It's a fine line

Well HELLO THERE and sorry it's been so long. To say I've been busy is probably an understatement  (and a conversation for another time). Let's just say that I have finally recognised that sometimes I wear too many hats.

Over the past few days we have had record breaking temperatures here in South East Queensland and Clear Mountain hasn't been missed. There have been major bushfires on nearby islands, and my fire brigade have been actively involved. Similarly, I have been to a couple of fire callouts as well over the past few weeks - seriously who lights a fire on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas night! [jumps off soapbox]. So I've worn my helmet much more than one would expect at this time of year.

I'm sitting here now watching the serious smoke wash over the mainland from the Stradbroke Island fires, visibility is limited and the smell is very strong. It's everywhere. I was asked to go over there yesterday for a few days but decided not to wear that hat.

Anyway… I have been thinking about how fortunate we are to have the fine line of (dare I say it...) harmony at our home. It's a very very fine line, which can be thrown out of kilter without a warning. I have two cats and two large dogues that all get on and (generally) adore each other. The two cats and two dogs that don't seem to worry about chooker moles (who are closely guarded by two donkeys). Our newest addition, the Miniature Galloway steer, is also discretely guarded by the donkeys, who generally don't like to share - an interesting relationship developing here.

The cow accommodates for the dogs and seems to be more worried about sharing with the chooker moles. Max the cat has also developed an interesting relationship with Guinness, the donkey. BTW - Max thinks he's a dog and I've been able to train him to come, sit and lie down. Hmmm.

This fine line also runs into our gardens. I've installed 600mm chain wire fence as a boundary for all garden beds and the chooker moles can jump it but just don't. I have never seen them in the vege garden but have occasionally seen them in one of the other garden beds. It's a fine line.

Tomorrow I'm going to have to pretty myself up after two weeks of leave and put on another hat - the one that makes me the money (very important hat). Soon I'll put on some other hats that represent various organisations and associations I'm involved with also. Maybe I'll take a couple off - who knows… that's also a fine line.

But as we enter the new year I have a feeling of accomplishment - I've achieved heaps in the past year and even the past two weeks. Can't wait for the rest of 2014 to BRING IT ON!

Another January in Queensland, another natural disaster

Gosh, our insurance company must think I have them on speed dial. This time it was a 4 day storm, post cyclone winds (thanks Oswald), torrential rains = lots and lots of fallen trees, no power for days (now restored) and all of our outdoor furniture is now literally rotting in front of our very eyes as we wait for the rain and humidity to break. We were lucky, we still have out home, we still have our health and we are still alive. I really feel for those who have now done through this, loosing everything two years in a row, heart breaking stuff.

So, I'm now chainsaw girl... cutting up trees and stockpiling the branches on a burnpile to deal with later. Here's some of the damage near our house.

A small part of our driveway after the fallen trees have been pushed aside so we could use it.

This one is suspended on another tree, very close to our power lines. Team effort required here me thinks.

There are literally dozens of trees (some wider than a persons torso) that have literally snapped like this.

Thankfully the tree closest to the house fell away from the house. It was about 7m tall.

Most of the trees bought others down with them.

Alas my compost bins and recycling station was completely trashed by the same tree that took out my rose garden.

There are literally scores of trees down in the paddocks that have gone as well, some really big. The fence has been trashed in several places. Am really glad donkeys were in the open paddock when all of this happened. It's still very wet and we're still getting showers and small storms so it's going to be a while before I can even go down there and check the real damage. I can see some really large branches suspended in trees, so it's not safe either. I heard some crash down when the wind came up briefly yesterday.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Some of us are having a great time running up and down in the drains. Red dog + red mud = dirty house!

Roman runs up and down the drains

Oh well, look on the bright side. I've got the firewood for winter sorted ;o)