Peaceful Dove

We were sitting indoors by the fire on a cold but sunny weekend morning. The distinctive call of the Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida) made us both look up from our books. The day was otherwise silent but for the dove's brief call. Noteworthy and rather nice. (click on title for link)

Swans are breeding

The beautiful Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, is breeding in the pools of the wetlands below our place. Hundreds of breeding pairs, black necks poking above the grass. So much rain.

Quirindi ODE

 
O and Evie getting warmed up on a very windy day for dressage.

There they go!

 
Camden ODE 17 May 2009

After Showjumping

 
O and Evie just after Showjumping, Camden ODE 16 May 2009

Camden ODE

 
O and Evie in full gallop on the X-country course. They did well.

Flood Warnings

...for the Hunter, Williams and Paterson rivers. Big low off the coast. Coffs Harbour area is being hammered we're just on the edge.

Eastern Whip Snake

O found Tinsel in a state with what seemed to be a Brown Snake under A's Volvo. She called the snake catcher who for a $25 fee (reasonable) caught it and said it is an Eastern Whip Snake, poisonous, but way way less than a Brown. Like a bee sting.

By incredible coincidence, 450 kms away, I was bitten on the hand by wasp. Incredibly painful for about ten minutes. This happened about the same time that O discovered the snake.
[click on title for link to Aust Museum article]

In the Wild pt 2

 
Panda then joins in the chase. (Dogs a blur in the background - they move that fast - indeed so does Panda's back legs).

In the Wild

 
Working dogs racing. Win and Billie pull g's in a tight left turn with Panda doing the big cat stalk from the side.

Evie and O Cross Country

 
Just before an alarming fall - head first into a tree - Evie and O were looking great. Just a scratch and a scratching was the result. Evie didnt work for a week. Going to Scone this coming weekend and Hidden Valley ODEs the following.

SIEC slideshow

C, M and V all had fun helping O and Evie compete.

SIEC Feb 2009

O and Evie at SIEC last Saturday. Should have a slide show movie of more of this once I get to a broadband connection.

It was wet out

 
Yesterday, M and me standing in B's place below our place surveying the back of the flood. Luckily our place (background past water)rises up to the ridge quickly.

Alexander Park Dressage

 
O at AP Dressage T-Shirt Day last Sunday. Check the t-shirt eh? My own design.

New Dam is Full

 
After a record low rainfall January, last night we had about 120mm of rain. It's full now.

Victorian Bushfires

This week marked the worst natural disaster in Australia's history. To those affected, rural people like us, our most sincere condolences. Words cannot express the enormity of this. So sorry.

New Bull

We have borrowed a black Angus bull called Michael from a neighbour to try and get our girls into calf. He's a little short. But we're hoping!

Cedar now a mature lady

 

Teddy

 
Seems to have grown in the year and a half we've had him.