Too much temptation

Farm work has hit the winter low point and we are taking the opportunity to do off farm things.  The week end before last we drove up to Bendigo to the sheep and wool show. Getting into the show grounds and parking was a bit disorganised but the show was great. There were lots of farm animals penned in the huge sheds waiting for the events they were to be judged in, so we could wander round looking at all the different breeds and talking to the breeders. I took a fancy to English Leicester sheep with their long, soft, lustrous, fleece.

The sun was out, and we could wander round the stalls and find out about various farm equipment we need and buy useful stuff like socks.  For some unknown reason, good plain socks can be hard to come by in the Yarra Valley. Others must have the same problem as people were queuing up to pay for massive arm loads of socks.  Edd brought a new felt hat, (he has been looking for one for ages), and a tough grey sweater.

I was severely tempted by all sorts of gear but managed to steer clear of temptation until I got into the craft wool buildings.  Here I found a stall full of knitting books and after talking to the stall holder I ordered a book of knitting stitches that she thought was the one I lost.  Neither of us could be quite sure because I lost the book nine years ago in the fires and could not remember the name or author. We were actually on the right track because the book has now arrived and it is the book that I have spent nine years looking for!  It was a joyous moment getting back one of the basic tools that I have used over and over again.

I was also tempted by the knitting wool.  There were beautiful yarns in amazing colours, but I have just taken my wool down to be spun so I resisted the lure. I now wish I had been less restrained, of course.  We found a hall serving sit down veg and meat meals at great price so all in all we had a great day.  Lyn came and did the animals too, so we were not pushed for time getting home.

This week end we have been off again, but into the city this time.  Our friend, Peter, invited us to the opening of his art exhibition on Saturday and we went there after lunch. We  met up with old friends we knew from working in the desert as well as Peter and all his family. It was great, and the art was interesting. A carpenter had used wood that was unsuitable for furniture to make a setting for Peter’s glass work.  The most amazing thing was how two people could make a work of art that expressed their individuality but was completely integrated.

Al and Pip were meeting family at a restaurant a few doors down from the gallery, so we joined them for tapas before driving home.  Little P was there too and Al’s second son as well as Pip’s parents.  They have just had a first Granddaughter and an announcement that their eldest son had a baby on the way, so they were thrilled. It will be lovely to have a group of cousins who can grow up together.

Today I am doing an experiment trying to make feta from frozen milk.  I no-longer get the 10 litres of fresh milk a day that I need for the recipe, but over the week we have more milk than we need, but not enough to feed a calf, so a new strategy is needed.  I am trying hard to dry off the pregnant goats before the spring grass starts and the process gets harder.

Winter Projects for Spring activities

Time is passing and already there is a noticeable increase in day length.  This is usually our coldest time of year but so far it has been very mild. Many days we are outside working without sweaters once the sun has dispensed the morning chill.  The goats that are not pregnant are still coming into season, but we have moved the bucks back into their pens because we have enough pregnant girls for this year. Our big alpine doe, Quetta, has been sold.  This time she is went to join other goats we sold earlier so she was met by friends when she arrived at her new home.  It would be impossible to keep every goat, but we do try to send them to places they will be happy. They often go to smaller herds and get more attention than we give them here, which is nice.

I am trying to dry off the remaining pregnant goats, but we are still getting enough milk to make cheese twice a week.  The hard cheeses turned out so well last year that I am encouraged to make more. The vac packaging system worked fantastically.  I have now used all the olive oil I made, but luckily Ben and Indi are keeping us well supplied from their trees. Indi and I are planning to use some of their oil to make soap, so I am searching for recipes.  I ordered a book that I thought might help but it was so useless I returned it with a killer revue. I hope I might save someone else the bad experience.

The seeds I ordered for dyeing plants have arrived, but I have not yet sorted out the area where I plan to grow them.  They will be sown in pots in the spring, so this is not a problem yet.  It will make a good task when the school camps start. The book I brought on plant dyes was excellent, much to my relief.  This week Edd and I drove down to the Mornington Peninsular with a car full of wool that I am getting spun.  The plan is to have yarn available from our own sheep to dye with our own plants. That should make a good learning experience.

Apart from projects being prepared for the school students my other task to set up is the kitchen splash back.  I have had so much fun with the mosaics in the dairy and bathroom that I am inspired to have a go at the splash back.  It certainly needs something.  At present it has an area with waterproof paint, two stainless steel trays behind the stove and the rest is bare lime render.  On our trip to Mornington we called in on Metric tiles and I finally found the colours I have been looking for.  All the local stores sell is a selection of different shades of grey.  

WE had a party at Bo’s house for her birthday and Al and Pip came up with Baby P and stayed the night on the farm.  Baby P is growing enormous but seems a particularly good baby.  Perhaps it is just that his parents are managing him well. Wayne’s daughter is also very well behaved. Maybe having older parents helps. We were in our early twenties when we had our kids.

This year we are really trying to get the last remaining rebuilding jobs sorted.  I have organised someone to build the west side wall and do the paving and Al is working on plans for a car port at the east end.  My car looks very ropy.  It actually goes really well and has given me nine years of trouble free driving but the gaffer tape holding on the side trim is getting to the embarrassing stage.  A place to put cars out of the weather would be a big help.  We can put them in the shed, but rats and mice can do a lot of damage and the new cat has changed its mind about wanting to be a farm cat.

Venison Feasting

Last night we had a huge frost but today and yesterday were warm and sunny with endless blue skies little wind.  This was really fortuitous because as a compensation for putting up with the occasional, alarming, bang from a big gun we were able to join a group of food and wine enthusiasts for a venison cook up.   This started at midday and went on into the evening.   We took a large plate full of goats’ cheese, pomegranates, and mandarins, and others brought wine, cakes and cows cheese.  Be brought bread, honey, and large bottles of his olive oil for people to try, so a very large number of people got a very special meal.

We all ate, drank and talked in the winter sun.  The view across the vineyard was great and the company interesting.  Kids and dogs romped around harmlessly, and everyone relaxed. It was a wonderful way for the community to enjoy life in the valley.  It is a great thing to live in a wine producing area with so many wine makers around.  I wish I had some photos, but I was too busy having fun.    It must be venison season.   Bo is also serving it at the restaurant tonight.

Today Edd is trying to get the large round hay bales back from where he left them down the road last year.  He needed something to lift them on to the ute and trailer and something to unload them here.  It has taken him a long time to get everything aligned and today after the frost skiddy would not start.  We need skiddy to get the bales off when they get here.  Lynne has gone to help him, so I am working on accounts and making more feta cheese.  We are pretty low on cheese supplies after all the socialising we have been doing.

Winter is usually a time we get pretty much to ourselves, but this year has been much more social with loads of visitors and events.  I wonder what has changed.   People are amazing creatures.   Just as the powers that be think they have us all regulated and controlled, we seep out round the edges and have a glorious time.