Fox in the hen house

Early this morning. Around 2.00am the dogs started barking and the rooster was going off. Hubby went out to check and there in the chicken run was a fox. He was trying to get out. He had killed one chicken and who knows how many others he would of killed if the dogs hadn’t woken up hubby 

Two years and no fox kills. The thick wire around the coop and in the ground kept them out. But this one climbed up past the wire and chewed the black netting 

I’m so upset. They have now found the weak spot. 

We were  going away over the Easter and now I’m thinking I might stay home 

We will see what happens over the next few nights. 

I hate foxes. They’re an introduced pest wreaking havoc on the wildlife as well as my chickens 

Not happy Jan 

Recycling

This morning I headed off to art class

We finally finished the piece we had been working on since November. 

Hubby headed off to the farm to check things out so I came home and rested for most of the day. Knitting squares off and on. 

I then remembered I had this partly knitted baby jumper. It came in a bag of yarn I acquired from someone after their mother passed. They knew I’d give it a good home 

I’ve been going to pull it apart but is so beautifully knitted I just couldn’t. 

I don’t have anyone I could give this too even if I knew how to finish it. So I bit the bullet and have started to rip it out 

It will make a few squares. Especially once I mix it with the colours 

I love that my Weasley inspired blanket will have recycled yarn in it. 

It’s exactly what Molly would do as they’re not flushed with money and have seven kids 

Very in character I think 

Squares update

Eighty done. Only twenty to go!

Then I get to join them. Lucky me lol 

I don’t knit as fast as I crochet and I can’t sit for long periods of time. So I’m always jumping up and down while knitting. 

Definitely not a quick project 

Hopefully by the time I get to joining it will have cool down   

It’s going to be a big and very warm blanket 

I hope 

Mabon

The equinox has arrived and the weather has changed. 

It’s cool and it’s starting to rain. 

The mornings are dark until much later 

And the evenings are not as long 

Soon we I’ll be heading into the darkness

A time of rest and reflection 

A blessed mabon to you all. And to our brothers and sisters in the north 

Blessed ostara   May your coming harvests be bountiful 

Easy Sunday mornings

Spending time with the feathered family 

So much has happened here lately. A couple of shocks. Stating with the alpaca. It hit me harder than I thought. 

Others that are not my story to tell. But have hurt me deeply. 

The thing I take from all this is count your blessings and treat everyday like it might be your last. 

Hopefully normal services will return shortly 

Squares

The weather is very hot. 

I’ve been up early yesterday and today watering pots 

The rest of the time I’ve been inside in the cool house. 

Knitting squares 

Seventy done 

Thirty to go 

Hopefully the weather changes soon 

I like it warm. But not oven on hot 

Stay safe 

The end of the week

It’s been a long week. And  not a great one.  But Ana was here today and gladden us all. 

She had fun in the office today. Making drawings 

And sticking them on grandpas desk for him to enjoy 



She is such a chatter box. And if she can’t see me will yell at the top of her voice. “ Grandma where are you?”

Hubby took the vet bill and the price of a replacement alpaca to the owners of the dog. 

They were very apologetic and upset. And said they would pay it all. 

I guess that’s nice. But the trauma just was too much. I’ve been feeling horrible since and especially after having to see him put to sleep. 

Hubby told them. If he ever saw the dog out in the streets again. He’ll be ringing the ranger. There way too many animals around to allow that to happen again 

Extreme heat has been predicted for our long weekend. 

Please keep us in your prayers. The danger of catastrophic fires are very very high 

Animal day

The cows have worked out. That If they stand by the water tub and moo I’ll come out to give them fresh water. So they moo I run out and they already  have a bath full of fresh clean water. They just wanted company. 

The alpaca still isn’t using his leg and although it’s clean and healing nicely on the outside we wondered if maybe it’s infected on the inside. So I called a vet and someone will be out this afternoon to check him out 

It’s the one standing. You can see the bites in his leg 




Last night I got a call from my friend who gave me the cockatiel, spike. He passed while I was away. 

She said her nephew had a parrot and couldn’t keep it. She wondered if I could take him. 

So here he is. 

I’m looking for a name for him. I’m going to ask Melody  and Brianna to maybe name him. 

Apparently he talks so hopefully after he settles down we can have a chat 



It’s warm out today. Not, someone opened the gates of hell hot. But hot enough. 

I’ve been outside in short spurts watering the many pots I have 

I’ll keep you updated on the alpaca 

Update 

Although the wounds looked small. They were deep and much damaged was done. 

Together with the vet the decision was made to put him to sleep. 

I’m guttered 

And I’m angry 

And I will miss him 

Garden clean up

This morning I decided to tackle this garden bed 

Lots of overgrown and dead plants 

I’d left it this long because it shaded the window from the hot summer sun 

I started by attacking the budleah plant. I’ve cut it back by two thirds. There’s lots of new growth on the branches so I’m pretty sure it will come back rather quickly 



The fox gloves had died back so they came out. And because of the over growth plant had dead bits or grown into funny spindly shape.  I’ve tidied up those 



Hubby moved all the cut offs for me 

I left the butterfly bushes along the side closest to my car. There were lots of bees, butterflies and other insects. So they still have some flowers to visit 

Everything got a good watering and now I’m pooped 

It will definitely be an easy afternoon crafting I’d say 

Autumnal jobs

Today is a grey overcast day. 

Perfect for working in the garden 

We pulled out all the dead plants. The zucchini’s. They weren’t dead but production had almost stopped 

I pulled out the last of the beans. And tidied up the tomatoes 

Because the weather is do bizarre they have started to reshoot. So I cut them back to the new growth 



We will see what happens. I’ll let you know 

The capsicum and chilli plants haven’t find well this year. But the did kinda get over shadowed by the tomatoes. Hopefully now they will perk up. I might try to work out how to put a cover over them during winter. 

It’s worth a shot I think 

After giving everything a good watering. They were really dry. We are inside. I’ll have a little rest the deal with the produce I brought in 

How’s your garden going? 

If your coming into spring you must be getting excited about the growing season to come 

Update on the alpaca. 

He’s doing really well. The wound has stopped bleeding and seems to be healing nicely 

We will continue to monitor him for signs of infection 

Warning angry post

Friday started a little different. Ana had an appointment with the doctor for just a check up. Which she passed. One of her parents drew love hearts on her to keep her occupied while waiting 

When she arrived at grandmas she asked to have her nails done. Doesn’t she look glamorous 

While watching my pet and me. One of the pets was a stick insect. They made stick insects with a stick and pipe cleaners. 

I didn’t want to use a stick. For safety reasons so I sticky taped two bendy straws which I think looked better as I now had the antennas lol 

Ana added the pipe cleaners. With grandma. And a new pet was born 






It was too hot to go out so we played dress ups in the play room 





Up until then. Friday was going well 

Now the angry part. Someone’s dog got into our property and bit one of our alpacas 

The second alpaca was guarding the flock. He had them in a tight little huddle. 

Our neighbour was outside and heard the poor baby screaming. 

The owners did knock on our door saying the dog had run to the back of our place and immediately we started to worry he had got my chickens. 

He had not thankfully. But he did continue into the back neighbours paddocks. Which houses horses 

With help from our lovely neighbour across the road. We caught the poor baby and tended its wounds. Our neighbour loves animals and breeds greyhounds. Have us some antiseptic spray which we applied straight away and again this morning. 

I am not a happy camper right now. 

Dogs should not be allowed to roam and especially not if they’re prone to attacking other animals 

The alpaca seems to be doing well today. But we will keep a close eye on it. If the wound looks like it’s not healing or if he looks unwell we will call a vet. 

And I’ll be personally handing that bill to the dog owners. 

What a traumatic experience that was for our animals. You could see them all checking on the wounded member of their herd