What have you been doing today?

[judydawn]

Good to hear the leg is improving Chookie.

[cookie1]

Cookie, honey bees don’t pollinate tomatoes.  You might need to gently shake the plants if they are not in a windy spot.
More plum cooking.

Oh, thanks for that information Chookie. I didn’t realise that as we have never had the problem before. Wonderful news about your leg.

Marina the veggie box sounds really good. Especially encouraging for trying new things.

[K Atie]

Marina vegie Box sounds great . I love fennel , a fennel and sliced orange salad is great use the leaves as such too .

[K Atie]

Started day with taking DD to shearing shed , never left . DH and DD baled up more crutching , I cleaned the shearing shed kitchen and bathroom. Well was a huge job . The place sparkles now . Spiders be gone too. Even the four tap trough is shinny . Finished off sweeping, DH will mop another day . Our young helper who happens to be a friend of ours daughter and DD moved sheep all day . Bring on shearing tomorrow. DD is on food duty so I’ll be able to do other jobs I hope .

[judydawn]

A very busy day for all of you K Atie.

[cookie1]

Not a lot done here today. D D is still working from home. I did vacuum through and spent the rest of the day listening how the fries were going. My brother has had to evacuate and other friends up that part of the city are packed and ready to go. One friend said they received texts at 20 mi Ute intervals all night until a wind change saved them. They have a beautiful home but in the bush of the hills.

[Cuilidh]

Those fires look fierce, Cookie, hope  you are nowhere near and those you know remain safe.

[achookwoman]

KATIE, sounds like all things under control.  The cool weather must help.
Cookie, we are thinking of you with the lock down and fires. Feels like all states are taking it in turn to go through a rough patch.
GD coming again today to help with garden. We are really enjoying her company.  She is trying to earn money before heading off to Uni.  She has played Bagpipes at 2 funerals, babysitting and gardening and cleaning.  She has applied for lots of shop jobs but nothing much has happened.
Did my weekly shop yesterday.  Prices seem to have doubled in the past year.

[judydawn]

You’ll miss GD Chookie. I take my hat off to her, it seems she will do anything to earn as bit of money - I don’t know too many who would do those jobs.

[K Atie]

Shearing was on pause yesterday , they did an hour or so then the sheep were too wet , the humidity is just to high . DD helped then finished mowing around the sheds . Later on helped move sheep . The shears are staying and they had nothing to do , this always worries me ! They said they were going yabbing asking for an old cocky and were there any Roos around , well you can imagine my face , really I knew they would be up to a fare few drinks . Fire light in the old house , heaven help me if they burn it down . Panic mode as always with me as DH zoomed of to Ballarat to do a job .
My dear friend collected DD and took her for a driving lesson as I’m getting frustrated and need someone else to help . Two hours later nearly 8 pm they returned , cannot beat friendship .
Today I dropped DD ,who is also trying to earn some money for uni , to the shearing shed , she has a few jobs , smoko lunch preps , skirting the fleece and branding the wool bales . I Tidied the kitchen as the boys had Actually cooked last night .

[cookie1]

KAtie as usual things sound frantically busy at your place.

The fires are still burning here. Lots of homes lost, it must be awful. It is up in the northern end of Perth and we are south. My brother and nephew are still evacuees with their families. My nephew is a cop and was called out to work in the very early hours of the morning.
The smoke isn’t as bad down our way today.

[judydawn]

You have your hands full at the moment K Atie.
It’s terrible about the fires cookie, how long have they been burning now?

[achookwoman]

Cookie, we really feel for the WA people caught up in the fires. 
K Atie, farm life is so unpredictable.  Hang in there.
Making the last of the Plum jam today.  A bit more gardening. Wish the tomatoes would ripen but it is not hot enough.

[K Atie]

Cookie the fires are terrible, glad you are south .
DD worked a full day added another job ,helping load the wool press . Helping prepping the vegetables for their dinner too . DD spent arvo harvesting, managed to get a truck to take the grain away too . I managed to go to bookclub for dinner , laughed when DH rang two minutes before I left needing dinner at the other property!! Lucky he solved the problem and collected a meal from The shearer’s! It was nice to see a few friends last night , such a busy time of the year .

[cookie1]

The fires have been burning for 4 days now and still aren’t under control. 81 homes have been destroyed. Fortunately my brother has been able to return home and is watch and act now. The fire is heading slightly north now. The winds are still strong and are expected to pick up. The retardant dropped by some big planes at sunset last night saved quite a few homes.
We live not too far from the light aircraft airport and each morning we hear and watch the helicopters leave to drop water on it. They have just returned from today’s work- it’s 7.19pm. A big day. It’s awesome to watch as there are 6 choppers flying at the same height.

I managed to grab a photo of the last 3 choppers tonight.