This past week has had a little bit of everything unless you’re talking bluster. Of blustery blast and abundant air current there has been one long, continuous offering. I kind of take the blame for it in a way. After my blasé, ho-hum mention of “The Nor’Wester”, our resident foehn wind, when explaining our odd outdoor furniture storage methods in a recent blog perhaps it felt it needed to display its might. Whatever the reason, the wind started roaring last Friday and there’s been very little let up since. On the positive side, it does make for speeding drying of the laundry (we have strong clothespegs) and easy gleaning of next year’s kindling shaken loose.

In the paddocks, the livestock pay the gales no mind. The back paddock boys in particular seem to relish leaning into it with narrowed eyes and nostrils flaring; it’s very Pirates of the Carribbean. The goats, ewes, ducks and chickens tend to hunker down and send thanks that it isn’t cold which, in the spirit of a little bit of everything, it’s meant to get on Friday. The rain is welcome; as for the whispered-about snow…not so much.

The stork somehow negotiated the turbulent conditions to deliver ewe Zia a little package when we thought we that was all over and done with. The arrival of her twins, a boy and a girl, brought the paddock count to 18 which sadly dipped by one this morning when the first-born lamb of the season got herself tangled in the electric fencing and suffocated despite The Farmer’s and my frantic efforts. Sages intone, “When you have livestock, you have deadstock,” which is very true but tears were still shed.

With all the pollen being flung around or maybe it’s a bug- either way – we’re all suffering from the Spring Sniffles but we’ve tried to not let it slow us down. I’m keeping good on my poultry promise and my increased presence in their domain had led to some odd chook behaviour.

It seems everywhere I am, they turn up. Pecking around the detritus I’m trying to clear or scratching up bugs in the barn while I reshuffle storage is fine, but I’m not so keen on their sudden interest in the Front Door Garden

So far, I have cleared the general clutter, reattached the nesting boxes, and tidied away some firewood we were seasoning in the coop.

I also spent way too much time on some “enrichment” which was not to their liking (or ability) while someone who will remain nameless (but drives the orange ute and works at a bakery) cluttered up the clean-space I’d created rather than put the bags of coffee grounds in their designated area

With the stalling of Farm Girl’s surgery and no word from the all-powerful Pam of rescheduling we were free to celebrate the actual anniversary of her birth with gifts in bed before a day spent in exams at school (not part of the celebration, although she feels positive of the outcome) , and a trip out to the Lone Star Cafe, as per her instructions.

Not great quality photos, sorry, the model was reluctant and I had to be fast

Which brings us full circle, back to Friday where the wind has dropped, the rain has started and it just might, possibly, who knows snow. I’ll let you know next week!