More on the backyard farm

We are still enjoying having the chickens live here… a week in and it feels like we’ve won the chicken lottery with them. In fact, today was a very big day as….

Our first egg was laid! It’s that really, really small one beside the big ones… that were store bought. Free range, of course.

I’m so surprised that they would lay – I mean, it’s been a stressful week with them moving house, being introduced to their big sisters and pretty constant cuddles.

Perhaps it’s time to have a nice lettuce, tomato and egg salad!

Newest ladies to join the family

Dot’s a girl
Piper’s a girl
The two new girls:

They are red commercials… our very own red hens. We can tell them apart with their colourations, feathers and their temperaments.

This is Ruby. She warmed up slowly, but has the sweetest nature. She’s the more cuddly of the two. She is also ruled by her stomach, the most likely to find plastics to eat in the yard and the likes long exploratory walks.

Scout is noisy – I can’t wait to hear how she celebrates laying an egg! She’s not so eager to be picked up, flies about 30cm off the ground at the drop of a hat and tolerates cuddles, but they are not her favourite thing in the world.

They came to live with us 3 days ago… and today was their first time out of their new home. I’m hoping we’re able to free range them a fair amount, judging by today they will be quite happy. I shook their feed dish and they came running back to their house so quickly… the cutest little chicken waddles I have ever seen.

Yes, I am besotted by my hens. I think I may be a bird person after all

April Fave

It came out in March, but I think I *really* loved it in April.
April is one of the best months in my little corner of the universe.

I’m following the sun at the moment, are you?

Taswegia

I have a Godson… Being a Godmother had always been on my 101 things I wanted to do… aaand then I was! My friend D was the crazy mama who put me in this much-coveted position. I share my Godmothering responsibilities with another school friend who lives in Melbs-town. I don’t think we’ve had to Godmother together much… ever, in fact!

Ah… end ramble.

So! Off to Tasmania I went to *finally* celebrate my Godson’s birthday with him – as he turned FOUR!

This is the wild rugged landscape that IS Tasmania.

I didn’t see much.

I cuddled lots, though (and that was the point).

I don’t share pictures of kids on my blog without permission… and I haven’t asked. So after that massive ramble about how important being a Godmother is to me, you’ll just have to take my word for it that my Godson is a cutie patootie, that we bonded and that he enjoyed turning 4. It’s all true, but yeah.

I will share this picture, though… of my Godson’s mama and I. ALL weekend we were like “let’s get a photo together… photo, photo, photo”, right? This was taken in the departures terminal as we are THAT organised. My camera recharger could not be found before I left Brisbane, so the camera constantly threatened to die… but we got one. D has officially been a part of my life for more than half of it.

And then, just as soon as I arrived, I left. Or so it felt. I’m going back, of course I am… Stitching, weaving, pulling together these relationships that stretch vast kilometres. It’s a patchwork quilt, but I do like sewing.

{My final view of Taswegia before the clouds took over}

La Familia

I went to Melbourne in March.

On the way

In Brunswick

@ the maze

At Brunetti’s

Carlton

My Grandmother turned 90 and we had that side of the family celebrating with a dinner. It went ok, considering my cousins and I don’t know each other. My beautiful son was engaging and chattering… he had a ball!

We went to the Hot Springs again, discovered a new favourite bakery, went running on the beach, visited derby leagues and went op-shopping. My grandmother is now 90, we’re worried about some of the decisions we need to face for her and the implications for our Brisbane family… We’ll see. That seems to be the mantra of 90 – wait and see (and hope).

It wasn’t the trip I anticipated, I was going to do so much more, but it was a tender one. I suppose that’s why I’ve waited 6 weeks to share photos of my family… family. It’s the most important part of my life. The family I was born into, the family I was fortunate enough to be given with my partner and that which I’ve created through friendship. More super soon.

Boy + Soccer

Twice a week:

He likes it.

Easter 2012

The boy made this for us before we got out of bed on Sunday morning! Super happy and proud of the munchkin (not so much of my housekeeping… so much flotsam and jetsam on that blasted rug!)!

One of my fave parts of the Easter tradition…

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter!

We woke up at home, went to lunch at the spouse’s Aunt + Uncle’s home, then popped in to say hello to an unwell derby spouse, went to visit the new home of a friend and then went to Kangaroo Point Cliffs to watch the sun go down whilst doing an off-skates workout with a few other skaters. The boy especially enjoyed running around like a crazy fellow and laughing at everyone doing their exercises….

A busy day, but easily one of my favourite Easter Sundays in a really, really long time.

Family, friends, sunshine and chocolate… how could it not be?

Boys in da hood

Taken in one of our favourite stretches of Melbourne….

Flown the coop

Big Bird has been growing his beak at an extraordinary rate.

He went to the vet last month to have the end trimmed…

This morning I took him back as I was still worried about his beak development. The vet agreed and I held him in my hands as she looked at him. He was uncomfortable, so I stretched my hand out and he moved towards perching on my fingers and the vet said “back to mum you go” and started telling me about his diagnosis. She told me that he was at the point in his life where I needed to make him as happy and comfortable as possible as it would come to that point where I would need to euthanase him.

I teared up.

She went on to say that until he got to that point, we would be able to manage his condition for years, likely.

So she went to get the tools.

I looked him in his eye and told him that he’d just received news of his impending death, but it was ok, ’cause I would spoil him rotten. He chirped at me, the special chirp that he only did for me – matching my tone and inflection.

The vet asked if I wanted a nurse to hold him, I refused as I thought he’d be more comfortable with me.

She trimmed his beak, carefully, oh so carefully. And then I felt it. He went limp in my hands.

I looked at her and asked what I’d done.

She started massaging his heart. I told him to come back.

I looked away.

I knew, already.

She picked him up and took him into the other room to intubate him.

The minutes ticked by in the small blue room. Strangely, it was the room where I’d had to put my 13 year old dog to sleep 9 and a half years before. I willed her spirit to keep him company and be with him.

Another minute.

I dried my tears and smiled. He’s strong.

Another minute.

I knew he was gone. I felt selfish for wanting him to stay. I wanted to stick my head into the other room and just tell them to stop and let him go. I gave him permission to leave, told him that I would be ok.

Another minute. And another.

The vet came in. He was limp in her hand. A small, broken, dead bird. She said sorry, it was obvious how bonded we were.

She’d intubated, he’d had his shot of adrenaline, she had done all she could.

He was gone.

He is gone.

 

 

Me, my spouse and ours. Good things come in threes.

An accidental photo of me

The spouse on his way to work.

The light was delicious and the way he looks at me *still* makes me melt.

The offspring.

Good Things come in threes.