tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81790900135230873642024-02-21T02:20:19.748+11:00BRINGING HOME THE BACON....A tree change from the middle of London to the middle of Central West NSW...Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-81169115260757801632011-05-18T11:25:00.003+10:002011-05-18T12:47:56.760+10:00Plagues and Pets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTjaQMqMCjUMq96VV9ekXQcX4oQRa0YEwDxbZEvlRColKU6peel6rxI5i9cYAbOjsFy6yiW7rJaPUbNLfl02SsN86fu5QCd4MXdw7uCvFpuN5m9Ul6vEIvYnJoEmbi4D5462pdQjlmWg/s1600/IMG_1056.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTjaQMqMCjUMq96VV9ekXQcX4oQRa0YEwDxbZEvlRColKU6peel6rxI5i9cYAbOjsFy6yiW7rJaPUbNLfl02SsN86fu5QCd4MXdw7uCvFpuN5m9Ul6vEIvYnJoEmbi4D5462pdQjlmWg/s400/IMG_1056.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607863195148704530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcSIwShrUEawReonuGOK8OoDT-RE6TLekygrFBc5_fyojwrJp-QCQr4n-674yiCFA6vKFHnuCi91w0Kp0LwkopRrM_hCNeH4fpQ_smOOCzYce1IZb7SNZS7nBEX3jBx47pbWogyebXJI/s1600/IMG_1051.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcSIwShrUEawReonuGOK8OoDT-RE6TLekygrFBc5_fyojwrJp-QCQr4n-674yiCFA6vKFHnuCi91w0Kp0LwkopRrM_hCNeH4fpQ_smOOCzYce1IZb7SNZS7nBEX3jBx47pbWogyebXJI/s400/IMG_1051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607863192565551394" /></a><br />Scratching above our heads at night, squeaking in the cupboards, Coco on high alert at all times. At this time each year since we experience the annual (well, I am christening it as such) mouse plague. Apparently we are not alone - the appearance of large signs outside the rural stores advertising mouse bait means that I don't need to be too paranoid about the cleanliness of the house. This year however we have pet mice too... something which Coco has found terribly confusing and exciting at the same time. As you can see, Brad and Rosie are somewhat chubbier versions than their wild counterparts, however when we do hear squeaking we check first because they have been known to escape (despite being fatties they do seem to squeeze through very small spaces). James managed to castrate Brad (demonstrating that he has excellent eyesight and is a clever surgeon) so that Rosie did not add to the already growing population, we are just hoping that she does not have any inappropriate visitors in the cage at night.<div><br /></div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-18342936327340608072011-05-16T16:16:00.002+10:002011-05-16T16:20:58.764+10:00Family Photos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGFqDCpM8YFIw6x9vAhJi-SSth2nrU2j9CJo7P-Rd4UMnVpuuDfGmDDwQh0RfP5kqc0C7FHgRD9nwKCytKT1-9sKYzEbGodeEU-xQhmBVAmD197mBYFiF5gpExUpnO5vWNuttHTgsMCs/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGFqDCpM8YFIw6x9vAhJi-SSth2nrU2j9CJo7P-Rd4UMnVpuuDfGmDDwQh0RfP5kqc0C7FHgRD9nwKCytKT1-9sKYzEbGodeEU-xQhmBVAmD197mBYFiF5gpExUpnO5vWNuttHTgsMCs/s400/IMG_1014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607194595937387026" /></a>Coco's family that is... well 3 out of the 9 anyway. We had a lovely visit from Blott, formerly Beatrice. Like true springers they were more interested in chasing rabbits or tennis balls than chasing each other so we tired them out with a walk around the farm and a swim in the dam.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-3662954881713088052011-05-16T16:10:00.001+10:002011-05-16T16:16:39.690+10:00February/March: Beach Holidays, Mudgee Show, Gun Dogs and Visitors at the Shop!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1A58GQWDyfSqlEeEs26Err5zG5JzgKVE-hMhs-u3YeaprLEGf3PCGacHXEEeGazMudT-umIJ1nLc9aL6hvG_JTBNUvU37S_k2mzh_yhl7mYTeipYMC9FU9C_I2wFC6Z13kJh3ZmYrRI/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1A58GQWDyfSqlEeEs26Err5zG5JzgKVE-hMhs-u3YeaprLEGf3PCGacHXEEeGazMudT-umIJ1nLc9aL6hvG_JTBNUvU37S_k2mzh_yhl7mYTeipYMC9FU9C_I2wFC6Z13kJh3ZmYrRI/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607193664403256834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9c38umXfifwtTRf3JadCAmon8fvX-SH8qUynm7hhE0W9CG-t-NQFgvQoArx-rjzGK_8B5U3WGJ3vmzgEbZDHnGYplAWx6_lwnzRlYfCZ7QCTaO2GZiivWJBW6_iCyU05qzZ_P7zS19w/s1600/IMG_0970.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9c38umXfifwtTRf3JadCAmon8fvX-SH8qUynm7hhE0W9CG-t-NQFgvQoArx-rjzGK_8B5U3WGJ3vmzgEbZDHnGYplAWx6_lwnzRlYfCZ7QCTaO2GZiivWJBW6_iCyU05qzZ_P7zS19w/s320/IMG_0970.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607193651644424530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDMcm-_21ZMBwMXJl62VIVuK1j8piySPoz3pRnjNOzLpjR2Icj5DIpbxmytImV_xue6Yx5UGKwvwSyTHSILMkGCScGqzih5BZgOl-IQpvudI1COpxZ4fIlVn1Rm3UWTAV7ySTGnwGH3U/s1600/IMG_5162.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDMcm-_21ZMBwMXJl62VIVuK1j8piySPoz3pRnjNOzLpjR2Icj5DIpbxmytImV_xue6Yx5UGKwvwSyTHSILMkGCScGqzih5BZgOl-IQpvudI1COpxZ4fIlVn1Rm3UWTAV7ySTGnwGH3U/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607193651305097394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUqxFVpCEk3T-SrZd5jomV3_XkQcnnm0nQ3b9D6ubrk5PDiqgThmw2aJMl3LKlVlBFGwij4rgrmH-36eRnnlklTMpGla1ClJELSLrW3gZy-qk287XBga4kbpGhP2AJevoZCHgv7RwOFs/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUqxFVpCEk3T-SrZd5jomV3_XkQcnnm0nQ3b9D6ubrk5PDiqgThmw2aJMl3LKlVlBFGwij4rgrmH-36eRnnlklTMpGla1ClJELSLrW3gZy-qk287XBga4kbpGhP2AJevoZCHgv7RwOFs/s320/IMG_5140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607193644476609170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpVfxyRwCdLkkn7XW5Nzkni2WBoZuZBr4u6v2YABrZsiYsPfkdVg5t8yBP6PLEo06Hp81CraL04G1zE5ohOw0PHD9cINCG4aeg1qUGfDMI2_M9MhEIJcEkQ8PWLgLFq9WaAsmXB7FwIA/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-3077551064258113942011-05-16T16:05:00.001+10:002011-05-16T16:10:50.418+10:00A brief look at our January!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVXqVltiAI-g850yd_PEjcFghqDw9jN5-eM8DtOEtwGTbQFgdtrbblBfpN6gEXR6-UMyQKjCywOuKjbVf1wNhkA4PfpDAX30Bm0sodnKF45KMtViY1p_eKu8j_V2U1rFEJ9E5Ygghvss/s1600/IMG_0860.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVXqVltiAI-g850yd_PEjcFghqDw9jN5-eM8DtOEtwGTbQFgdtrbblBfpN6gEXR6-UMyQKjCywOuKjbVf1wNhkA4PfpDAX30Bm0sodnKF45KMtViY1p_eKu8j_V2U1rFEJ9E5Ygghvss/s320/IMG_0860.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607192188256753330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPoDWUD7xRLQ8sTfDLfEkxX_P3XHc-AtfgJNfKIas188jUqp0gm9iCFoOx9VyzM66kpaMIfu7hRvIZFetxM9oFbHLw3rxhbmRhtmPvPWfeoijtpIimCwlKM12tobdaQR7856z5bSUiU8/s1600/IMG_0850.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPoDWUD7xRLQ8sTfDLfEkxX_P3XHc-AtfgJNfKIas188jUqp0gm9iCFoOx9VyzM66kpaMIfu7hRvIZFetxM9oFbHLw3rxhbmRhtmPvPWfeoijtpIimCwlKM12tobdaQR7856z5bSUiU8/s320/IMG_0850.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607192190157362354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRu7UH6k_gYcs7ThZKwK8FUDA3IiXsrqXHgopoZU89uzY7cfj018a1d6eQzp3gjdPVZBkKJSBRKhrp0zVRDGjOEQ9BefNZS-HKXGiC6rVGb4CxAoA0T_akCx1RXQ7-_SGbcZsoE-lQDE/s1600/IMG_5267-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 196px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRu7UH6k_gYcs7ThZKwK8FUDA3IiXsrqXHgopoZU89uzY7cfj018a1d6eQzp3gjdPVZBkKJSBRKhrp0zVRDGjOEQ9BefNZS-HKXGiC6rVGb4CxAoA0T_akCx1RXQ7-_SGbcZsoE-lQDE/s320/IMG_5267-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607192179735866818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIh3N55z7CdDIJi3CSZqlqKa8Sa6MUK2eFi7NwnpBSQSriagjaZa-wDUDqja-2rwYvazQIYkwzeei_y3Ku710bnc3SPIeu5ln_rgSMvlOH2YxMge34Us34W02fMIuFRRrNSnLygXPT_w/s1600/IMG_0708.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIh3N55z7CdDIJi3CSZqlqKa8Sa6MUK2eFi7NwnpBSQSriagjaZa-wDUDqja-2rwYvazQIYkwzeei_y3Ku710bnc3SPIeu5ln_rgSMvlOH2YxMge34Us34W02fMIuFRRrNSnLygXPT_w/s320/IMG_0708.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607192180005376786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnExyqefSOUBbra3eeVFdYsWs2JA00YSrN-qE10UYPqxWpES0sIoch4MY9RETwhAyV6dM3OzIWnk5JWyBrb3WGMuzrmlb0YtL5EtrN0KbkF7SrTVzGHj2PsW08OpDB84vrwFgPWG9BhOY/s1600/IMG_0676.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnExyqefSOUBbra3eeVFdYsWs2JA00YSrN-qE10UYPqxWpES0sIoch4MY9RETwhAyV6dM3OzIWnk5JWyBrb3WGMuzrmlb0YtL5EtrN0KbkF7SrTVzGHj2PsW08OpDB84vrwFgPWG9BhOY/s320/IMG_0676.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607192175896971938" /></a>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-61424197082713472592011-05-16T15:00:00.003+10:002011-05-16T16:05:02.296+10:00Cafe-lessThe large gaps between posts and fact that I have not had a chance to keep you up to date with all of our daily news is a glimpse into our thought process when we decided after much debate and sadness to close The Farmer's Pantry, the farm shop and cafe that we had run so successfully up at Burrundulla Winery for almost 2 years. The farm, James' vet work, the kids and the fact that we had not had a weekend off with the exception of our UK visit the previous Christmas were all factors and life was getting too hectic considering we came out here to simplify things and spend more time as a family. As I write this we have just today moved all the large pieces of furniture out and are officially out of the farm shop...which actually felt a little sad...however having the last 2 weekends free and having Sunday lunch, gardening, riding the horses and all the other little things that we have not been able to enjoy on our farm have made us realise that we made the right decision. <div><br /></div><div> On the farm we seem to be growing a herd of pet sheep - Luke, who has been rechristened with names that I dare not type, has been possessed by his hormones and is both aggressive and (like most handraised farm animals) not fearful of people at all. I stay safely on the bike when we have to bring them in for drenching etc as last time he was very intent on charging James regardless of large sticks and bin lids - beware when his ladies are in season. Managing him is 'simply' a matter of catching him by the horns when he gets close in his charge and then physically moving him on the back of the quad bike to the next paddock. He has been joined by Ebony - who being female has so far been more of a success - now fully grown she is used for petting zoo days and as a nanny to other orphans. Ivy is the latest, those old merino girls who were 'aged' when we bought them to train Woody on 3 years ago have gradually died in the paddock of old age and there are two left. One of them decided quite unseasonally to have twins about a month ago and perhaps it was all too much for her. We sadly lost her and one of the lambs, however were left with a little female. She and Ebony are now very bonded to each other, although Ebony despite being fully grown will still happily drink from a bottle so trying to feed little Ivy whilst having another sheep jump all over you is not so much fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>The grey ladies (cows) are due to calve quite soon - we have one little bull calf and are hoping for some more heifers to grow our little herd some more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Horse wise Emily was delighted to get Rockstar for Christmas and he has been a huge success (unlike Sparkle and Micky, I admit it). She is at pony club every month now and rides out with me by herself. He is also very patient and spends much time being a) plaited b) brushed and (the reason he is patient) c) fed anything and everything - sandwiches, chocolate, fanta (which he can drink from the can) and crisps...not so good for him but Emily thinks it is fabulous that she can share her lunch with him. Jazzy put her foot through a fence in January and has had almost 5 months off in recovery but is back under saddle again - we attempted to get her in foal this season however she had other ideas and there is not a foal on the horizon.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here is to more farm news and less work! Although James is thinking that we need to start a salami empire so watch this space....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-81730643951801412292010-10-15T12:51:00.006+11:002010-10-15T12:58:58.210+11:00Our winter photos..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFP_IXUnGckbv3ztgkhmNIq0Ux1u-4_VQpsFgma642tS_vR7moiuLWqUa5uWrq2YYvx-bWi6r8q6z6RAOYDz3a5jcJslEr5ieSxuz-G2SVbq2sP-_J_2XCqbHl6AilOIo20d9lHRo1-c/s1600/IMG_0434.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFP_IXUnGckbv3ztgkhmNIq0Ux1u-4_VQpsFgma642tS_vR7moiuLWqUa5uWrq2YYvx-bWi6r8q6z6RAOYDz3a5jcJslEr5ieSxuz-G2SVbq2sP-_J_2XCqbHl6AilOIo20d9lHRo1-c/s320/IMG_0434.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528086203426203858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIMvxjtCovv-lwdGH2BCmkv7154tCxtWpZH_6X0neoUDZaVz5-UHnOX-4W00wutvkHBf4a-La3_6mIVARD26XP350-bBWKR1T0rua7RcfJaScpEDMiBWRYYxbarFYLrerLVF8n93P_XA/s1600/IMG_0455.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIMvxjtCovv-lwdGH2BCmkv7154tCxtWpZH_6X0neoUDZaVz5-UHnOX-4W00wutvkHBf4a-La3_6mIVARD26XP350-bBWKR1T0rua7RcfJaScpEDMiBWRYYxbarFYLrerLVF8n93P_XA/s320/IMG_0455.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528086191846273250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdhWAIBfRTha6jU8BjPSQ7UX0vOGQcl7yrPpiV73Vk6jlrkG073P1Vq28ZbwewDQ0TL_FgRGgXFTCCFrUcvYinqSlg0VPm3kVcsSOu3QodcCogbef2jizPFQikhnzDQg4mcW0o27MGyQ/s1600/IMG_0614.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdhWAIBfRTha6jU8BjPSQ7UX0vOGQcl7yrPpiV73Vk6jlrkG073P1Vq28ZbwewDQ0TL_FgRGgXFTCCFrUcvYinqSlg0VPm3kVcsSOu3QodcCogbef2jizPFQikhnzDQg4mcW0o27MGyQ/s320/IMG_0614.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528086183786879938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoivlkQJvhuxbSk7gBH9h63D-ukD82nY7-Nr9QD7UqO5aHdMkKGoQD5adeVqTOL__pkVF4Y2a-pkVHysV9AJEZNvNsznACpWhpgAsuPPZxQSf1_yzkbwgMmMyfmM7JjcExcf5dFA2hI4/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoivlkQJvhuxbSk7gBH9h63D-ukD82nY7-Nr9QD7UqO5aHdMkKGoQD5adeVqTOL__pkVF4Y2a-pkVHysV9AJEZNvNsznACpWhpgAsuPPZxQSf1_yzkbwgMmMyfmM7JjcExcf5dFA2hI4/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528086178178686626" /></a>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-24013124898021767252010-10-15T12:37:00.004+11:002010-10-15T12:50:26.048+11:00Children and Animals..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd-551q7nexg-MAbMe_7f95fiYr7WYSTUJpGc_oiRFhxSGVdp4VJRlbKpVs-ayi2q3eaxWki_uUafqgPzzxR3sIGOGeVdEkJSBVLpPoSK6xCV1pKzprWWYEXee3g6wvoBk7L_ZvhfZmY/s1600/IMG_0601.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd-551q7nexg-MAbMe_7f95fiYr7WYSTUJpGc_oiRFhxSGVdp4VJRlbKpVs-ayi2q3eaxWki_uUafqgPzzxR3sIGOGeVdEkJSBVLpPoSK6xCV1pKzprWWYEXee3g6wvoBk7L_ZvhfZmY/s320/IMG_0601.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528083642260169250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbUc_AuVnNp-7w1U21g4Z6fMoy2Kqip4jGf_Kc_lI2kUvLWxIGoNloRb8MKy4eQhPRQTiITax6H2_EgwPdFrZkklddf_Qj3UgxoP-9wfrifRBZ3AmypwKG2_cV7l0eEBJbWBxTerCXbA/s1600/IMG_0600.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbUc_AuVnNp-7w1U21g4Z6fMoy2Kqip4jGf_Kc_lI2kUvLWxIGoNloRb8MKy4eQhPRQTiITax6H2_EgwPdFrZkklddf_Qj3UgxoP-9wfrifRBZ3AmypwKG2_cV7l0eEBJbWBxTerCXbA/s320/IMG_0600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528083626662468146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYnJvhq4NDv4Q4iRZV6NMM5okrPsFill7mEdYxaQOAJCuBZGaTMs8WBSsmjjYdHgM9NhUJU6srsxsrwGUAjw4UhY2xnMsJ6OHwSRULBkimvuoE4G48QAcLxDEKamwNvf1fIxm92X8xHs/s1600/IMG_0584.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYnJvhq4NDv4Q4iRZV6NMM5okrPsFill7mEdYxaQOAJCuBZGaTMs8WBSsmjjYdHgM9NhUJU6srsxsrwGUAjw4UhY2xnMsJ6OHwSRULBkimvuoE4G48QAcLxDEKamwNvf1fIxm92X8xHs/s400/IMG_0584.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528081202592803618" /></a>During the September Mudgee Wine Festival we brought 3 newly weaned piglets up to the cellar door. Although initially tentative then were soon won over by Emily and Felix. Emily has named this one Olivia - more of them can be seen on the Ormiston facebook page - where we christened Em The Pig Whisperer. Needless to say the pigs have been eartagged as breeders and will join the herd when they are big enough.<div><br /></div><div>It is obviously spring around here because we have also got 'Cheepy' a solitary chick that was unsold at the local farm shop. I couldn't help myself and bought 'her' (hmm..let's wait and see) home. She was meant to go under a broody hen for adoption. By the next day she had indeed been adopted..but not by a chicken.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-21698275550816473332010-10-15T12:29:00.002+11:002010-10-15T12:36:53.193+11:00Happy as a pig at OrmistonWe have just moved the growers on to the next paddock...it has been resting for 8 months and the abundant rain has had quite an effect...<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz77FSOVyUqqvhvTZfho54ZEor3jZU_Kwc1_RAnGnN-Xw5ZI2WI_9kxWY2aRDQWf2AkiRb9IRcTPP3aURQR8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div>It has been a busy (cringe) 5 months since our last post... we have had lots of press and publicit. In the last 2 weeks the cafe made the SMH Good Food Guide 2011, Delicious Magazine and we just had the crew from Landline and Sydney Weekender film us and our opinions. Taking an empty bucket into the paddock with 14 hungry sows for the camera ended up with Harriet giving me the 'look' that meant that I held my nerve for about 4 seconds and then threw the bucket down and reversed out of the paddock at great speed. Apparently I may now end up on the bloopers roll... We are gearing up for the Christmas orders and as usual wish our small farm could yield more. Still, keeping them as happy as above means that we have to keep the farm idyllic and our numbers small. </div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-74593492453802936702010-06-01T14:46:00.005+10:002010-06-01T15:11:30.055+10:00Felix and Emily broadcast the Farm<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwRNMWfGtjrH1qHL3wcQtHVvO4PWiie6T9jfLopW4kgTYRZIUGydA9dAzGbtIPnsMZEWDove3wASunKQrSMVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It has been a long time between blogs - long enough that Felix and Emily have become obsessed with making video's on my iphone - they know how to work it with much more expertise than I do! As you can see they also spend far too much time at the farm shop and cafe because they can direct people there independently. When particularly bored they will clear tables and charm customers....mostly though they drink hot chocolates milkshakes and ask when they can go home. I don't blame them at all. The cafe seems to go from strength to strength. We have been so lucky with our local chef Rachael McCarthy who comes in and helps us to figure out what to do with all the seasonal ingredients - running a 100mile cafe in Australia is more challenging than we initially realised... longer distances between farms than the UK for a start - however there is so much fantastic produce out there. With books like The Omnivores Dilemma and the latest movie Food Inc we find there are more and more people seeking us out because of the principles on which we run the shop.</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On the home front, piglet losses from a crafty fox over Christmas who figured out how to take piglets out of the back of a farrowing sow (sorry if you are having lunch) were enough that at this time of year we are quite low on stock numbers. Luckily we have both decreased fox numbers and now know that as long as they are in the nursery paddock the foxes don't bother. This does mean however that we have had a month's break from both Mudgee and Sydney markets. This has been a nice break on one hand but not great financially for the farm. Our 10 month old calves went off to market and managed to fetch enough money so that the Grey Ladies have now paid for themselves. We have also lost few sheep of late and are not sure why - of course the most hardy sheep that seem to cope with everything are the five old merinos that we bought to train Woody.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34k0n_EOpAwvldqoRnogMNwruNMPUu2JHtYNAwdn9j0ckeEfft7qff7MXMhVfI9m_VAzq7InzljcUPlMgYvQNOD_WViDO2YC1x9G6M9SLQIPxVxNmwgA1X-1S7Z9j2mE2tkcKWoz2c3g/s400/IMG_1313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477643987352777026" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Once more after thinking it would never rain again we have had abundant amounts over the last couple of months. The paddocks are sodden and there is so much feed that my horses are enormous. Jazz went to a friend's spelling complex for a bit of Jenny Craig treatment before our last 2 competitions and is now on holidays in the front paddock having managed to come back looking very trim and healthy. She has only just started talking to me again. Here we are at one of the local dressage days.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">That is about it really, we are enjoying wood fires and can't believe it is June already. We have started putting our legs for Christmas Hams away already! James has found a possible proscuitto and fermented salami producer and we are trying (and failing) not to get too excited. We finally uploaded the new website www.ormistonfreerange.com.au (have a look) and are venturing into online ordering. The tractor has also died and we are in the market for a new one and we are waiting for Dora and Maggie to have their winter kids - this year I am determined to start making feta again. </span></span></div></div></div></span></div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-37281806345758669272010-03-07T21:22:00.001+11:002010-03-07T21:25:20.356+11:00Our Evening Walk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R8DK2BNaddNgfV_CvSLVMBxlYX47QBQ8AINZomofokmBziNEYJE2s72NBSPdRoys2r8J3pydg8FSg3F6DuViH1TQH1QrALG42jpwGszwxWEAYRDdCUljTXXg1IL9UA9fV3QIrrsCzCA/s1600-h/IMG_4776.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R8DK2BNaddNgfV_CvSLVMBxlYX47QBQ8AINZomofokmBziNEYJE2s72NBSPdRoys2r8J3pydg8FSg3F6DuViH1TQH1QrALG42jpwGszwxWEAYRDdCUljTXXg1IL9UA9fV3QIrrsCzCA/s400/IMG_4776.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445835649030677746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LeKBlBL1zMmiFHcCYBx41tYD0P3MOV_6lo0x18dDQz5l287uv_2u-pRzIEdc4_kY4uBKdabh-6S9Aq6xxVZZYZtE4i9qWeiN6GEDDjJbZ_g9VPZkAPq4k5grCRJQqSXygINiEUKT_fM/s1600-h/IMG_4760.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LeKBlBL1zMmiFHcCYBx41tYD0P3MOV_6lo0x18dDQz5l287uv_2u-pRzIEdc4_kY4uBKdabh-6S9Aq6xxVZZYZtE4i9qWeiN6GEDDjJbZ_g9VPZkAPq4k5grCRJQqSXygINiEUKT_fM/s400/IMG_4760.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445835640663440018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3-I9zzPB0n_rAlN2Hul8LZlui5bRqXtTrfu3wpJFxqFdxVdMNHqMUeJJjwMHIAMlShZcSzazwFM_u3HFu1P4qXZk55dfh73i-_OIslfJXGyEq2rU0azRwlPts1Ns2ET7VJs9arosLXs/s1600-h/IMG_4774.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3-I9zzPB0n_rAlN2Hul8LZlui5bRqXtTrfu3wpJFxqFdxVdMNHqMUeJJjwMHIAMlShZcSzazwFM_u3HFu1P4qXZk55dfh73i-_OIslfJXGyEq2rU0azRwlPts1Ns2ET7VJs9arosLXs/s400/IMG_4774.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445835634454678130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GFCLSAtwMJelPDHr5WpWv0eZo5mwov-1JYaxcB_QAfSgWOvY4VhM4OfySsGGAQ51gnVBG9vV45kmQFL7f2F5v-xOcLqGfpsdjIAMjfy0VOV1KlyDVIX7I-tn3ft6P-2rII9-A4n1Mf0/s1600-h/IMG_4758.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GFCLSAtwMJelPDHr5WpWv0eZo5mwov-1JYaxcB_QAfSgWOvY4VhM4OfySsGGAQ51gnVBG9vV45kmQFL7f2F5v-xOcLqGfpsdjIAMjfy0VOV1KlyDVIX7I-tn3ft6P-2rII9-A4n1Mf0/s400/IMG_4758.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445835629595232226" /></a>Country Living... or not? On our evening stroll around the place this evening we were accompanied by two children wearing ipods who deafly yelled all answers to any questions but insisted on having an outdoor adventure. Tree climbing and horse talking followed and then we gave up and took them home...Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-25640702507396956652010-03-07T21:05:00.005+11:002010-03-07T21:22:39.677+11:00School Starts, Letitia the dog pig and others<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu9tjk6Kp9eSBkt4W_znRkgRSmZXOMHs6zDVzraOObjbV5JJJ3drkX9nJfLrd23bZbppunOrK7qUrKd-6myDAScfelcIUmJ76VyNM5dVafCQB8rpfAK4s1fuLnsfo9HTwfMin_2hBeho/s1600-h/IMG_4684.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu9tjk6Kp9eSBkt4W_znRkgRSmZXOMHs6zDVzraOObjbV5JJJ3drkX9nJfLrd23bZbppunOrK7qUrKd-6myDAScfelcIUmJ76VyNM5dVafCQB8rpfAK4s1fuLnsfo9HTwfMin_2hBeho/s400/IMG_4684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445833576706504834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBm3oXmfMCPC3I8Bx_s4CT3NZ9wA-MmSQhNpz43FrZzmKZudafEptqtu9BlHH4PbHaeNa2oVG8kbaXqqvaQJiemIs5EI3023mzV-EzD0cLQqIj1H7hj7MY9L4UwMDmp5sopLDVsPucQM/s1600-h/IMG_4660.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBm3oXmfMCPC3I8Bx_s4CT3NZ9wA-MmSQhNpz43FrZzmKZudafEptqtu9BlHH4PbHaeNa2oVG8kbaXqqvaQJiemIs5EI3023mzV-EzD0cLQqIj1H7hj7MY9L4UwMDmp5sopLDVsPucQM/s400/IMG_4660.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445833566036175378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u-vREImNTNla6UKrslcLpR_jjgTZW-LJdIx-jxIxSTXbWe8h6q66_s6Z0asZeNSu_pCutSa1nUaZzhPfsgWcAIzjeYJdFlW5TCR4Tdxd94PneNYKVmD-w58cOg2eIfJsd2B-qvnBqOM/s1600-h/IMG_0023.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u-vREImNTNla6UKrslcLpR_jjgTZW-LJdIx-jxIxSTXbWe8h6q66_s6Z0asZeNSu_pCutSa1nUaZzhPfsgWcAIzjeYJdFlW5TCR4Tdxd94PneNYKVmD-w58cOg2eIfJsd2B-qvnBqOM/s400/IMG_0023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445833395278237234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oaccCgT2fCmGYp6ZU-ScLLzc23R5tnfvJ4xunKI8ewmEizq3WIw9g2052iAFAGx_5jyDh-n4t6VOa8xk4zwv1zQ-s3pCgUTQWC3D_umyxjJ83d8FvWqW4f2L2uzvxtlJx8PPJDucqrM/s1600-h/IMG_4687.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oaccCgT2fCmGYp6ZU-ScLLzc23R5tnfvJ4xunKI8ewmEizq3WIw9g2052iAFAGx_5jyDh-n4t6VOa8xk4zwv1zQ-s3pCgUTQWC3D_umyxjJ83d8FvWqW4f2L2uzvxtlJx8PPJDucqrM/s400/IMG_4687.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445833070128171346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OD1FIukMdNeVrYbkI8w2vreBsJENTKgl21F9JyGxSeTVZ1Tj1mmG8ANbNoxb2YagB5KGmWlKzmh0OnAT11BegRV6r5_6CrsyJaeYb9dfwlEyppGrqPB_z0i7FMOUtofGKGdQ7F8TsxQ/s1600-h/IMG_4703.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OD1FIukMdNeVrYbkI8w2vreBsJENTKgl21F9JyGxSeTVZ1Tj1mmG8ANbNoxb2YagB5KGmWlKzmh0OnAT11BegRV6r5_6CrsyJaeYb9dfwlEyppGrqPB_z0i7FMOUtofGKGdQ7F8TsxQ/s400/IMG_4703.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445833059107001874" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally, as far as Emi was concerned, school started. Emi has settled in with amazing ease. She refuses to wear the pc unisex option shorts/trousers and insists on dresses everyday however we have had her hair cut into a fetching bob since this photo was taken because the battle to put her hair up every day was just getting too much for both of us. The year is flying by with the usual amazing speed. We have been attempting to spend Sunday afternoons/evenings having picnics on the property in a what feels a very colonial ritual - complete with the picnic table and chairs in the back of the ute...all we need is white linen tablecloths to complete the picture.<div><br /></div><div>Letitia joined us after we discovered that we do indeed have a fox problem with our lovely pigs. For a month or two we had been wrongly blaming some of the sows that farrowed in the large field for very small litters. Unfortunately for the fox he got greedy and took an entire litter one night and then almost another entire one quite soon after. Letitia was left with a nasty injury and one other sibling. The other sibling joined another (safer) litter and Teesh came down to the house where dutifully did her 2 hourly feeds around the clock until she was a week old and in the words of Emily "she decided not to die". After a while we became a bit concerned that she was sure she was a dog and so she was put up with Britney and a litter of the same age who adopted her fairly readily. She still comes running up to the fence for her bottles but at least she is getting some pig play rather than having an identity crisis. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jazz and I are venturing out and about as much as we possibly can... we have joined the local dressage club and will join the shiny and expensive horses whilst we bounce fatly around and attempt to look as though we know exactly what we are doing!<br /> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-52767958585236567472010-01-26T11:51:00.004+11:002010-01-26T12:22:13.874+11:00Happy New Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmMD5gQxa2ZUJyp_AI2D8EDOesaHjyvkG2X-fhLbmV7LpIS1YSVAMNu-40te-D5o_7KqEvlQypzLy25TkPHXSH2JSe-6oGEhn4t1JRxNGhNhgkR5ARJmzw56dB_I8B71U9LFxGJI3o-k/s1600-h/exeter+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmMD5gQxa2ZUJyp_AI2D8EDOesaHjyvkG2X-fhLbmV7LpIS1YSVAMNu-40te-D5o_7KqEvlQypzLy25TkPHXSH2JSe-6oGEhn4t1JRxNGhNhgkR5ARJmzw56dB_I8B71U9LFxGJI3o-k/s400/exeter+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430847624862537186" border="0" /></a><br />We are back - after a lovely long (and cold) break. Before we left blogging became absolutely impossible as the Christmas rush meant little sleep and no ability to think outside of cuts of pork and smoked goods. Luckily everything went off without a hitch and all customers were happy. Demand meant that any pig that looked like it was weighing it at over 40kg was sent off and it reminded me of the chant from the movie Babe ("Christmas is carnage"). We are just getting back to production levels now and both had to hit the ground running after getting off the plane pretty much.<br /><br />Our best Christmas present was obviously the rain, all 6 inches or so of it. Our dams are completely full, as are our water tanks, and in fact the difference between here and Singapore doesn't seem so huge. It is such a huge relief and seemed very strange to leave dry, yellow bare earth and come back to a lawn that was knee high in places.<br /><br />We are getting ready for both Felix and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Emi</span> to go back to school next week and have many plans for the year ahead. It was so lovely in the UK for so many reasons but we loved the many farm shops pigs living as they should out in the fields. I attach a photo which I couldn't resist taking. Have a look at our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">slideshow</span> of the holiday. I'm off to finish my patriotic Australia Day <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lamingtons</span>...Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-21180234843658504642009-10-30T18:56:00.002+11:002009-10-30T20:08:39.434+11:00Spring Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyCuXl2XJ137PmAeo471wRA1ytaQTE6m6RlG5CuwqalTlsTyj7zjhYLuhFYLKXkAFuk9PWb5ajZgNU80cK5Cl3T7keBU2e8GZQ6yVDSXaFjmDOGc_DYs71y8_CUDgpuH5PUoXYI00aJ4/s1600-h/Picture+093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyCuXl2XJ137PmAeo471wRA1ytaQTE6m6RlG5CuwqalTlsTyj7zjhYLuhFYLKXkAFuk9PWb5ajZgNU80cK5Cl3T7keBU2e8GZQ6yVDSXaFjmDOGc_DYs71y8_CUDgpuH5PUoXYI00aJ4/s200/Picture+093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398315119936697138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S-n-WHeEgsT9fPGmEhYBDGa5HvD6k7phXpWh7V7f3V6pLGpSqq_Irt7bjc27siT-nvG6Kr2bStrbP6nfqTMDmZGhLBMqtiQuB3x1rnFuTBPMt6iH2hsZSSPf-M4E0YtIY9KJnPFw8V4/s1600-h/Picture+092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S-n-WHeEgsT9fPGmEhYBDGa5HvD6k7phXpWh7V7f3V6pLGpSqq_Irt7bjc27siT-nvG6Kr2bStrbP6nfqTMDmZGhLBMqtiQuB3x1rnFuTBPMt6iH2hsZSSPf-M4E0YtIY9KJnPFw8V4/s200/Picture+092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398315116476290930" border="0" /></a>It is dry dry dry - however as I type this it appears that the way to encourage rain is to plan something that requires it to absolutely not happen. Felix and James discovered this when they decided to camp on the back paddock during the school holidays. Tomorrow we had booked the sheep in to be shorn. Again this requires them to be completely dry. Despite no forecasted rain it chucked down 10mm in 20 minutes this afternoon...shearing is put off until Sunday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bYcaLaqP-PVS1EpdVbN8CQbm-SEG-ncMJvEk6siGjgYJsjgOh0cugXdEXokRFrFt8dnfn51l1jqtlkg4KIJ84AvJjPrydVp2pD3eoR3aAVLHdFy2XHXDHr5_IsQLdqPh1AvTXqQzTsQ/s1600-h/Picture+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bYcaLaqP-PVS1EpdVbN8CQbm-SEG-ncMJvEk6siGjgYJsjgOh0cugXdEXokRFrFt8dnfn51l1jqtlkg4KIJ84AvJjPrydVp2pD3eoR3aAVLHdFy2XHXDHr5_IsQLdqPh1AvTXqQzTsQ/s200/Picture+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398315111324966338" border="0" /></a>Jazz is enjoying the green grass on the soak away.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKhF2S6FwmpemIdfyramMR5rXyl6V_GePpUO9O5r_oA0gNNoLrmjdK_4ot9ntmqq2VjD0CxynORraXX8zfWLQVSn5-ambOiqMz3OWWZ9cz7HsJch2ZPkHeAgEZnwksnxZhZjqkwtQY5w/s1600-h/Picture+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKhF2S6FwmpemIdfyramMR5rXyl6V_GePpUO9O5r_oA0gNNoLrmjdK_4ot9ntmqq2VjD0CxynORraXX8zfWLQVSn5-ambOiqMz3OWWZ9cz7HsJch2ZPkHeAgEZnwksnxZhZjqkwtQY5w/s200/Picture+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398315109948977250" border="0" /></a>Our olives are growing beautifully - the goats are not in James' good books after getting through the gate and stripping all spring growth off the entire orchard and also eating the 2nd year asparagus crowns that we just really hope will grow back again. They are lucky to be alive..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x0LEeQkkLg-QTcKpKdrdJXNagil9ayttTWc87Wg7A2QkiSnY4yMmfUL-j5TbLxzk5127D9wP9tRWwien8VEMLhITkzbIrR5w2CvzzTEPB72fET3AwrRwEhIo0-p_9XT7uvtHfonBzCw/s1600-h/Picture+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x0LEeQkkLg-QTcKpKdrdJXNagil9ayttTWc87Wg7A2QkiSnY4yMmfUL-j5TbLxzk5127D9wP9tRWwien8VEMLhITkzbIrR5w2CvzzTEPB72fET3AwrRwEhIo0-p_9XT7uvtHfonBzCw/s200/Picture+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398315101845776466" border="0" /></a>Meanwhile fencing of the said orchard, back vege garden and house paddock in general is going ahead at a great rate.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-90342279845394968492009-10-30T18:46:00.003+11:002009-10-30T18:56:35.427+11:00Third Dog Sydrome?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrFncnBnOOjanSK6jrQoXkZpArBmkQb372zx9uzwfG3cFQmFTj2L6pNu_hTkI9iStIbUQn82OIFVi3ccffc-CqKsTHsb8XElWCd0cFbB65u5XfCVlbL0evHRuuLd1ZnqbjiGmfpd2DhM/s1600-h/Picture+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrFncnBnOOjanSK6jrQoXkZpArBmkQb372zx9uzwfG3cFQmFTj2L6pNu_hTkI9iStIbUQn82OIFVi3ccffc-CqKsTHsb8XElWCd0cFbB65u5XfCVlbL0evHRuuLd1ZnqbjiGmfpd2DhM/s400/Picture+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398296448130472034" border="0" /></a>It is true what they say, dogs <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> like children. Felix has been photographed minute by minute but with Emi we stuck to the major milestones. Fergie as our 3rd dog has sadly missed out. I did however get some great mother and daughter shots today as she seems to have got the hang of a) staying and b) searching through the haybales for mice with Coco. My training whistles have arrived from the UK and James has sourced a shotgun that he is most happy with so all he needs now is some rain (fat chance) and it will be like a striding over the English countryside. Apart from her ridiculous name, which we just can't change (despite racking our brains) she is a great little dog. To my great surprise we have a doggy daycare centre which is most excellently run in Mudgee and she just loves to go there - she gets her exercise on the running machine, has a swim in the hydrotherapy pool and generally socialises with the other dogs. Coco is quite happy to have her around and we are all very devoted to her.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-8995010446302748722009-09-30T08:31:00.002+10:002009-09-30T08:50:23.131+10:00Errr... she is staying<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-0tvtter2VLlNN1LFsubew4zJymdMavmLGrRlC60cIj7GYVfKA6XsxOQICzbCf45yyKZp0yRjrNIauq6zeVcGvAmpi8jst6sITXjsjK0GCSXO_LFldQrhUVC6hc_RxJrVYDrkgNuKNo/s1600-h/Picture+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-0tvtter2VLlNN1LFsubew4zJymdMavmLGrRlC60cIj7GYVfKA6XsxOQICzbCf45yyKZp0yRjrNIauq6zeVcGvAmpi8jst6sITXjsjK0GCSXO_LFldQrhUVC6hc_RxJrVYDrkgNuKNo/s320/Picture+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387020921120133602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaf3oyk4WKH68GbTXZfXcRtDQ9bimuayIeR-7VMMgWBX4zq79Fgq98e0EMzVs9OkgsBRq7iljPWD03pY_J0yKQavRJe8y5-bYPinxODd0dZ0TIDkUomSkVuzpT9IHTs2IcQTvEZD2Hao/s1600-h/Picture+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaf3oyk4WKH68GbTXZfXcRtDQ9bimuayIeR-7VMMgWBX4zq79Fgq98e0EMzVs9OkgsBRq7iljPWD03pY_J0yKQavRJe8y5-bYPinxODd0dZ0TIDkUomSkVuzpT9IHTs2IcQTvEZD2Hao/s320/Picture+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387020913134493634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The above news probably won't be a surprise to anyone, however in my defence there was a 'complete role reversal whereby I stayed focused and James steadily convinced me that in fact we definitely needed another spaniel. In all honesty there probably wasn't a huge amount of convincing needed, especially after Harry's owner Steve, also owner of the Dad came up to get him with two of his working spaniels. Jessie had her best day <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span>, and flushed seven rabbits...she is still asleep, James is saving for a shotgun and suddenly the prospect of English style shoots up here are on the cards. We have tried to change Fergie's name but unfortunately it has stuck. Yesterday she spent the day with James in the ute meeting butchers, tyre changers and many others as well as going into pre-school and running about with Emi's classmates. She loves her crate almost as much as Woody. <br /><br />The horses are shedding their winter coats, I could have woven a rug out of the hair that came of Sparkle during grooming this morning. We are still desperate for rain and too scared to look in the tanks. The shop is doing well, we are off to Sydney markets this weekend and the school holidays start. It never stops around here...Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-65216926685568678942009-09-23T16:10:00.003+10:002009-09-23T16:21:10.879+10:00Orange Dust<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUj9mpk5Un0x1wrNchai1f5I5PFv9N8WUjm64CPc5PdS1s_V2aUjSFaGoqS8JixwHmGTnlNYgMf8DgwC3N3ib3O0Ih2CQ4IOkvvPK4PCxEwD7QzgZlLDpT6LBxcTDl9odynGLL3FkIEE/s1600-h/Picture+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUj9mpk5Un0x1wrNchai1f5I5PFv9N8WUjm64CPc5PdS1s_V2aUjSFaGoqS8JixwHmGTnlNYgMf8DgwC3N3ib3O0Ih2CQ4IOkvvPK4PCxEwD7QzgZlLDpT6LBxcTDl9odynGLL3FkIEE/s320/Picture+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543699327594226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBTeXbhnZCb0BEMy8lgt6mnr4rrGynkxA2O4HW-8PG79OantYnYW1H2O86HCWVLBe0v_Gq6XYN-V-Flu2PKg1eYY2hwzxUmPk-ZP4pd7GBgDqda0PtqP4LCz4E02vYY1l8_cvZZPu1EM/s1600-h/Picture+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBTeXbhnZCb0BEMy8lgt6mnr4rrGynkxA2O4HW-8PG79OantYnYW1H2O86HCWVLBe0v_Gq6XYN-V-Flu2PKg1eYY2hwzxUmPk-ZP4pd7GBgDqda0PtqP4LCz4E02vYY1l8_cvZZPu1EM/s320/Picture+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543693250401250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5Uw1l9xrnJCsb00aSsVDqoorSl4qPKQ4Wda1R0y6kIKe02vtRU2abc1IFM9saduJ3NqvKgT2kfgem-S9S-QPj17zhTkkn6zCR30DLdhnTPbPxZ_rfza56Zk1P6nxI77EB5_7PTSol0Q/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5Uw1l9xrnJCsb00aSsVDqoorSl4qPKQ4Wda1R0y6kIKe02vtRU2abc1IFM9saduJ3NqvKgT2kfgem-S9S-QPj17zhTkkn6zCR30DLdhnTPbPxZ_rfza56Zk1P6nxI77EB5_7PTSol0Q/s320/Picture+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543681103962274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb-9yY7puhmWr2PxKfN7GRp1hnPDFpvk1Si38Lf-ZXt2xzdro7_dKIFDRrvEYBOkDqBIMmP4UHiwzrN_5k6VFjYelAifvzzXymn5n1FmxNm8-PlRND0o3H-lkp27KWyu2WF0yLfrs5yk/s1600-h/Picture+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb-9yY7puhmWr2PxKfN7GRp1hnPDFpvk1Si38Lf-ZXt2xzdro7_dKIFDRrvEYBOkDqBIMmP4UHiwzrN_5k6VFjYelAifvzzXymn5n1FmxNm8-PlRND0o3H-lkp27KWyu2WF0yLfrs5yk/s320/Picture+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543676138365122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No, there is nothing wrong with our camera...this is what we awoke to this morning. It covers an awful lot of the country as Sydney looks the same apparently. It is quite eerie but has cleared to just being freezing cold this afternoon. I feel particularly sorry for the car salesmen (not a sentence you will often hear me utter) as everything in the whole town is covered in a layer of red dust...lots of cars to wash. The local car wash is doing a roaring trade with the rest of us and I am going to have to spend the morning washing windows and dusting at the shop to uncover everything.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-19939940775775586912009-09-19T18:49:00.003+10:002009-09-19T18:56:04.253+10:00All gone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeI3yLPc-Vv3qUtQkrSgGcMoc1sIz3Nh3Hj5uMD0N59Iiqs9_MsAn2X6ma-hsXsw4F2vpJRwToa8AXmLq-hrWFdyXtrLYHdqXnJuuhik2ECTts4UoI_UkIiwaHIdE4HPqQV-HicSIxJU/s1600-h/charlie+recall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeI3yLPc-Vv3qUtQkrSgGcMoc1sIz3Nh3Hj5uMD0N59Iiqs9_MsAn2X6ma-hsXsw4F2vpJRwToa8AXmLq-hrWFdyXtrLYHdqXnJuuhik2ECTts4UoI_UkIiwaHIdE4HPqQV-HicSIxJU/s320/charlie+recall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383098346126714194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiQjuQqjOMof_U72tA2vRuSE5BJHBN3036bOWLNA-BrEj5RWrMRK7YWeJB5WsrYBriebrwg8EA34tovsUDnZd7URftkGegIWLXTXuGICOjeKaMhMb1959GEZcteWNpv9qDVH3BeJPDE0/s1600-h/fergie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiQjuQqjOMof_U72tA2vRuSE5BJHBN3036bOWLNA-BrEj5RWrMRK7YWeJB5WsrYBriebrwg8EA34tovsUDnZd7URftkGegIWLXTXuGICOjeKaMhMb1959GEZcteWNpv9qDVH3BeJPDE0/s320/fergie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383098335114134898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS-x5lozovn0kYmqiApRF4I38Po1gEpexmh6LilDWb0-Z7UxAXUQqCIxCmc7lb55QcC0V0ueEBrcrRaxbqbCpkq2T7hleLnM7z6D8MWlNDP9U5byIusJ24M_RuKzUChm5G7QWo5UxCFE/s1600-h/charlie+and+emi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS-x5lozovn0kYmqiApRF4I38Po1gEpexmh6LilDWb0-Z7UxAXUQqCIxCmc7lb55QcC0V0ueEBrcrRaxbqbCpkq2T7hleLnM7z6D8MWlNDP9U5byIusJ24M_RuKzUChm5G7QWo5UxCFE/s320/charlie+and+emi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383098330603290194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well - almost. Charlie went off to his new home today. This leaves us with Harry and Fergie (whom James was really hoping we could keep so he could buy a shotgun and have a gun dog). They are off to Sydney as working spaniels at the end of the week... It will be so quiet. I am sort of sad, but quite relieved - anyone who thinks you make money out of dog breeding is wrong. Any funds received are going towards redoing the floor in the backroom so that every warm day coming up (and there are many) won't keep us reminiscing with odour of puppy pooh forever more.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-55977786836617884142009-09-19T18:43:00.002+10:002009-09-19T18:49:26.604+10:00More from The Farmer's Pantry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57aTCSioLasry-zFmsTsa4eaXW_dd62k4MpnhkuVN4cPLPqTz2OwHquvqHfda2KaNo9l-zXELhYckcOLs2ITybzfXxhYD1EWepytY5KH3L7Ew9RCDhMjCgLLR5EAfrSf7t2Lb6MVto0Y/s1600-h/Picture+069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57aTCSioLasry-zFmsTsa4eaXW_dd62k4MpnhkuVN4cPLPqTz2OwHquvqHfda2KaNo9l-zXELhYckcOLs2ITybzfXxhYD1EWepytY5KH3L7Ew9RCDhMjCgLLR5EAfrSf7t2Lb6MVto0Y/s320/Picture+069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383096871299893410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4MS8BUoyaamW6kuZUJtDSOyHK8jnF5eeA611UxWRcGFQN02iPSqnF4gQLscNDa5FQusWGtYuBxn9xuB0n-T2SBlwQgHzvyv3vGrsW5ok5IEM4os0CHKzftF5fBgnibBSgkQ2E9-u-Gw/s1600-h/Picture+064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4MS8BUoyaamW6kuZUJtDSOyHK8jnF5eeA611UxWRcGFQN02iPSqnF4gQLscNDa5FQusWGtYuBxn9xuB0n-T2SBlwQgHzvyv3vGrsW5ok5IEM4os0CHKzftF5fBgnibBSgkQ2E9-u-Gw/s320/Picture+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383096867371810914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxySJb3vPMdr3Jy766cv88eIaZHPIFHtDwvf8z0hZhnwflqRk9hjsnZMcREMizBtnb_XVz82ifi363CtOGo4WB3ljOi5Vv08EznjaNGS621McAmJOd7CdoLGY8gpXu-TwvemIF4rwKCk/s1600-h/Picture+059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxySJb3vPMdr3Jy766cv88eIaZHPIFHtDwvf8z0hZhnwflqRk9hjsnZMcREMizBtnb_XVz82ifi363CtOGo4WB3ljOi5Vv08EznjaNGS621McAmJOd7CdoLGY8gpXu-TwvemIF4rwKCk/s320/Picture+059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383096859733511458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIvMp-pRTNDYXxgMt_-mgO6OPbTNlroCEYGTGAhru09LK9pU2WsU_ZXIdnPCNae9EhzNk_rjayCud5zUQIWHjXwgoM1pPkambQHPhB6UUOiZXVKraVBVvhtsjzMa7juD-O-08Bn-0_ZM/s1600-h/Picture+043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIvMp-pRTNDYXxgMt_-mgO6OPbTNlroCEYGTGAhru09LK9pU2WsU_ZXIdnPCNae9EhzNk_rjayCud5zUQIWHjXwgoM1pPkambQHPhB6UUOiZXVKraVBVvhtsjzMa7juD-O-08Bn-0_ZM/s320/Picture+043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383096852386555618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well, it's our third weekend open and we are slowly getting the hang of our little farm shop. How cute are the cupcakes??? I seem to have gotten the hang of coffee more or less and we had a steady stream of customers today which Tiff and I seemed to cope with quite nicely. Today I also learned that meat slicers are <span style="font-style: italic;">really sharp. </span>Thankfully I still have my finger however I will look as though I am paying tribute to Michael Jackson for the next month wearing one glove to cover up the bandaid until my fingernail grows back.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-13976438581444290322009-09-07T19:37:00.002+10:002009-09-07T19:41:37.647+10:00They're ready<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrraITZyPZYQZrH8CD40suZyxk45MkfAe0QArhdIuAe3670k7kARFHZcfMW7PTbsxtKb4Kavaxmk3nlizORNREWQsuYfgHrNw4-9HroNJ_sAxlJTPIMKQBMmAMLl-zy-0UHnLZyZdwl_4/s1600-h/Picture+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrraITZyPZYQZrH8CD40suZyxk45MkfAe0QArhdIuAe3670k7kARFHZcfMW7PTbsxtKb4Kavaxmk3nlizORNREWQsuYfgHrNw4-9HroNJ_sAxlJTPIMKQBMmAMLl-zy-0UHnLZyZdwl_4/s320/Picture+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378658322125210946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oH_YHqjpj2p2_CdfCeHAVhGbAzQ1UuRGcxbyFXiDfE46DaGqv7yupBrrqohS0GUpLt-TYBlkX-WdqoPJV-P0WEmzftWyj3Z3Gco25C2tAWng3GdAowdTYc3XSA90aQdVXOAh8DC7Mt4/s1600-h/Picture+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oH_YHqjpj2p2_CdfCeHAVhGbAzQ1UuRGcxbyFXiDfE46DaGqv7yupBrrqohS0GUpLt-TYBlkX-WdqoPJV-P0WEmzftWyj3Z3Gco25C2tAWng3GdAowdTYc3XSA90aQdVXOAh8DC7Mt4/s320/Picture+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378658316475635602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6WKNcZuwMask_BodQzjHQA_1ArNc9KPeA_eH5ZxnYGpnMmRFLTiu6KgAWbHRCagYKGKQghjTCzDur-ZuSNv6ExVbrpMxWnGBkQLyGzd4_LXwHd_wSjz42mU-cV5I2VOjR-uWm5Oqg_I/s1600-h/Picture+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6WKNcZuwMask_BodQzjHQA_1ArNc9KPeA_eH5ZxnYGpnMmRFLTiu6KgAWbHRCagYKGKQghjTCzDur-ZuSNv6ExVbrpMxWnGBkQLyGzd4_LXwHd_wSjz42mU-cV5I2VOjR-uWm5Oqg_I/s320/Picture+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378658306194727090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV24Lg5rcZi7HTSuNALnEGvPVY8srTTuR5ua52lYkrvP-0E78bmWB9bTCRdPrP-0chXRhE2Cy3mp7PZ9ep4QrHsslGSyVQUNYNKTr61AVPH9pC64YxYOj6RoETTLNUVGlD23Drtps8n4I/s1600-h/Picture+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV24Lg5rcZi7HTSuNALnEGvPVY8srTTuR5ua52lYkrvP-0E78bmWB9bTCRdPrP-0chXRhE2Cy3mp7PZ9ep4QrHsslGSyVQUNYNKTr61AVPH9pC64YxYOj6RoETTLNUVGlD23Drtps8n4I/s320/Picture+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378658297756859794" border="0" /></a><br />Well, here are Coco's babies - they are really my babies as well because I feel that I have been a worthy co-parent. Poor Coco has come through an awful mastitis which has enabled her to have a very effective tummy tuck (removing dead tissue) but she is still feeding the little monkeys. They are hooligans but I love all of them, and even though I spend most of my time with a mop and bucket I am going to miss their little faces as they scream at me in the morning to FEED THEM RIGHT NOW. Very good homes await - even for Beatrice... Emi is coping well.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-47637018253814239452009-09-07T19:28:00.003+10:002009-09-07T19:37:20.460+10:00Open for Business<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWwN3FndMVLHhL21RxEC7EKu7uGme1j1JS1eEPUpZRWvx_uPVn8ov0uKjV5LUXUqXiS8rKrbCvpzxOTkqwTXONljREUBky6fcyS6L9CVRhaFDpPEVTGqqCh6VVcpGF2K-8F1ag5a6Z3g/s1600-h/Picture+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWwN3FndMVLHhL21RxEC7EKu7uGme1j1JS1eEPUpZRWvx_uPVn8ov0uKjV5LUXUqXiS8rKrbCvpzxOTkqwTXONljREUBky6fcyS6L9CVRhaFDpPEVTGqqCh6VVcpGF2K-8F1ag5a6Z3g/s320/Picture+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378656973567823026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyDEmH8bo7S9EYgU4P1heMmsY8dr8TmLjqAPMhtVadp5sbxvHD4n2KOZ2rVy5t-1T_BQUMBN8JWOG3OuB_XYyKhDqfGD8Wpt6rlZj27_ejsoSAauldCMxrmFnvuRqbqYXeuWN7oyT9po/s1600-h/Picture+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyDEmH8bo7S9EYgU4P1heMmsY8dr8TmLjqAPMhtVadp5sbxvHD4n2KOZ2rVy5t-1T_BQUMBN8JWOG3OuB_XYyKhDqfGD8Wpt6rlZj27_ejsoSAauldCMxrmFnvuRqbqYXeuWN7oyT9po/s320/Picture+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378656969763843426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnY-WZhmo7b9aavgG8cOdWzb1dLj5vt_mZhUw90tvqxYD7oKObcj2SjXE8YrQf1OyUteIRfCSV4t1GdMZ3bPWYv2cTDHo_QaZ36I6dwDgAxWVgyfYNWBgVXOb5CkIKKA4w7Va6sDR4Fo/s1600-h/Picture+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnY-WZhmo7b9aavgG8cOdWzb1dLj5vt_mZhUw90tvqxYD7oKObcj2SjXE8YrQf1OyUteIRfCSV4t1GdMZ3bPWYv2cTDHo_QaZ36I6dwDgAxWVgyfYNWBgVXOb5CkIKKA4w7Va6sDR4Fo/s320/Picture+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378656961879128146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1T_FOzEizmewT8_76lFmUYc5nONM_HW8Il3uZoucfbI7mAFAagxCm4e_2mPvCfJaIEh6coCPTQ_DjO1We79H4-Yy-YG-1vKWUjdJ-dZMvpgNj8V2k2Gpf87p5Yyxe3-Uj301XfXv0JG4/s1600-h/Picture+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1T_FOzEizmewT8_76lFmUYc5nONM_HW8Il3uZoucfbI7mAFAagxCm4e_2mPvCfJaIEh6coCPTQ_DjO1We79H4-Yy-YG-1vKWUjdJ-dZMvpgNj8V2k2Gpf87p5Yyxe3-Uj301XfXv0JG4/s320/Picture+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378656957982926930" border="0" /></a>Well - almost 2 years to month the first sows arrived we have opened the doors to The Farmers Pantry. Doing the Sydney Market the day before probably didn't reflect a particularly good thought process, however we sold 300 kg of pork and headed back to try and get our head around being shop keepers with our usual degree of total disorganisation.<br /><br />The idea was to not tell anyone and have a dry run through - this worked well and thankfully we have made a very wise decision in employing Tiff, who has cafe experience and makes a better coffee than I can ever hope to - and really just rolled up her sleeves and made everything work in a way that made us both forever grateful. James has taken to coffee making in his usual manner and is suddenly an experienced barista. I am very good at flat whites...oh and babycino's when I make the milk too frothy - anything in between seems impossible. More practice. On day one the dishwasher broke, we lost power on one side of the kitchen and something died in the roof leading to a terrible smell this morning. I go by the thought that the worse it is leading up to an event, the better it will be on the day - this seemed to hold true.<br /><br />Anyway - here are some pictures...we are now shopkeepers!Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-31772150261242578802009-08-24T12:04:00.004+10:002009-08-24T12:11:51.675+10:00Thank god for Uncle Woody<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzuyeusWfr4tzP3liMVP0A1RMM6NkoFWJNoMKUxbH2q7_GHqClRIrYDA2CURgmFJsKx99o7NpE26Z2eHIRg6XcWLEdgeWxCftyW5XOTs6Bpznvl_DcPgnWHTgWhBw0fY94jrofhZpH4I/s1600-h/Picture+167.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzuyeusWfr4tzP3liMVP0A1RMM6NkoFWJNoMKUxbH2q7_GHqClRIrYDA2CURgmFJsKx99o7NpE26Z2eHIRg6XcWLEdgeWxCftyW5XOTs6Bpznvl_DcPgnWHTgWhBw0fY94jrofhZpH4I/s320/Picture+167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373346597402491938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxggt1fe_1CS8gwdxoqsxrKI9HYkvfYFU-MxikF2QKktPMslbvzxmt9jt3r3OXY-wVIh_i9gNqFbt0966jkg32-F1ly_nF19WVrre5uIDu5ZQcxv7IY-YlwhxzXuVIirLPsciJCU3euVU/s1600-h/Picture+169.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxggt1fe_1CS8gwdxoqsxrKI9HYkvfYFU-MxikF2QKktPMslbvzxmt9jt3r3OXY-wVIh_i9gNqFbt0966jkg32-F1ly_nF19WVrre5uIDu5ZQcxv7IY-YlwhxzXuVIirLPsciJCU3euVU/s320/Picture+169.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373346583338640642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfkVScHcu585R39ndbXAtCri8dmu2xqGFqMGDhtWBvde8in_CJxbgIyKDTB3T-IQ8M7mvVa6tHHDejdcnlkbeS6dPV-Rvf8EMml_Kp6aXgFumeSXi70x6B-DTXSRpuUCtwoop38l98qc/s1600-h/Picture+187.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfkVScHcu585R39ndbXAtCri8dmu2xqGFqMGDhtWBvde8in_CJxbgIyKDTB3T-IQ8M7mvVa6tHHDejdcnlkbeS6dPV-Rvf8EMml_Kp6aXgFumeSXi70x6B-DTXSRpuUCtwoop38l98qc/s320/Picture+187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373346573953520178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWs5by46n3h4bW2kQJ3YB8screnn3hXbt85c52_IR8V8WqZADKP89VbtUlAHMo_s1LMER-JmJ9DhUUJWFjMGVAdR5Ett5M71AoTejEw4L_-aGpHyhcj9cBVWTVmUH1KIammPaeAHl84k/s1600-h/Picture+189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWs5by46n3h4bW2kQJ3YB8screnn3hXbt85c52_IR8V8WqZADKP89VbtUlAHMo_s1LMER-JmJ9DhUUJWFjMGVAdR5Ett5M71AoTejEw4L_-aGpHyhcj9cBVWTVmUH1KIammPaeAHl84k/s320/Picture+189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373346563930183458" border="0" /></a><br />Poor Coco has been very sick with mastitis - thank god the pups are 5 weeks old and I don't have to take over any handraising. She is still determindly trying to feed them but it is obviously excruciating so we are trying to keep her away from the pups. They are eating like lions and thriving. Woody has decided that he will step into the role of primary carer and is found with the pups most of the time. Attached are some photos of them this morning...Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-75853400716360260592009-08-12T21:57:00.002+10:002009-08-12T22:11:01.534+10:00City to Surf...and back to city again..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkke52ubUQ8r6EU4-1hAhrUN59yM4b68qrO9hQBijvkOiLM-zrLVw15EuYfEZubueyIMh8b1mtN8xDuHgGogdfJ-Qu5q_gsWgXuvQ_g3SF7oLwNq1b44q5h_KqoYU14TGhSIpxFbpGBk/s1600-h/FFAR1956-cp12x17-22500.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkke52ubUQ8r6EU4-1hAhrUN59yM4b68qrO9hQBijvkOiLM-zrLVw15EuYfEZubueyIMh8b1mtN8xDuHgGogdfJ-Qu5q_gsWgXuvQ_g3SF7oLwNq1b44q5h_KqoYU14TGhSIpxFbpGBk/s400/FFAR1956-cp12x17-22500.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369045421131334706" border="0" /></a>Well, I believe I said I fancied doing this 14km fun run about this time last year. After putting pen to paper there was no getting away from it so I lined up with 75,000 other Sydneysiders (most much fitter than me at the moment) for the hilly run from the city to Bondi Beach. As you can see it was quite painful by the end - actually it wasn't as bad as the photo makes it look. It seems that the way I <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> I run and the way I <span style="font-style: italic;">actually </span>run are vastly different. In my head I am a marathon runner - in reality my style is more old lady. Anyway, I really enjoyed the run - more in retrospect admittedly. If I did it again I feel that renting a flat in Bondi would have made it much easier at the finish line as the logistics of moving over 75,000 people out of Bondi meant that a long walk was necessary to get to a nearer train station and rest our weary legs. Felix and Emi both took my medal to school when we got back home, and although Felix couldn't quite comprehend why I didn't win he said he was 'very proud' of me anyway.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-16306628409893959102009-08-12T21:46:00.003+10:002009-08-12T22:13:57.523+10:00Ponies and puppies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg76Af5ql_f2xy_7YtKZioonNTwPZtOihkDHn_aysoPX4Z9z1QTAkJZYUvif6i86-r1nJRfIygDR4K6j3VVcFpeOz8K2k7gn2c4GrF7rSqJMfEOIeMyax4701hfFJOZxnj18kstdU4Hs/s1600-h/jas+and+em.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg76Af5ql_f2xy_7YtKZioonNTwPZtOihkDHn_aysoPX4Z9z1QTAkJZYUvif6i86-r1nJRfIygDR4K6j3VVcFpeOz8K2k7gn2c4GrF7rSqJMfEOIeMyax4701hfFJOZxnj18kstdU4Hs/s320/jas+and+em.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369043361326153842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmCg3pZwkIYq5meJ_xiDriAffpmX47WcL4togi6st7_BxuYTWPv408-2GGuSF10AqqNP9ZwIFGJDAYmASshj-EkETJ9eLI-w1Zg_mFBWPv-g81vxNoqQQMyWgqLoKqAeyJM_pk3D3CAA/s1600-h/jas2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmCg3pZwkIYq5meJ_xiDriAffpmX47WcL4togi6st7_BxuYTWPv408-2GGuSF10AqqNP9ZwIFGJDAYmASshj-EkETJ9eLI-w1Zg_mFBWPv-g81vxNoqQQMyWgqLoKqAeyJM_pk3D3CAA/s320/jas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369043349942990594" border="0" /></a>I'm told that I am going overboard on the puppy photos - however as my day is filled with washing both the kids clothes and now the pups' bedding you are just going to have to hang in there until they go to their new homes. Today Emi and I saddled up little Jaz and pottered about with her in the front paddock. We couldn't do too much as her daughter was in the yard making it very clear indeed that if Mum went too far we would have an airborne youngster tearing after us so Emily did some excellent shoulder brushing while Jazz happily ate her way through a bucket of food. Puppies had their first day of solid food yesterday which they tucked into with gusto - they are also having a couple of hours outside with Uncle Woody now which Coco is very grateful for. They get cuter every day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iJBO5Pyyvi1gi2i0zASqjAdUlsYQVw2_tGz0dHHILMSVyqD0P9hDKDdoSqI6mBPxd_Ls1ZD2n-U2oMymV1CGa5LfxSJfw5KoT9NQ8m5gXh2bsi6cRQOg2z6BKDkcuNBjzTVtH0ED8wE/s1600-h/Picture+112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iJBO5Pyyvi1gi2i0zASqjAdUlsYQVw2_tGz0dHHILMSVyqD0P9hDKDdoSqI6mBPxd_Ls1ZD2n-U2oMymV1CGa5LfxSJfw5KoT9NQ8m5gXh2bsi6cRQOg2z6BKDkcuNBjzTVtH0ED8wE/s320/Picture+112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369043340809736018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA1HRByNgnH3IIFl2cPFSDyeMUR7vtenhYSaFsV060W1MYFuklQRn0h3BjOgjJvhQv1kRTsP9oXfxcC9g6XVawK7ABhvkhfKl-3cI8YS3gIAY18lEWfFQY8H4gIokiDBI6VPMelZckd8/s1600-h/bea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA1HRByNgnH3IIFl2cPFSDyeMUR7vtenhYSaFsV060W1MYFuklQRn0h3BjOgjJvhQv1kRTsP9oXfxcC9g6XVawK7ABhvkhfKl-3cI8YS3gIAY18lEWfFQY8H4gIokiDBI6VPMelZckd8/s320/bea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369043331267632450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFaHfxQOU9Pd_ZCpjcY28pyMFfVTF58Ae9I1_VXoGH1q5UscxoDxyXETWU2AXfvpI1DAXonzC6ULVDNNbWftRawvsApuePLlvl95TrK1lr9YlvP0ZgBbpDGC6YL7RxBlotRNc1JfpO7w/s1600-h/Picture+104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFaHfxQOU9Pd_ZCpjcY28pyMFfVTF58Ae9I1_VXoGH1q5UscxoDxyXETWU2AXfvpI1DAXonzC6ULVDNNbWftRawvsApuePLlvl95TrK1lr9YlvP0ZgBbpDGC6YL7RxBlotRNc1JfpO7w/s320/Picture+104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369043322002528002" border="0" /></a>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-49499114595231810892009-08-07T17:11:00.002+10:002009-08-07T17:14:11.294+10:00Jazz arrives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_ahxSqx7VsjhLdrUOhVjhW_TaCzpdPV-W4DqGlWLb-FuFCt1sxy972Q_73vOaOXKpQz2X8GXFWpd7JrqUK1H4n9U6fXXYZD203MJU8JRNk5EIXGjqFZpBZgPeH8tcGlJbwmb9jVHpfc/s1600-h/Picture+084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_ahxSqx7VsjhLdrUOhVjhW_TaCzpdPV-W4DqGlWLb-FuFCt1sxy972Q_73vOaOXKpQz2X8GXFWpd7JrqUK1H4n9U6fXXYZD203MJU8JRNk5EIXGjqFZpBZgPeH8tcGlJbwmb9jVHpfc/s400/Picture+084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367116702275353650" border="0" /></a><br />Here is Jazz - she is my lovely new horse and joins Sparkle (who is not impressed) and Mickey (who is very impressed). You will hear lots more about her but I can't possibly type any more this session.Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179090013523087364.post-9115779127789046652009-08-07T17:01:00.006+10:002009-08-07T17:11:11.618+10:00Beatrice the springer who wasn't..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqchqLIp3kOizMBzbfRBO4ve-qUYKT7xiY73UCQGUS_rAqy-hDGiV9G1RGkJwDZIPebOivgifK8d2BcLs1XJyR3JTyCGSEzNhKZUs-RreRUOqY353IkwyzgqqW5KtyFP9CiehMgGFL8M/s1600-h/Picture+057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqchqLIp3kOizMBzbfRBO4ve-qUYKT7xiY73UCQGUS_rAqy-hDGiV9G1RGkJwDZIPebOivgifK8d2BcLs1XJyR3JTyCGSEzNhKZUs-RreRUOqY353IkwyzgqqW5KtyFP9CiehMgGFL8M/s320/Picture+057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367115820849764546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZPEmgun4gexkjm1Uszdybo8JA6DNjBRU0ncjAfQLmtSrn73vn3ruIX08Wqrtxe8wnFR0DzuS1dNYiQPTS0XT_7l7eDqRruKDwDXOc8nDG3F1_8He6q1Vy2rR26FRvhhBVIF5cnCSMXw/s1600-h/Picture+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZPEmgun4gexkjm1Uszdybo8JA6DNjBRU0ncjAfQLmtSrn73vn3ruIX08Wqrtxe8wnFR0DzuS1dNYiQPTS0XT_7l7eDqRruKDwDXOc8nDG3F1_8He6q1Vy2rR26FRvhhBVIF5cnCSMXw/s320/Picture+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367115813706260258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHV3Tb3Q_-w9s3QW63OCeTJKE2POAFqWnVrTawUBuKzrIn3nsvmdwZ6AE-Kl_mfAKdmENZde-p-lQT16UlBuMhdABB8dNZ92SOWQbRkV0vC2432-M_WD99JCIlMqCrV8AA4TeaqGkpNs/s1600-h/Picture+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHV3Tb3Q_-w9s3QW63OCeTJKE2POAFqWnVrTawUBuKzrIn3nsvmdwZ6AE-Kl_mfAKdmENZde-p-lQT16UlBuMhdABB8dNZ92SOWQbRkV0vC2432-M_WD99JCIlMqCrV8AA4TeaqGkpNs/s320/Picture+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367115657000619314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Coco is doing a beautiful job with the littlies who are almost 3 weeks old. They have suddenly turned from small squirming sleepers to tail wagging trouble makers. Felix and Emily are delighted and spend pretty much all their time in the whelping box which Coco so helpfully shares. She is a lovely mother, although at times as we look into the box with them all clamouring about her she gives me a look that says "don't make me go in there". They are very lively and difficult to cuddle because they want to practice walking and wobbling about and generally making sense of the world. This brings me to Beatrice. In the beginning we had some concerns about her mental capabilities as she seemed very happy to lie quite happily with Emily for indefinite periods of time. This is like a little girls dream and Emi and Bea spend most of their time in each others company. We have decided Bea has no interest in being a working springer and would actually prefer to be a toy poodle - or maybe on of those handbag dogs. Above is where we usually find her... below is everyone else..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiO0cMgZyGxG8EquGu7BbS_6askDG9dunPc5hkU65Yixnfjz_kXO-WT__4rzmbC7r0qVbvxLzz9QDV49x_mocaiBjL6m2eemxQqpq4-M0cyt_0IVmSRZdVeBrnE32veEwcKV64Iccq24/s1600-h/Picture+058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiO0cMgZyGxG8EquGu7BbS_6askDG9dunPc5hkU65Yixnfjz_kXO-WT__4rzmbC7r0qVbvxLzz9QDV49x_mocaiBjL6m2eemxQqpq4-M0cyt_0IVmSRZdVeBrnE32veEwcKV64Iccq24/s320/Picture+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367113978057503506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsk98bcOt7sHIpPuo0azA-_dMGYeeGHrL5gvRnlBBpgB1C6TCzhbVPu1QsUjcFVbk3fScvdfgI8X0xbf0RRTMqBnHCferWIi3k9elSPV8Rt8vLmp7R_vXa_lsWE2_d7dGUb-2xV4-ieY/s1600-h/Picture+070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsk98bcOt7sHIpPuo0azA-_dMGYeeGHrL5gvRnlBBpgB1C6TCzhbVPu1QsUjcFVbk3fScvdfgI8X0xbf0RRTMqBnHCferWIi3k9elSPV8Rt8vLmp7R_vXa_lsWE2_d7dGUb-2xV4-ieY/s320/Picture+070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367113721863223426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6GMlnOpQie_YQy5w1x7el7X4-xJNiZtTLkkfDBjgbCY82CiYpZgWLXmiVo6t-EG7c638H_S2C5YEpQAnDCCdi1S9gzkZJI_0FSyyS7gHDzGdeN63F44vEcZ4xCK9LjwGmypExpLLsoQ/s1600-h/Picture+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6GMlnOpQie_YQy5w1x7el7X4-xJNiZtTLkkfDBjgbCY82CiYpZgWLXmiVo6t-EG7c638H_S2C5YEpQAnDCCdi1S9gzkZJI_0FSyyS7gHDzGdeN63F44vEcZ4xCK9LjwGmypExpLLsoQ/s320/Picture+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367113706332526802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ormiston Free Rangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755455214947730087noreply@blogger.com0