Blink and you’ll miss it they say!
Certainly feels that way ………
Our August has been mild, so early starts haven’t been brutal. In saying that, are they ever that brutal in coastal Central Queensland?
And now I type that, early starts in Winter aren’t really that early!
Never mind, back to the summarised version of what we did in August.
There has been the annual Pregnancy diagnosis of cows to determine their market destination. Lachlan is keenest about early starts to help Dad before school begins at 7.30. As Rob says, if he gets to watch 50 odd cows go through, he feels involved and is happy to buckle into the schoolwork before returning to the cattle yards after lunch.
Cattle prices are historically high which has put a spring in our step. As trading cattle is one key component of our business, we’ve been busy crunching numbers to identify underpriced animals in the market place. Buy the underpriced, move them up a class (production) and sell the overpriced. It’s keeping us all on our toes, lucky we love what we do!
Most mornings I spend time outside exercising and am always looking to add some variety to my routine. I’ve signed up to trek to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko in November with Girls Trekking Adventures and have commenced getting myself Hike Fit. Along with prescribed strength, general fitness and stretching sessions each week, I’ve been embracing an Endurance Hike on occasion.
I conned my dear husband into a walk up the mountain range that forms our back boundary. We set off in the dark so that we could enjoy the sun rising over the Broadsound from the peak. It was well worth the effort. Funnily, I imagined we’d have some quality time chatting as we walked up. No chance as both of us were huffing and puffing …….. it is steep!
The walk down was much easier, although it did take some effort to not travel too quickly! If you started rolling, I don’t think you’d stop until you reached the bottom.
August isn’t August until we make the pilgrimage to Brisbane for the Ekka. The kids just love experiencing the big smoke and of course catching up with their country cousins.
It was fun to spend time with Grandad and Grandma and we’re grateful that they were able to offer us a bed.
The kids were far less interested in sample bags this year (something to do with spending your own hard earned pumpkin money!) and worked out quickly that a ride on the City Cat along the Brisbane River, a train trip from the City to the Ekka and of course a plane ride from Rocky to Brisbane were all better value than the dodgem cars. The strawberry ice creams were a hit, and the girls couldn’t walk past pink fairy floss.
In a nutshell, the trip to the Ekka was a hit with all. But just quietly, I think Sunday’s spent creekside with a BBQ plate are much better for you.
I think it’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ when in actual fact we all live on our own ‘acres of diamonds’. (If you haven’t read this little story by Russell Conwell it is well worth googling)
I couldn’t post a summary of August without mentioning the wonders of the rain in July.
The rain of late has not only been great for growing grass.
It has meant the creeks have all had a gentle run which is wonderful.
It does mean that picking bush lemons, particularly from the tree on the bank of the creek, has become a little more challenging.
The rose garden has also lapped up the moisture and is now rewarding us with lots of blooms worthy of cutting. The fragrance is sweet and just delicious. I have been brave (or perhaps naive) enough to plant another bed of these beauties.
The veggie patch is also benefiting from the rain and is producing ample food for us to eat. My mate the kookaburra is quite impressed by the size of the worms this year.
So while August (and this year really) has zoomed past, it is often good to stop for a moment and simply smell the roses ….
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