of 3, they have a habit of sitting quietly together at dusk peering out across the lawn together.

 

I've been enjoying artisan bread, canoli and bombalone from Baker D Chirico in Carlton.

I'm looking forward to cooler days, chunky jumpers, cosy boots and lots of baked goodies!

What are things like in your part of the world?

True Food Guide

The True Food network is looking for people to distribute their True Food Guide. This is an invaluable reference on GM free food and drinks making it easier to avoid GM foods when shopping. Check out their website for details. 

Freaks me out that folk can make such careless decisions that impact an entire population and with wind and spread, an entire continent...it is something that once started cannot be turned back.  I mean, really people, think!!  In the words of one of my favourite movies, INCONCEIVABLE!!  

Images

Hey guys...I'm not posting as much as I'd like to mainly because of this...

And this...

Which naturally leads to this...

Meanwhile my old attitude on exercise 

has turned into   this   in desperation to get my mind off work, night work and just life:

So if you'd like to sponsor my run look out for the page that I'll post soon.  I'll be running for Oxfam.

So yup working 18 hour days hasn't been fun but I'm surviving ... just.  I've taken up boxing and running where I can squeeze a moment in, I find it the only way to completely empty my mind.

 

Tim Tam has a fondness for the vacuum cleaner. I was hoovering up his fur (he's moulting heaps at the moment) and he stuck his nose into the nozzle.  He liked it so much I've been vacuuming him directly and he hops around the house after the vacuum now.  He must enjoy the sensation funny bunny.

 

The garden is very brown and crispy from the heat and lack of water but we have had a huge harvest this year so I'm ready to wind the summer garden down now.

 

 

 

Even though I'm not posting much I'm still reading your posts when I get the chance.  Hugs - I miss you.