Feedlot Finale

Today marked the last day of our 2015 feed-lotting endeavour! As the last five decks were trucked out early this morning, Heidi yelled "Have a good trip cows", Darryn muttered "Good riddance!"

 

After approximately 140 days, five mobs totalling about 300 head, excellent cattle prices have certainly made it all very worth while!  However, come 3pm this afternoon (normal feed-up time) I fear Darryn may have slight withdrawals from the routine that has made up every day of the last 140! It has certainly helped us through the extended dry period that greeted us as winter weather gave way to warmer days, which failed to yield rain until most recently.  These last animals to go were actually cull cows that we gave only 40 days on feed to just get the required 3mm of fat over their rumps so that they could be offloaded many months ahead of when they normally would have been fit for sale.  This in turn has freed up room and grass so that we are able to keep and join more maiden heifers.  So this morning it was all hands on deck as trucks were loaded, mixers were put in the shed, grain silos closed up and the gates to the feedlot chained shut. Job Done! :-)

 

However, the feedlot has not been totally forgotten with preparations being made to plant the crop that will make silage for next year's ration.  The new plough had its maiden voyage around the paddock, Daddy recruited his little 2IC to help pass the time in a job which he does not derive a great deal of excitement from.  Lewis was a little put out about having to stay in the buggy with Mum.  He is starting to make noise when he hears any piece of machinery start up, obviously decided he is old enough to participate in whatever adventure awaits.

We have been lucky enough to measure some rain around the place - totals varying from 70mm out the back to 54mm here at the house.  A wonderful relief and a great excuse to go driving with Dad, checking all the rain gauges.

This little boy slept in until 8am the other morning!  With Heidi's and my day well underway at that hour he enjoyed his breakfast on the lawn while we gardened.  As you can see he was pretty happy with the change of scenery!

And finally with the festive season upon us we have been partaking in a little Christmas craft.  I have a lot of trouble keeping paint and glue off kids and on projects but as you can see we ended up with some cute little trinkets which Heidi has been showing off to anyone and everyone.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Beat The Heat

While everyone sweltered through last weekend the kids and I headed to Rocky and made a beeline for this place.  They absolutely loved it! 

 

We managed to fit in two visits over the weekend, Heidi would live there if I'd let her :-)  Lewis took a little longer to warm to it but was soon moving all over the place exploring all the water.  With only a handful of 'swimming' experiences under his belt it certainly seems like he's going to love the water.

We slipped and slided...

By the end, Mum wasn't required...

What better way to finish off an afternoon at the pool, than ice cream!

Up, Up and Away

Lewis is officially walking!! He has finally hit his pins properly and thinks he's so very clever!  So at 1 year and 18 days old we have a toddler :-)

Lewis's 1st Birthday

I can't believe this little ratbag has been in our lives for one whole year!  Time has just flown and we have so enjoyed the new dynamic he has brought to our little family.  Every morning I am greeted with this cheeky grin which, if I don't remove him from the cot at lightning speed, quickly turns to a frustrated frown!

 

Poppa was his first well wisher for his birthday.  He came bearing gifts which had Heidi beside herself with the prospect of present opening.  Lewis couldn't quite grasp the concept of unwrapping so Heidi was more than happy to step up to the challenge on his behalf.

 

Birthday cake making was next on the agenda and Lewis got his first taste of cake batter.  This little bit of heaven on a spatula has seen Heidi's exclusive rights to all spoon licking officially expire - there's a new kid on the block and he totally understands the yumminess overload this cake cooking business has to offer!

Cake made and decorated, we headed to the local pool for a pool party with some of Lewis's friends and cousins.

 

 

With the formalities over, it was time for cake tasting.  It passed the test with the birthday boy!

 

 

 

 

To keep with the 'first' theme of the day, Lewis enjoyed his very first swim.  Which he loved.  

 

 

Happy Birthday beautiful boy, we love you 'big much' (as Heidi would say). xoxox

Talk talk talk...

I often get comments on how well Heidi can communicate.  She can quite easily string a sentence together and comes up with some very long ones at that!  She has had the verbal ability to boss me around for a good six months now. 

We are certainly never left in the dark wondering what she wants, how she's feeling or what she thinks about any given thing.

As soon as Darryn comes home she parks herself on the couch and shouts her orders - "I need a drink, Dad", "More biccies please Dad", "Put the blanket over me please Dad".  I shake my head as he runs after her.  His defence is "My Mum did it for me".

She does seem however to add a B to any word that she finds a bit tricky.

She likes cruskits with Bacado (Avocado) and Vegemite - but no Bamato (tomato) thanks Mum.

Whenever you ask what she would like for dinner "Bisotto (Risotto) please Mum".

She loves going on the tractor with Dad to give all the cows their Balasses (molasses).

And as I curse every morning at what destruction the wallabies have caused overnight in the garden she reassures me "Don't be sad Mum, Daddy will shoot the naughty Wobblies, so they won't eat your garden." 

Heidi is loving magic at the moment - she has a magic wand and is constantly turning us all into this that and everything.  She turned Darryn into a frog the other night then proceeded to shuffle him out the door because "Mummy doesn't like frogs in her house!"

As her independence grows I'm hearing a lot more "I can do it", "Leave me Mum", "I will do it by myself!" and "Go away Mum's". 

She can count to 14 and knows all her colours. 

This little ray of sunshine brings a smile to our face every single day with her antics.  So there's just a little snapshot of Heidi today - no doubt tomorrow she will come up with something new and equally hilarious. Can't wait :-)

Derby Day - Marlborough Style

Last weekend we donned our best Black & White attire for Derby Day.  We skipped the hustle and bustle of Flemington and instead opted for a day of racing - Marlborough Style.  No celebrities or horses were spotted but the atmosphere certainly rivalled that of any Melbourne race meet.  Fashions were also a highlight of the day, with everyone in the traditional Derby Day black and white.  With all my family up for the weekend - it was sure to be a great day.

 

Team Atkinson



Team Absolon

 
 
 


The Girls

 

The Boys

The Grandkids

 

Form guides were studied, tips were gathered, conditions were considered and bets were placed.  Some won, some lost.  Whenever I ask Darryn how he went for the day he always replies "I reckon I just about broke even".  The kids of course were in their element, although Heidi and Lewis did sleep for a majority of the day!  With all four grandparents and an abundance of Aunties and Uncles, Lewis's feet barely hit the floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mama managed to gather the troops for this happy snap - although smiles were apparently a bit tricky to master!

 

 

Come days end, winnings were tallied, losses were forgotton and we all went home having enjoyed a wonderful day out filled with country spirit, good friends and happy memories.  Very much looking forward to next year!

Out to Nana and Pop's

 

Last weekend the kids and I headed to Baralaba for a visit.  A Friday night function saw plenty of time spare on Saturday and Sunday for exploring, playing and helping.  With Grace, Lachy and Olivia also in attendance there were plenty of helpers, that's for sure.  First job was to pick the last of the mandarins then give the tree a good pruning.  As soon as Pop appeared with the ladder, 4 kids insisted on their turn to climb to the heights of the tree.  Pop stood back until the novelty wore off and his ladder was once again free.  A good final haul of mandarins were picked up by the kids, with this little exercise doubling as morning tea!

 

 

This old swing is what we had a kids, still as good 25 years later!

The three big kids did a million laps around the tennis court on their scooters and bikes and by the end of the weekend had developed many little stunts and tricks. 

 

 

A bit of zooming around on the motorbike.

 

Jos even tried her hand at chook hypnotics - with questionable results...

Once all the chooks were patted to death, Artie the cat was terrorised and Nana's house was turned into a war zone, it was time pack up and head for home.  Both kids were totally spent, with Heidi asking as we were driving out "When we go see Nana again??"