Need some rain

While Brisbane had some storms over the weekend it barely spat a drop at Pierce creek. The tanks are ok but even the weeds are wilting. Some of my fruit trees looked desperate for a water after a fortnight between visits. It was just so hot I took it easy only putting a ceiling fan up when I got there. Made it a bit more comfortable. I thought it would be better to use a household ceiling fan through the inverter than those small 12 v fans for cars/trucks. It draws between 2.5 and 3.5 amps depending on the speed you use. Sure worked well.
I found some gate posts already cut left behind by the previous owners. They're 8 foot long and 10 inch diameter. Someone in the toowoomba chronicle was advertising ironbark posts that size for 28 to 37 dollars each. I need 4. Not a lot of money saved but still a saving.
Hopefully there's a southerly next weekend to make the job of digging them in a bit more comfortable.
I found this beautiful compilation of action shots of cattledogs in a slideshow to some good music on Youtube if it interests anybody else. Here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCyv3MeoYHI&feature=response_watch

Relaxing day

Here's a snap from Sunday when we got to spend a few hours fishing in Hervey Bay. I took this on round island where we stopped for lunch under the trees. Thanks Kylie for packing the delicious picnic lunch.

Never enough time

A weekend is just too short to take care of 25 acres. There is always a list of jobs to do that only gets partially completed. Last weekend I completed another short section of fencing. And reshaped the garden bed around an orange tree. Slashed a bit and watered the trees that aren't on drip lines several times.
Next trip I need to put in some heavy ironbark posts to hang driveway gates off of. Two sets actually.

I just thought I'd point out the correct way to run the wire in this picture. Not through the holes in the picket but tied to the picket this way. The ends of the tie wire angling in with the vanes of the picket to avoid injury to animals.
All end posts need stays as the combined pull of 3 wires would have them bending in without them. Even more so with 4 or 5 barb runs.
Check the stay into the post to stop movement
And provide a solid base in the ground to stop movement.
Some time ago I planted nasturtiums around all the fruit trees and thought the seeds had failed but I have been pleased to see them popping up around them now. Hopefully they help in reducing pests. I pulled a big green caterpillar off this washington navel. Probably accounted for the leaf damage.
Well after all that work how about some time for me? lol
I'm off to Hervey bay this weekend to do some work for an old fishing buddie and hopefully wet a line too.

Unwanted men in black and a lady

It's amazing how one thing leads to another. I'm a big fan of the Outback house series. I wish they'd do another one. In the last episode the ladies of the house perform for the shearers and they sing a song called ryebuck shearer. Doing a search of youtube came up with these guys singing it.
I loved their rendition of it and the quirky look and sound these guys had. They have 16 songs you can listen to on their youtube space.
http://www.youtube.com/user/UMIBL
If you like Johny Cash and some of the old cowboy songs you may like them. Mick has a good deep voice for these type of songs and if you can forgive him for forgetting the words sometimes they really are a great bunch to listen to.

Nothing like Heartache

With the heartache of losing Ruby I realised I had to get off my lazy arse and build a fence to keep the dogs from wandering. If only I'd done it sooner. There are all sorts of reasons I realise now why you cannot allow your dogs to wander in the bush.

My two little friends

It wouldn't be half as much fun here without my 2 good mates. Aldi I've had from a pup. And Ruby the red heeler I adopted from the rspca. Sadly I lost Ruby on the 20th September and very nearly lost Aldi as well. While it appeared Aldi had been attacked by vicious dogs by her wounds. I fear Ruby was caught in a dog trap and shot. It's a long story but the evidence was pretty overwhelming in that there is a dog trap I discovered in the bush neighbouring my block, I heard a single sudden yelp like when the trap was set early that morning and then later 2 gunshots from the direction where I discovered the trap.
She really was the most beautiful heeler I could have wished for. I'm sorry I let you down Ruby.

Brown thumb

I'm struggling to get good at the growing business and the wildlife make it harder again. Everything has to be protected or it's soon eaten or vandalised. I've lost a lot of trees to wildlife or my ignorance. One thing I learnt is that you don't put fertiliser at the bottom of the hole when planting as it burns the roots. Lay it on top after you have planted and the water will take it down. Here are some tomatoes I grew in may last year. The return wasn't too bad considering it's a little chill in the mornings at that time of year in the hills.