What do you mean my ass is looking a bit big?

Irwin living it up at the neighbours

My darling boys have been on greener pastures since the January storms hit Clear Mountain, enjoying some of our neighbours fresh grass while we struggle to repair fences, cut up fallen trees, and make their paddock safe again.

Because of the weather this season, we have only recently been able to get into the paddock to cut the grass, which was about 5 foot high by the time the steep slopes had dried out. It's a really, really steep block. Luckily, I have a mate who has a remote controlled chopping machine that cuts grass/mulch on angles of up to 55 degrees (just Google Remote Vegetation Management).

Anyway, the boys have been - shall we say - living it up a little and have developed some donkey love handles...

Guinness, "Who you calling fat?"

I've been sick for the past few weeks and haven't been able to get down into the paddock to whipper snip, spray and chainsaw trees from the fencelines. Thankfully, MOTH had a good crack at it last weekend and we're well on the way to having our boys home again soon. 

They'll be keen to get back before winter creeps in so they can be rugged every night (in their hot pink rugs LOL).

It breaks my heart when I leave them and they chase be down the fence line, braying at me. But I do wonder, it is me or the horse liquorice they're chasing?

Finely loading the balance of mother nature

OK, so the donkeys like our dogs - check.
Our dogs like our donkeys - check.
Our donkeys like chickens - check.
Our dogs don't care about chickens - check.
Our cats like our chickens - check.
Donkeys don't believe in cats.
Our dogs love our cats - check.
The cat love dog thing is an individual thing that is well managed by the parties involved - check.
The chooker moles don't give a shit about anyone - check.

So, I think I've possibly gone one step too far... keets.

Day 1 they're so small, not much bigger than a large chicken egg

Day 2 and the cats have worked out that there's something moving and cheeping in a box in THEIR garage that they aren't allowed in any more. Not happy!

This could all go pear shaped very quickly...

But if they make it through the first few weeks, they'll be able to move into an outdoor pen and then will be big and ugly enough to look after themselves at about 6 weeks.

Day 4 and they've grown heaps - can even jump about 20 cm

Anthony and Angela, friends of ours, had 19 hatch on Monday. The previous clutch didn't make it (it's tough love in the wild around Clear Mountain) and so he bought them inside as soon as he could. I took 5 and the others have all gone to good homes as well. We got to know Anthony and Angela when they bought their house off another friend, Joan. Joan used to own the parents and left them there for the A's when she moved. She is now a grandmother and is adopting some of these guys for her new farm.

Looks like a penguin

I have never raised birds before, let alone Guinea Fowl but I hope they will become great snake detractors and help minimise the ticks for the Dogues in coming years.

And eat... (I didn't believe someone when they told me to buy a 20kg bag of food for them)

So, the A's, Joan and I are madly searching Google and blogs to find out how best to raise these little balls of fluff.

Here's hoping it's a successful project.

Donkey donkey donkey...

Donkeys everywhere at the Kilcoy Show

I went to the Kilcoy Show today with a friend to assist as handler for her baby donkey... the cutest ever - Jazmyn-Petunia and we didn't only win the hearts of tough farming men and children but WE WON A RIBBON at a country show!

Little Jazmyn in her first awards ceremony

The rest is just pictures...

Joan and her champions

Just some girls showing off their ass

Great day. Only wish my boys were (Guinness) was better behaved and (Irwin) not such an emotional wreck. Realise how much work I have to do... I love my boys x

PS After 3 years of very gentle treatment I actually got Irwin to take more than two steps on a lead rope... very excited...

It's getting chilli...

Check out these huge thai chillis that I have just picked from the garden.

I think I'm going to have a bumper crop this year, there are literally thousands coming though and all different types. Looks like more 100 chilli chutney (it's sooo hot).

As the sun sets...

I've been in the garden all day today with my three little helpers...

Max the Manx kitten (5 months) who thinks he's a dog

Baillie, now nearly eight and slowing down, but still the brains behind the security business

Roman (nothing else to say)

After a quick shower, I'm now sitting on the deck (with two cats and two dogs - security task force), watching the sun go down, with a glass of vino, listening to MOTH pumping out some original tunes from his studio. Now the rain has started to tinkle down... awesome Clear Mountain living!

Max earlier this morning counting his chickens (he does this every morning)