Every day’s a school day.

I first heard this phrase uttered by chef Paul West on the TV show River Cottage Australia (from memory poor Bessie the cow wasn’t doing too well because, despite her paddock looking very lush, the grass had little nutritional value) when we were just starting out on this Homestead lark and immediately adopted it as my mantra. Uttering it never fails to erase the embarrassment of simply not knowing something, remind me to take a moment to really absorb the teaching and also maybe indulge in a little self congratulation on being open to life’s lessons. It kind of moves the focus from how could I be so stupid to so, now I know that.

Shirley has now graduated from Puppy Pre School.

In the spirit of my aforementioned mantra, she was not the only one to garner knowledge during the course. When it came to the discussion on foods to avoid I was bought up short by the knowledge that raw eggs, rather than being super nutritious and essential for shiny dog fur as I believed, are actually quite dangerous. Apparently the enzyme in the egg white, avidin, can stop their bodies from absorbing biotin, an important vitamin for digestion, metabolism and *gulp* skin health (yes, I googled that). Maybe that explains Colin’s vigorous scratching.

Yep, every day’s a school day and, as such, I have also learned that, cooked, eggs are a pretty good doggie diet addition.

Morning scrambled eggs has cut down on wallet-worrying kibble consumption and I don’t think I’m imagining that Colin’s itching is getting less so I chalk that up to a lesson well learnt. It is also a fantastic use of a current Homestead Abundance as our chickens have now reached annual optimal production.

The sheep are also enjoying a current annual abundance, making great inroads into the ex- lawns of the recently vacated Tiny Housers abode – who were more than happy to let that chore slide in favour of packing and moving.

The only downside is the flock’s reluctance to stay in the paddock when the wind gets up and flaps the netting on the deer-fencing. That noise is apparently the sound of predator approaching – another lesson learnt – but, by keeping the gate open to the back paddock, everyone maintains their dignity and we were not planning to hay that paddock; not this year, anyway.

And with an eye to future abundances, our chicks continue to grow in both size and chickeny knowledge, well taught by their two over-indulgent mothers.

I’m thinking they may all be future layers but, to be fair, chicken gender detection is something I need to invest a great many more school-day hours in before I can assume any real authority on the matter.

But something I can decree with utter certainty is my absolute heartfelt joy in our new oven splash-back.

After great deliberation and debate over colour, squirrelling away of pennies, and midnight agonizing regarding my ability to get measurements right (not a great track record) it’s instillation (and the fact it was a perfect fit) makes me just so damn happy.

Could it be that the Measure Twice, Cut Once lesson can finally be signed off as completed?