There are times farming seems like it’s a long road without an end. The list of jobs to do, can be longer than your arm. Sometimes it feels like your treading water, not getting anywhere. And as with most jobs, they all should have been done ‘yesterday’. That’s how it is for us at…
I love photos. Photos are memories and I’m always snapping, where ever I go. Every time I release a new book, the call comes for new publicity photos. This is one of my least favourite things to do, because I’m much happier behind a computer screen, or out in the paddock, than I am in…
One of the things I’m told I’m good at, as an author, is my descriptions of country. This is some more amazing country I was imaging when I wrote Red Dust. (If you visit this page, you’ll see the book trailer for Red Dust and some more of the country.) Native pines, granite, vivid…
I think I’ve told you all many time, how much I love where I grew up in South Australia. Now I understand, people who live in ‘greener areas’ might get a bit freaked out when they see the country up here, but it is really special. Yeah, there are lots of stones, prickly bushes and…
Are you a Christmas card sender? I used to be. I’m not any more. Well, actually, that’s not quite true. I start with every good intention. For example, I actually buy the Christmas cards. Usually in about October. To give myself plenty of time. And I usually cart them in my handbag, so I…
Harvest! The very word seems to bring out the feral in every man, woman and child, involved in cropping. It also seems to be the time for Murphy, from Murphy’s Law to rear his ugly head. Here are a few examples. Upon jumping in the new (second hand) header, we bought this year, the Boss…
We have numerous species of birds flitting around the house and I love the noises they make. There’s all the usuals like Magpies, Crows, Butcher Birds, Willywag Tails and Pigeons. The Boss is a mad keen bird watcher and has taught me lots about these feathered creatures. There were many other varieties I didn’t know…
Let me try and paint you a picture. It’s five in the morning and chopper pilot, Scott Bridle (http://scottbridle.com) is pacing the outside of his machine. He’s doing his checks; oil, fuel and making sure it’s airworthy. From the yards, voices of the stockmen, getting ready for a day mustering, hang in the air. The…
I don’t think I have ever seen a weather phenomena like I did yesterday. Our day started at 5am. We had three trucks to load and knew it was going to be hot. But it was freezing, when we first arrived at the yards, so the jeans and jumpers were pulled out of the wardrobe.…
What a week of weather! I know if often seems as if farmers are always complaining about weather and that’s a fair comment, but so much relies on it! On Thursday last week, it was fairly bloody hot and humid after a thunderstorm the previous couple of days. I was drenching sheep and the shearers…
It’s about this time of the year, kids start writing their wish lists for Father Christmas. Actually, truth be known, they’ve probably been doing it, secretly, since last Christmas. I don’t see the lists until they’ve been neatly written out, but I can imagine the lines being drawn through certain items as they year goes…
I’ve had the best week! There is something about a new website that gives me energy and a wonderfully positive outlook on the future! And I’ve taken your advice and moved the ‘subscribe’ button to a more obvious place. It’s this type of feedback that enables me to create a website that works for you.…
The celebrations and competitions are still happening today, despite the rain threatening to derail harvest for a few days. This was my view as I got off the chaser bin, yesterday. Tomorrow is the last day, to enter your name in the draw to win a two year subscription to RM Williams Outback magazine. Today…
I’m still in the celebratory mood! This time last year I was editing Purple Roads in the tractor, this year it’s Silver Clouds! I really couldn’t be happier! Our Day 2 Competition is: Place a comment below letting me know what you love about the new website and perhaps what you’d like to see?…
We’re so excited to launch our new website today! More information, more blogs and more support for budding writers! To celebrate, we’re hosting a series of 5 daily competitions, starting NOW! Somewhere on this beautiful new website of mine you’ll find this image below. Tell me where you saw it by placing a comment…
The farm is well and truly looking like it’s summer, even though we’re only in mid-October! Some paddocks have a gold/white tinge across the tops of the plants, indicating it’s done its time. Saturday was a warm 35 degrees, so the crops won’t take long to turn, ripen and harvest will be started before we…
This time of the year is when the craziness starts. The moment we cut the pastures or oats, to make hay, it’s like some gremlin inhabits the farm and makes everyone mad. To get really good quality hay, it’s best if it doesn’t get a rain on it, before it’s in bales. The Boss is…
I will never admit to being good with technology! My daughter has been teaching how to use some of the apps on my MacBook and together we created this clip. It’s a collection of my favourite sunsets, both at the beach and on the farm. As I get better at doing these sorts of things,…
Today’s blog is actually a Vlog! Have a look at the wild flowers we have on our farm!
It true. From little things, big things grow. And when it comes to cropping, Canola is a great example. It’s starts off as a tiny black seed – smaller than a grain of sea salt and just slightly larger than a ‘hundred and thousand’ (you know what I’m meaning? The things kids love to…
We’ve been having gorgeous sunsets over the last week or so. Spring tends to throw breath taking weather events at us, including these amazing, nightly spectaculars. I love it when I’ve got time to stop and look at them. And between trying to get Silver Gums finished and a few family things, stopping and…
