Another go at eeling

Success! Yay.  The troops went eeling again tonight, armed with proper spears, and Nathan managed to spear this one.  They also brought two crawlies home as well.  We will cook them up in the morning.

Read Full Post »

Just relaxing

Well there is not a lot to write about today.  Last nights eeling expedition didn’t net any food.  However it was worthwhile as the intrepid explorers did spot a few eels, but alas not eating size.  Crawlies were also found (eating size), but not brought home, maybe next time.  It seems they had fun, so another trip is definitely planned for sometime soon.

Today was very relaxing, some friends from over the hill came over for lunch. It is always good to catch up with people we don’t get to see very often, and we like that fact that their kids are nice too, and always well behaved.  So after getting stuff ready for lunch the morning was gone, and after they left the afternoon was too   Even the big brother emerged from his room for lunch.

So that was our day.  Dad and Lilly are playing Battleships, and I’m off to do some sewing (the last of the nappies in the swap)

P.S I did get up to some craft while the others were eeling last night.  I did some stenciling with fabric paints.  It turned out pretty good for a first try, but I could do with some spray adhesive, I will have to see if the budget will allow it this month as it’s pretty expensive stuff. 

Read Full Post »

A day for haircuts…

Had to give Lilly a haircut today, it was getting so long that she couldn’t brush it properly anymore.  So being a bit of a miser at the moment I got the scissors out and cut away.  I took about 5 inches off, it looks great, and I didn’t do a half bad job. 

Pity the same can’t be said of the haircut we gave the Ewe. It’s not quite finished yet, as we were getting to hot outside (even in the shade),  and using the hand shears is very hard work.  So we will catch her again tomorrow and do a bit of a tidy up.

Cam’s new sandpit is now up and running, complete with sunshade and cover, and he had a great time in it this afternoon.  I took some pics but the file size is a bit big for on here so I will take some more tomorrow.

Our other fantastic job for the day was too remove all the thistles growing in the big paddock.  Yay thats now done !

Ian and Lilly are off to go eeling for the first time over here in a few minutes, so hopefully I will have something to report back on here about it next post.

Read Full Post »

Rain, glorious rain

Well it rained here most of the day.  Unlike most city folk we are pretty glad when it rains.  September, October and November were dry this year, so as we are on rain water here (collected from the roof) it was good to see more rain.  The tanks are looking a bit healthier and the grass is starting to grow again.  We have had to buy in supplementary hay already for the cows, if we can grow a bit more grass we can stop the hay for a while.  We have about 6 mths till the first cow is ready for eating, so we are slightly overstocked until then.  One other benefit of the rain is that no one has to go out and water the garden after dinner.  We planted more beetroot today, as we have had good success so far this year, and have actually eaten most of what is ready.

Here are some pics for the garden:  Courgette flowers

Strawberries – might not look like much but the best we have grown yet.

And in the family files, here is Cam deep in thought while playing with a new truck he appropriated from big brothers toy box while I was cleaning it out.

And a pic of the tiger minky nappy made last night.

Read Full Post »

Ta Da!

Well, after being inspired by a few other blogs  I have finally decided to start one here at Highway Cottage.  My goal for the blog is to show off crafty things I have made, keep a track of the progress of the garden and farmlet, and keep the relatives up to date with what the sprogs are up to.

Some of the blogs that i love to read are truly amazing, and I would have to call the people who write them w and wordsmiths.  You won’t find that here though, but you might find a few amusing things, and maybe not too many spelling mistakes.

So with page one I better do the introductions then-

I am a SAHM with a wonderful husband (we have been married 14 years next week), 4 kids (Matt 17, Nathan 11, Lilly 9 and Cam 1).  We have a small lifestyle block, just 3 acres, rural but quite close to town.  Livestock is currently 2 year old friesan cross heifers, 1 crossbred weaned calf, 1 year old romney ewe, 1 romney lamb, 12 hens, 1 rooster, 3 juvenile chicks and 4 small chicks.  1 Lab X huntaway bitch and 1 DSH cat.

There will be more livestock soon as last night I had to move the broody barred rock hen.  I have been trying unsuccessfully for the last week to get her off the nest, as I don’t really want any more chicks, but she is very determined, so I set up the brooding cage, chucked in a selection of eggs (bantam x, shaver x, and barred rock), 8 in total and moved her last night.  More chicks in 21 days.

Under the craft section I made C1 a new nappy last night, its tiger stripe minky.  I will post a pic as soon as I figure out how to.

Read Full Post »

Hello world!

Read Full Post »