feeding sheep.........

The upside is I am feeling better.......taking little walks in the house.......

the little lamb died........probably didn't get colostrum since it was not cleaned up.......bit sad but one less job to do and I couldn't manage it at the time......... 

Some pics from the other day.............

Sheep are much easier to feed in a drought then cattle...........

the only food they get is from the feed cart.............they all come running.......

you have to work out how many are in the mob and then how much grain they need and wait until they all get in so they all get a go at the feed for the same amount of time............

born today this little one knows he has to stick with mum to survive.........

the little ones gather together..........

while I am laid up i'm trying to work on the bookwork.........

your support means a lot my friends........

thankyou.....

Catch you later...............

Chookyblue............

International Friendship Day................

I couldn't get myself out of bed this morning so Mr Chooky hung around the farm working instead of the other jobs he needed to do.........

The afternoon improved but i've not moved from the lounge............

Apparently today is International Friendship Day.......

couple of my neighbours popped in and made cuppas...........one brought these beautiful flowers........

So thankyou for your beautiful friendship.........your care and support that goes with that too.......it is very much appreciated........whether near or far ........friendship has no distance...........its just a visit, phone call, email, text or comment away..............

Catch you later...... Chookyblue......

Unlucky but lucky.....

unlucky or lucky.............

meet Sonny........Sonny is lucky I had been out working at the other property 3 days in a row after work and saw he was not so good the 2nd day and I convinced Mr Chooky to help me catch him to bring home the 3rd day.........

easiest calf I have ever got onto a bottle..........clearly starving.......

a better picture of Sonny........

He's a buddy for Rover..........

then next morning we went out feeding at home.........

the troughs look so empty with all the cows that we are selling in another mob.............

they love the cottonseed..............

heading back from that I spotted this little bubba in the grasses........after I convinced Mr Chooky the crows would get it before we came back to check again he turned around and we picked the little lamb up........No mother in sight......another case of neglectful mother.........she had not even cleaned the lamb up...........mostly dry but still damp so born a few hours earlier..........

We had to head off to the other farm to work so it went road tripping with me............took some mixed up milk with me...........
ALL was fine with that plan until an hour or so later...........

9 cattle panels fell over on me and I went backwards over the side of the trailer..........hung up on the side by my legs the first thought was 2 broken legs............Mr Chooky was very close by and saw it as it was happening............thank goodness he was able to lift the panels up just..........but I had to get myself out.............upside is I can do an incline sit up - who knew it was possible (must have been the adrenaline).......but trust me my gut muscles know about that today.......

So while I was extremely unlucky to have the accident I am soooooo lucky I didn't break two legs.....no time for that.......no one to care for me if that happened...........yes I went home via hospital and xrays.........no broken bones - My fat calves (on  my legs) probably help there..........I'm sort of hobbling to the bathroom and back on crutches............some rippa bruises coming........so it's time on the lounge resting......a few other aches from being thrown backwards too..........can't see myself at town work tomorrow but i'll take  it day by day...........
Poor Mr Chooky is now cursing me as he has the job of the new poddies........woops............but so far he has not refused getting things for me...........hes gone off now to finish the jobs we didn't get done yesterday.............
So i'm on forced rest...........
guess I got spat out the side of the roller coaster...............

Catch you later........

Chookyblue.......

Roller coaster.....

life sure does feel like a roller coaster at the moment.......I just hope I don't get spat out the side as it rushes down and around the bend..........

the weekend was great with the girls but once they left it was time to feed..............

I had a day off town work Monday to get some cattle work done..............

pregnancy testing and working out what we can sell...............the last load of hay is like it is gold lined it was so much $$$$$......freight is a killer as it came from well over 1000kms away.......I can't keep spending that much money...........you would be horrified to hear how much our weekly feeding is costing at the moment.......

everywhere is so bare and dusty......

I snapped this pic when I started mustering early the other morning.........and as the plans of the day panned out and the reality of what I have to sell started to hit home......the day spiraled down........

We hadn't quiet finished the sorting out so Tuesday before town work we were in the yards finishing the job at daylight.........the cows are now in two mobs........keep and sell.........I know I keep talking about lack of rain but we have been feeding here since Jan/Feb 2017........yep that is 2017.............not 2018....in all that time we had about a month off feeding.............and this is on top of a crap run of 8 years........so much feeding in that time.........unless you live this life you can't really understand how hard this is at the moment...........yes I choose to be a farmer...........but selling your cows just cause you can't feed them is so sad...........not having fat rolling cows ready for market is a failure............I have worked on my cows for years and years and years..........slowly buying and selling and finally only in the last year or so feeling like I was close to where I had been aiming for...........always fine tuning......now that huge part of my life is being shattered.....already this is going to take us years to recover from........our crops are mostly winter and the sewing window is gone we are now not looking at growing grain and hay until 2019...........harvest is Sept to Nov.........

this isn't just my farm this is most of the state of NSW.......

this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better............and as  I load the cows on the truck there will be more tears shed.....my heart is breaking......but there is no choice but to carry on so that's what will happen..............

(comments are turned off as i just can't cope with them at the moment. I know you all mean well and this is not a sympathy post it;s hoping you understand a little more of my life)

Catch you later........

Chookyblue.......

Amnesia......

This weekend was planned ages ago.........I thought it would end up being cancelled as we are all so busy..........but no we all needed this weekend......

time spent with friends being creative and getting reinspired is so good..............

Kylie took this pic yesterday when we went for a walk..................

Anni took this one of me and Kylie...........we had a happy weekend..........lots of laughs and fun..........

this is all I can show you from the sewing machine and the design wall...........

with so much secret stuff happening its a good thing I have amnesia and can't remember anything............but I did sew........it was fun..........

Or maybe it is that I ate to many yummy jam drops made by Anni or delicious slice made by Kylie.........

With our cups filled with inspiration and motivation sadly we had to say goodbye...........the girls on their long trips home...........me I went to feed sheep and cows.............

And as the sun set peace and calm finished a perfect weekend.............

Better go Rover (pet calf) is bellowing for a bottle..............

Catch you later......

Chookyblue........

Omg sewing......

Stitch and bitch chat weekend.........

Refuelling from friends........ 

Catch you later........

Chookyblue......

Lamby.....

Lamby is still the fattest sheep on the farm stealing food where ever she can........

She came for a pat this morning.....

I looked at her up close and she is so so fat...... Her udder is looking full so I think there may be baby lamb/ies again soon........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue......

Playing with cotton.......

Playing with cotton...............

cotton seed is helping keep my cows alive.........

Catch you later....... Chookyblue.......

Rover.......

Rover.........

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.......

House weekend......

Nice to have a weekend at home.........just working around the house............
Inside and outside jobs.............but within walking distance...........
We got some rain during the week...............won't really make any difference unless we get more very soon and that forecast just completely disappeared..........
Last Sunday 40mls was forecast for this last week..........most around here were lucky if they got 10mm...........some even started sowing some crops........everyone is so desperate..........10mm won't do anything really...........we are sooooooo dry.............
to put it into perspective..........and every area has different rain fall needs.......we have an annual rain fall of about 21.5inchs. (12 months)
For 20 months we are only up to 14inchs.........so for not too far off 2 years we don't have any where near one years rain even yet...........
We just need to be more resilient according to the government..........i can tell you if we weren't resilient we wouldn't still be here......stupid govt........

I managed to get some pics of Big Loves babies............

Thankgoodness she is still managing to feed both of them..............mind you we are still feeding her heaps.............

Big Love loves her buckets of feed............

in the tray is oats and cotton seed..........

Some more groceries arrived yesterday..........only 1/2 the load..........someone else was desperate so I will get more next week........at least I know it is coming.........

Not sure what will happen once this is gone.........its getting more expensive and this came from Victoria..........the freight is a killer........

Sunset yesterday.............Actually feels like we achieved something this weekend............something progressive.......while it was demolishing yards it's still good to do something other then exist......or feeding...........

I received a little care package a few weeks ago and I was looking in it again this weekend and found the hot pink nail polish............I needed a feel good moment so i painted my nails.................lots of funny comments from the family while working...........lol...........But it was a great boost for the weekend............sometimes it's the little things that show people still care that count.......don't ever forget how powerful one little action or word can be for someone............

not sure when I will be back.........sewing is non existent and I think your sick of the farm posts.............

Take care...........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue........