Busy Times on the Farm - Part 2 [Easter 2022]

17 - 21 April 

A visit to the farm is good for the soul. Add in some 'hard yakka' and it is sheer bliss!

[hard yakka, strenuous labour -  Aussie slang derived from the Yagara language of the Brisbane region, for whom yaga meant 'work'.]

Monday

After weeks and weeks of constant and heavy rain, my cousin Robert had found it impossible to keep the grass mown in the house paddock. The day prior to my arrival he had used the tractor and slasher, to try and mow the lower section, which was completely overgrown. He had to give up, as the ground was too soft. The mown grass was so thick that the couch grass underneath was going to die. With no rake to add to the tractor to move it, it became a physical workout. We took turns in raking and loading. 

It was then a 200 m drive to the bonfire pile to unload.

Boggy gate entrance to manouvre.

The unloading was delayed, as I couldn't resist photographing this tiny gully with the exposed roots of a Norfolk Pine Tree. Note the fencepost which would have come before the tree. The tree would have been from a seed dropped by a bird sitting on the post.

This phenomenon was pointed out to me by Robert in another field. [below]  I had noted that the field had been bordered by Camphor laurel trees and assumed they had been planted by Granddad. No, Granddad fenced the field and the birds perched on the posts.

Back to work.

The afternoon was spent with my driving the ride-on, mowing the vegetable paddock, while Robert used the whipper snipper on the long grass edges.

New ride-on. Still looked after well.

Evening glow as we relaxed after a rewarding day's work.

Tuesday

Magical dawn and then a day in town at the Historical Society, researching Granddad's involvement in the Kyogle community. I am retyping his memoirs and want to add additional information, if possible.

Wednesday

The new ride-on had completed 11 hours of mowing, so it was time for its first oil and air filter change. It took most of the morning and was not the easy task Rob was told it would be.  I got busy with the old push mower. Remember them! At least it wouldn't have got bogged. Yes, it has been very wet.

By 4pm the house paddock had been completely mown. I was looking forward to a wine under the pergola and I was hoping Rob would suggest that we light the firepit.

No, but he came up with a much better plan!

We loaded the 4-wheeler and headed up the back of the property for sunset. I could think of no better finale for this wonderful return to the farm!

West

East

Goodnight

And a hair raising drive back through the long grass to the house! Such fun!

Work on the farm in the 1940's or there abouts. Uncle Stan with his cousin Kevin.

In the background is the Moreton Bay Fig tree of the previous post.

Granddad was only 18 or 19 when pig droving. 

A wonderful visit, but an even more exciting visit is now only 4 sleeps away. On Thursday, [12th May] we fly to Sydney for 3 nights. On Sunday 15th, we finally board an Air Canada flight to Vancouver, Montreal, and Charlottetown, to long awaited cuddles and kisses from our Grandchildren. We have been trying to isolate to be healthy for our departure, hence time to catch up on my blogging.

I would love to read your comment.

Easter at Afterlee - 2022, Part 1

 Easter Sunday - 17th to 21st April

It seems to have become a tradition that I spend Easter at Afterlee, [just outside Kyogle] staying at 'Locheil.' 

A little of the history of 'Locheil', can be found in this post of May 2019.

http://outandabout3.blogspot.com/2019/05/easter-down-on-farm.html

On day 2, I woke to the lovely sound of the 'dawn chorous'. I believe the predominate bird singing is the Currawong.

Video of the chorous and view from my bedroom.

I was soon up and out, enjoying the crisp, fresh air of the now lush, green fields. In contrast to previous visits, the grasses were now taller than me and made progress slow and damp with the heavy morning dew. Had it been summer, I doubt I would have walked as far, for fear of treading on snakes.

I enjoyed a couple of hours wandering. The tensions of city life faded away, as cows mooed softly, in the distance.

I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the morning.

Even when witnessing the decay of the old dairy.

White Ants have attacked.

Autumn colour beginning to adorn the English trees, planted in 1991, on my Uncle Stan's 70th birthday, by the four Cullen sibblings.

The Staghorns have recovered and have thrived on the constant summer rain.

I am in total awe of this Moreton Bay Fig tree [94 years old], planted by my Grandfather on the 7th birthday of my Uncle Stan. 

It was cool enough for a firepit blaze, as the sun set in a wonderful glow.

I would love to read your comment.