The dust and cobwebs have started to gather on the desk in the schoolroom and I’m not looking!

We’ve donned our long sleeve shirts and have headed out in the paddock to help Dad.

There is a job list for everyone and some of us are better than others at getting things crossed off 😉

With a September heat wave striking most of Queensland, early mornings are by far the most pleasant time of day. I’m continuing to work toward my goal of running 10 kilometres and the aim is to leave quite a few kilograms along the track! This means less smoko and a few less coffees……

At the moment we have a Canadian couple helping out around the place. It has meant that Rob and I can ride and muster together with these four while Eliza is in safe hands. 

 Our grazing rotations have slowed down with paddocks having a 120 day spell since last being grazed.

While the fresh paddocks have a green shoot underneath the dry bulk, the paddocks grazed our certainly grey and dusty.

It’s been hot, thirsty work for everyone …….

We’re fortunate here, to have a lot of natural water but during the dry season our dependence on man-made water grows (particularly as the days heat up).

It’s Murphy’s law that as soon as cattle become dependant on the troughs,  the pump has a problem…..

Although this has been inconvenient, we are fortunate to have alternate options. In this case, it was a move (a little earlier than planned) to a fresh paddock.

With Andrew and Lachlan escaping for two days to visit their mates, it meant Eliza was back out in the paddock to help. 

Tomorrow, Tess returns home for her mid-semester break. The kids have a few surprises up their sleeves, including the grooming and preening of her beloved horse! 

There are 2 comments on this article:

• On 28/09/2013 sharon said:

  we’ve been reliant on piped water and a you beaut automated system all year. Of course you beaut things are prone to failure or there’s always some fitting that comes loose at the wrong time and all of that pumping goes to waste (tonight point in case, Trevor had to rush off after dinner, one thing about you beaut technology is that at least we can see when some things failed!).

  Any rotation here is about to go out the window, the gates are about to be thrown open on a couple of lightly spelled paddocks and we’ll be letting them roam at will, unless it rains before then of course. Can smell it around this evening but its just teasing. (and is it just me or are the holidays never long enough?!)

• On 28/09/2013 Chookyblue...... said:

  enjoy the holidays………I agree with Sharon they just aren’t long enough…………hope you get rain soon………..and spring returns to cooler temps……..