I was lying in bed on Saturday night, listening to the sound of rain on the roof. There is no better sound to a farmer. It’s music. That night it was really windy too, and there were times I had to lift my head off the pillow and listen hard to work out whether the…
I though things were supposed to happen in threes? Well just recently they feel like they’re happening in tens. Or even twenties! Okay, that’s an exaggeration, thank goodness. My point is, every time I turn around something bad is happening to someone I love, someone I know, someone I used to know. People are…
One of the things I love most about living on the farm, is the sunrises I get to see. The boss has been working really long hours to stay in front of the airseeder (you have to spray only hours before seeding, for both pests and weeds). And because the hours are long on the…
Got to say that there was immense pleasure as I drove in the driveway on Wednesday morning and saw all these puddles. It’s been very hand-to-mouth with the rainfall this season. My morning text to hubby was greeted with an immediate return phone call. ‘We’ve had an inch of rain!’ The joy and relief in…
Yes, I’m so sorry! I’ve been slacking off on the blogging front. I should have posted last week, but with lamb marking, kids activities and my SIL visiting from Cairns, the week suddenly slipped by and was gone. Because, you know, life just seems to happen and continues on! Anyway, being out and about on the…
Today sees us start seeding. The tractor is going up and back in the paddock, putting the in the oats for the hay crop. We’re five weeks later starting seeding than last year. Traditionally the canola starts to go in on Anzac Day, but this year has been a completely different kettle of fish to…
Do ever find lunch boxes so hard to fill? Does it feel like you’re making ham and pickles sandwiches (or something similar) ALL the time and the kids are board with your food? Oh. I sound like an advert don’t? Sorry! But, that’s how I feel. Especially since I’ve been pre-making food for the whole…
Farmers are always accused of complaining about the weather. Let me explain why. A couple of weeks ago, we got a beautiful 18mm. It fell over a few days – in fact I think we had about five or six days straight where if we didn’t get falls of five or so millimetres, we…
There is something supremely beautiful and quiet about shearing sheds, when they are empty. I’ve always thought they are so atmospheric. When I was younger, I often headed up to the shearing shed on my Nana and Papa’s station and just sit and think, or even walk around and feel the smooth wood, smell the…
Back in December I was planning out a new book. I wasn’t sure when I was going to write it, because I was thinking about taking twelve months off from writing. This book I was planning, called Indigo Storm, had a very tricky storyline and required a fair bit of research and I knew I…
This is where we spent most of our Sunday and it’s ‘that’ time of the year again. I guess there is a few ‘that’ times of the year on a farm, but this particular ‘that’, is lamb marking. This year, we have about 10,000 lambs to mark. No small number and it will take weeks,…
Introducing the lovely Annabelle Brayley of OUTBACK NURSES fame! SHe’s chatting about her love of rural fiction and her new offering, Outback Nurses. Hello Fleur, Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest on your blog. Although I generally write non-fiction myself, Australian fiction captivates me and the evolution of the authors…
I’m sorry, I really don’t know where this time has gone. It’s only NINE days until the Crimson Dawn launch and only SEVEN days until it might hit the shelf in your bookstore and TWELVE days until it will definitely be in the shops. Ugh. Nerves. Still, I gotta harden up… But, no matter what…
I seriously can’t believe we’re up to G already! Where has the time gone to? Before we start I just need to wish Bushbabe a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I’m so thrilled we’ve become friends across the inter webs and she’s an important part of my life. Amanda from Bush Babe of Oz has chosen ‘Grazing’…
Now let’s not think in the gutter here, kids! F is NOT what for what you’re thinking! It’s for Farming, fences, fires, fertiliser, foxes and ferals. But today we’re only talking about three of these. Amanda from Bush Babe of Oz – F is for FENCES Among the tools farmers use in their everyday work,…
We know, we know! We’re a day late in posting this week. It was a public holiday here in the West yesterday and besides me being out at the farm and madly cooking and cleaning for the week ahead, Rural Miss was also doing public holiday farm things and Bushbabe was busy with her things. So,…
After watching Landline a few weeks ago, I wrote this article on drought and why the powers that be, government, farming bodies and so on, can’t make decisions on drought relief in the middle of drought. It’s too raw and emotional. The article first appeared on The ABC’s The Drum website, then was published in…
I’m sitting here at my desk, completely torn. Charlotte Dawson’s death has pierced my heart. I can’t imagine what her friends and family are feeling right now. At the same time, I feel a little sad about all the out-pouring of grief over social media. Because she was famous her death is getting so much…
I can’t believe we’re up to D. Can anyone tell me where these past four weeks have gone? (Actually where today has gone… Sorry I’m running late with posting this blog!) What between Outback Paparazzi, this A – Z of Farming Series and getting ready for the launch and tour of CrimsonDawn, oh not to…
What did you get for Valentines Day? Or was it you did the giving? Roses, chocolates, lingerie? I bought hubby a dozen roses. Yeah! I really did. Except… they were chocolate! Woolies had this really cool gimmick. A dozen ‘roses’, on long artificial green stems and the roses were wrapped in red foil. We’re not…
