Chooks, sheep, whales and new words......

We have been back down to Basham Beach at Victor Harbour, we think it is a beautiful beach and it seems so do the whales.  According to the sightings their numbers are steadily growing and they are also getting closer to the beach.  We were lucky enough to see at least 4 of these magnificent gentle creatures playing in the water... I know I've said it before but I am still very much in awe when we spot them.

This one was about 200 meters from the shore, it took a while to get any pictures, it was as if 'he' knew when I was about to take a photo.  Look closely and hopefully you will be able to see 'him' blowing.

And we have also been back to Naracoorte, we both enjoy being there so much and find it difficult to come away again.... one day.....

Deb has built a portable chook arc... as you do...... or would if you had the skill!  She down loaded the 'pattern' and instructions (which seemed to create more questions than give answers) from the internet.  I think you'll agree it looks amazing and more importantly it protects the wee feathered ones from foxes and dogs.

 This 'Des Res' has a drawbridge, complete with steps and now covered with 'Shade' cloth which lowers down and becomes the chooks staircase.  It has also been draft-proofed, the water and feed containers are suspended so when it is picked up and moved everything moves with it... it's a chook dream palace.  All that was needed were the chooks.

Early Saturday morning Deb and I set off to the market to find that it was on the following Saturday... no worries.  Plan B was the local pet shop, run by a lovely grand-daddy of a man who was going to retire but loved his trade too much and carried on working.  Now assisted by his daughter and grandson.

He had got some 'youngsters' about 6 weeks old and 3 months off of laying their first eggs.... not what Deb was looking for.  But all resolve for getting 'layers' went when we saw the wee feathered ones.  They were just getting their adult feathers, the choice was 4 ISA Browns and about 10 Austral Black and ISA Brown crosses.

The ISA Browns are THE best layers, and out of all of them were the least shy, it didn't take long for decisions to be made, a carrying box found and they were bound for their new home.

All the way home they were making gentle clucking noises to each other, they seemed to know they were going to be very well loved and looked after.  Perhaps news of the new chook palace had reached them!  They didn't seemed very alarmed being picked up and handled and even started going to sleep.  They are a bit wary of Fred and not clear as to his intentions, but out of sight out of mind and when they can't see him they are busy chatting away and doing lots of other chicken things.

Of course they needed names, Deb has chosen Issi for the boldest one, Wilma for the next in the pecking order, Gracie for the shyest one and then made the mistake of asking me to name one.  AND this is when I learnt a new word.....  

The chick standing on the divide in the photo has a crazy hairdo and seems to be more speckled than the others so, in my innocence I suggested Freckle as her name.  Which was met with silence followed by much side splitting laughter and tears... well how was I to know Freckle is the colloquial term for the sphincter at the end of the digestive tract!  The name has stuck and the poor chook will forever be known as Freckle now and I have learnt another lesson.

I've also learnt that tomato ketchup here is tomato sauce, Marmite is called My Mate and everyone expects a steamed pudding if you ask if they would like a pudding rather than a sweet which to me conjures up visions of treacle toffees or the like.  Every day is a school day.... and it's always good fun learning new things.

Meanwhile the house plans are coming along nicely, Rick has done a fantastic job drawing up the plans and an incredible amount of research.  We've visited quite a few double glazing companies for quotes on doors and windows, which seem to be cheaper than UK prices.

There is still lots more research to do, as one question is answered another is raised and off we go visiting more websites and gathering more information.  Sometimes its very confusing and advice seems contradictory but clarity comes in the end.  I think when Rick eventually retires he'll be able to become a sustainable building consultant.

We were also able to spend some time on the block, we put wind breaks around the citrus trees and dug in some ferrous sulphate as the calcium in the soil leeches this nutrient away from the trees.  Ferrous sulphate deficient trees don't look very happy with yellowing leaves and low yields of fruit.  

We sheep proofed the trees and Pete a local shepherd moved 24 of his sheep onto the back paddock.  We are lucky enough to have an abundance of happy looking very green grass and Pete had a far too many sheep for the grazing he'd got. So hopefully soon there will be 24 fat sheep on the block and short grass.

There has been some rainfall, not enough to make the farmers smile, and dramatic skies.  Dark stormy skies and sunshine seem to make all the colours of the landscape really intense and sharp. The block looked even more beautiful than normal.

On our way back into town we caught sight of this double rainbow, unfortunately the picture doesn't do it justice.  I am sure I've never seen a rainbow with each colour so distinct from the next, it was so beautiful, and reminded me once again how clever Mother Nature is.