Half ways there

I can't believe it has been six weeks since Katie asked me to go to Wa with her, it is so exciting. We have been emailing back and forth, having muliple phone calls not to mention the long Msn sessions. It is going to be awesome! Michael & Zac *Katie's Man* won't be coming sadly, but at the same time, it is good too, although she knows Michael fairly well, Mick and I hardly know Zac. We'd expect to spend a lot of 'girl' time together, and the boys would just be left to their own devices.. Both of us agree, it probably would have ended with each hanging out with their respective partners, and not getting alot of Katie and Liz time, because we'd be too busy catering for their needs..
I have promised Mick that me and him can go sometime, around Sept one year would be nice, the cooler months and when the wild flowers are in bloom.

Egg Bound Chook

On Thursday I noticed this chook had layed and egg on the path with no shell on it, but had some ?shell stuck out her vent, I didn't know what to do so left it there, apart from not wanting to hurt her, I had to go out. I am not sure if she pasted that or not.. I think she must have, though I haven't found it around the yard or their pen (but the dog may/would have eaten it).On Friday and Sat she was contracting her vent a lot, and doing lots of just clear liquid poo with a bit of white poo in the middle, the clear poo is almost like egg white, there is heaps of it and it is thickish, when I wash it off the paths the white poo is like spiderwebs. Sunday I figured out that maybe she was egg bound, gave her a warm water bath, massaged her sides and underbody, no response, after a while I got an eyedropper and put a small amount of oil in it and (poor girl) got my Fiance to put some up her vent, about 5 mins later she pass a very large egg, no shell formed though, just a very tough skin on the egg. Also like an umbilical cord She was alot more active after this moving around and eating more. Monday and Tuesday she has sort of been the same, sleeping lots either standing in one spot sleeping or sitting, she is drinking heaps, eating too, contracting her vent a bit but not as bad as the weekend. She is ok, just not her normal active self. Generally I go outside and they all run over to see if I have anything for them. I did give her another 'oiling' on Monday, but she didn't lay another egg. They all eat laying pellets and wheat, as well as the odd veggy scraps. They only started getting wheat about 2 weeks ago.. It is fresh as we havested it when they started getting it. I gave all the girls a dusting last night as I noticed little white mites on them.
Blue Lace from The-coop suggested giving her, Molasses Flush, and then milk/yoghurt food.. Instructions below. THANKS Blue Lace!
To make the molasses flush, just mix 1 tablespoon molasses with 1-1/2 cups of water. Let that be her only source of water and let her have her regular food too if she will eat. Give her the molasses flush for no longer than 8 hours. Then the next day, if you have buttermilk, mix some with some of her regular food, however much you think she will eat in one setting. If you don't have buttermilk, regular milk will work. After all of that has been absorbed, add a teaspoon of yogurt and mix well. If you think it's too dry, add a little water. Too much yogurt can cause diarrhea and I think she already has enough of that. You don't want it to be soupy, just a wet mash that's easy to eat.

OMG -Some serious whinging going on here...

So the party was last night... It was so lame, well not lame as such just the 'manager & wife' who were 'hosting' the party never even spoke to like 1/2 the people. They stuck to their little group of "we're so much better than everyone else" people. Mind you most of us didn't mind as we can't stand him, or his off-sider, or their wives, their noses are so high in the air I imagine they are lucky planes don't fly up them.
The food was pretty crap, the 'hostess' bought it all at one of the wholesale places in Griffith.. First time that has happened, we always used to make the food so it used to be very fresh and yummo, this time it was even served in the containers it was bought in, so much for effort... The steak was horrible, ok well the steak was good, it is just that the 'host' cooked it and did a dreadful job, it was hard/crisp on the outside and it was dry in the middle. Mahrey TRIED to cook it, but master wouldn't (like normal) give up the reins.. In the end he ruined like $70 worth of meat.
Mick and I spent most of the time talking to people we liked, was good we all reminisced about different things.. One of the newer boys asked what was the most interesting 'your fired' story. Man there was alot of them.. One day I will write them all down so I don't forget them. There has been alot of 'interesting' times out here. I remember Johnno and I used to sit and wonder how so much can happen on a little farm in the middle of nowhere, we used to wonder if we were really on a reality tv show that was being broadcast to Germany... This was around the time we had 18 Chinese, 1 Taiwanese, and about 10 Korean's staying on the farm. I felt really sorry for the Taiwanese guy he couldn't speak Chinese or Korean and he knew very little English.
Oh we went at 6pm tonight to the barracks so we could eat left overs, they cooked up the ?last of the steak, did a better job but I didn't try it. Couldn't be bothered trying to chat to the hob nobs so sat inside and ate prawns with the other people that just didn't want to climb an invisible social ladder. Apart from anything who wants to be attacked by 30,000 flies when your trying to eat??
I have to laugh at them, they have all been on the farm for like under 1 year, who the blooming heck do they think they are??? They are so snooty it is sickening, the big boss (the owner), who is worth gazillions is so much nicer than any of these try hards. He is down to earth not like these people that have been hired. Grrr I wish he knew what a pain in the backside they are!
Ahh I feel somewhat better after a vent..

Mmmm this is making me hungry

Oh I have been stumbling around the net.. Looking for a recipe that uses lots of eggs (the girls have been laying very well..), I would like it to be a sweet, as the farm's Christmas party is on in 14 hours, and I could offloaded most of it there.. lol I came across some yummo foods.. None of which I was looking for of course, but they look great none the less..
Chrismas Truffles

















Lemon Cheesecake Slice Recipe












Quiche Lorraine Recipe











Man I could post on & on for ages it all looks great! I just recommend you go there and check it out :) Also ABC has a pretty good recipe finder, you can list the ingredients you want... maybe I will get lucky there lol

Blergh

Well I still can't post from Picasa... I read someone elses blog that said they had 'beta' and now could post with Picasa, so I tried and failed lol. I was able to log in here long enough though to grab the few posts I had done on my temp blog (tempredcrystalstar) I have even managed to upload this photo, but I still like Picasa better.. BLAAAAAH~ I hope it gets fixed soon!!
We are considering moving from here... Thinking about Melbourne, seems to be lots of jobs there, so Mick has been applying. I think he is going around the bend here. It would be good to move, be in a city.. ooooh could be fun! The only thing is if we go, we refuse to rent, we would be buying... So we would have to hit up his parents as well as my mum for a loan, well not even a loan. It would be more having them invest in a % of $ in our house and when we decide to sell it the get the same % back.. Which could be a good deal, if we do the place up a heap and put in a garden we might get more. It is very exciting to think about!!!!!

A Proposition

I got this awesomely outrageous letter from my best friend, Katie who lives in Brisbane... I don't know what the chances are, but by god she is a great sales woman, I love the idea...

Hey there mate,
I am just gonna throw an outrageous idea out there. I am actually considering going to perth for a weekish at the start of February if I can raise enough funds before then to pay for it. How would you feel about joining me. This idea is inspired by the fact that the Gold Coast Big Day Out sold out before I could buy any tickets, so we have put our names down for the online ballot to hopefully get some of the last tickets but I was thinking maybe I could just go to another one. I thought about Melbourne but I reckon the Perth atmosphere (like the type of people) would be way frendlier, and I have always wanted to see the sun set over the ocean. I will still have a while of uni holidays left and wont be in black out for work so I thought if I could convince you to join me - WE WOULD HAVE THE TIME OF OUR LIVES. Mick could come if he wanted, but I was thinking, Katie and Liz, by themselves, in an unfamiliar city, for a week, with alcohol. It would be awesome. I just figured if I am going to go to Perth for the Big Day Out then I might as well pay a bit more and have a week over there, in the sun, in the hotel pool/spa. Oh it's making me want to go more just thinking about it. Anyway, consider it, and let me know what the possibility and probability of it is. :)
Love always,
Katie xxx

The Animals take over

We have had a heap of animals around in the last few days. I am not sure whether it is because it has been getting hotter. I went out to put the rubbish in the bin(who says I never do that lol)

I got quiet a shock when I saw the little Roo, not that it scared me, just that I wasn't expecting to see it lol.
Here are millions of ?Ibis' that descended on to the condo lawn, there must have either been lots of bugs in the ground or possibly the sprinklers had been on and there was water... I have never seen so many there before.

Engagement (Relocated)

Well blow me down, Michael asked me to marry him on Sat night. I said yes of course!! This is the beautiful ring that he bought me. I love it dearly.
Cheers from one VERY happy lady.

Well who's a silly puppy.....

Trouble likes climbing trees... Strange but true lol, the other day he climbed the tree in our yard, because Michael was sitting up there shooting the Indian Miners (feral birds that take native Australian bird's hollows). Anyhow I grabbed the camera to grab a few shots, he wasn't that high in this shot, but he did get up over my head (I am 169cm so he was atleast 195cm) I joked to Michael that if he fell he would land on my head.
As they say what goes up must come down, just after I made the joke, poor Trouble fell out of the tree.. I think it was part my fault as I had the camera up and ready for another shot, and he was too busy trying to strike a pose, forgot to watch his footing and slipped out of the tree.. I can tell you in wasn't a graceful fall, but by gosh did Michael and me laugh our arses off.. I was waiting for Michael to laugh himself out of the tree.

Big Mistake! (Relocated)

I am using this blog, because I was stupid enought to try beta blogger...... NOW picasa, and hello won't post my blogs... So I am using this, and shall copy the code later... I have alot of difficulties using explorer or firefox with certain sites, and unfortunatly this is one of those sites. I have to log in nearly everytime I go to a new screen and I can't load pictures up GRRR!

Anyhow welcome to my temp blog. My original one is redcrystalstar Hope you like the pictures, these are roses off my new bushes.

Minor Family Reunion

We did a trip to Bega/Pambula/Merimbula to meet my long long lost Cousin Valerie and her Brothers family. Valerie lives in America so it was a once off thing to go and see her. We stayed with her brother and his lovely wife. Before we arrived Valerie went out and found a book that had a picture of our (many times) great grandfather. We already had this picture of them, but it meant that the author had, had recent contact with a relative as the last edtion of the book didn't have this photo. Anyhow she tracked the lady that had submitted the photo and she was able to tell us a cousin of her's who we would be able to meet. She unfortunately was going away. Valerie got in contact with Max Welch

We met Max, another distant cousin (who is actually not as distant as Valerie is to me..) after speaking with Valerie days before, he had very kindly rung a distant relative of his who LIVED on the same land OUR ancestors had lived on, the old homestead was still standing (although it is falling down) and WE were allowed to VISIT!!! It was so wonderful, I don't think I have ever felt so connected to something. To know where your ancestors actually walked was just amazing.

There was a grave on the property we visited that and also spent the day looking at ancestors graves in Bombala.
While on our trip to the area, we also got to visit Haycock which is where our (many great) grand father had a large property and also woolstores. One of the local rangers took us around the area too as it is now a national park and nothing is standing there anymore.

The photos are, two of the homestead, Valerie, Max and Me, and one of Haycock Point

Under Attack (Relocated)

The other day I heard the birds going off, so I went out to see what was the matter. This poor little blighter was under fire from the maggies and the butcher birds. I went out to protect him, while we walked together he was safe, but as soon as he went outside the yard back in to the birds territory he was fair game.



This photo was taken just milliseconds before that bird struck the goanna on the head. It made a sickening noise! The birds continued to follow him till he got to the trees... No doubt to raid a nest... The cycle continues.. lol

Nature at Haycock

Recently I was at the South East Coast of NSW, these are a couple of pics I took at Haycock Point, which is now a national park, but in the 1860's and earlier, it belonged to one of my ancestors. Will blog more later...

Bom - Food

This was a fun page to make... Maybe because I LOVE FOOD!! I actually made all that food too. The sushi was hard to make, but yummo to eat.
Next Bom is to be a school one... Will have to try and find some photos...


L/O : 4
Altered Things : 4
Swaps : 10
Other Projects : 4

Bom - Friends

This is my friends page, on the back of each tag is a story about each person. There is also the journal box where I talk about how I am a chatterbox (isn't that ironic?).




L/O : 3
Altered Things : 3
Swaps : 9
Other Projects : 4

New Camera and replacement chooks

Michael went to China, and while he was there he bought a Casio Ex-Z1000... Needless to say I have called it my own :D It was my first full day with it (and him too since my return yesterday) I took the above photo as part of a Challenge that I am involved in. It is to help teach you different techniques and how to use a digital camera. The challenge was to take a close up of something and try to get the background out of focus. I was trying to get the flower in focus and have the rest out of focus, but just as I took the photo the thing I had holding the leaf down moved and the result was the leaf became the 'center attraction' I think it looks ok however. lol

One of the cameras features is it does "Illustration" type photos. Above is Mick, below is a "Replacement" Chook


They're not as friendly, they're not as cute, they're not my babies, but hopefully I can come to like them. They haven't done anything wrong, and they can't help that the person who bought them, is the person who owned the 'Killer' dog. :'(

Bom: In the Beginning

This is me when I was about a day old, cute eh lol. I have done a write up about when I was born, my particulars and things that were going on in the world.









L/O : 2
Altered Things : 2
Swaps : 9
Other Projects : 4

BOM Dedication

I am on a few different scrapbooking groups, one is running a Weekly BOM challenge. This is the Dedication page. Seeings as I don't have any children (yet) I have just dedicated it to those that follow. There are about 50 topics, I don't have to do all of them, or even half, but it is good motivation to get me scrapping. The next topic is: Your Beginning, which is all your birth details, weight, length, maybe a baby pic. I am looking foward to this one. Shall post it when it is done.

The Border and Vellum have been embossed.

L/O : 1
Altered Things : 2
Swaps : 8
Other Projects : 4

My Altered Clock

Yay my second altered item. It is just a $3 Warehouse clock. I think it is much better than a scungy $3 clock now :)

L/O : 0
Altered Things : 2
Swaps : 8
Other Projects : 4

Oh My Poor Babies

In March this year I bought 5 baby Chicks.
I love chooks, and these little gals (and a guy who I never heard crow, but had just started) lived inside for about 8 weeks, were hand fed (like ate off my hand) came running when they saw or heard me and were just the cutest.

Last week all my baby chickens were killed. A contractor on the farm had his dog off of the leash, Michael had forgotten to shut the pen up, and the dog got in and killed 4/5, the last little one died later that night =(( They were just 18 weeks old.

I have been away from home for 8 weeks and I was really looking foward to seeing them again, seeing how much they had grown. The contractor got us 4 new chooks (.....!!!) so I am yet to meet them, they are almost ready to lay and Mick already got one egg from them. Anyhow there is that sad story. I am looking foward to being home and seeing Mick and Trouble (our dog), but I am going to be sad my babies aren't there.

Scrapping

I am in a Scrapbooking swap at the moment, it is a recipe swap, so I have altered a tin for all my new recipe cards to live in. I took me a little while to make, not because it was hard, but just because I am a procrastinator. I haven't done very much scrapping this year....
L/O : 0
Altered Things : 1
Swaps : 8
Other Projects : 4

Visiting Friends

Goanna looking for bird eggs.
I live in Outback NSW, I have a lot of 'friends' dropping in to say G'day. I shall post some more visitors another day.

A friendly shingle-back lizard who stopped by our house for a much needed drink. One of our pipes was leaking and there was a large puddle on the ground, this gal stayed and drank for about 15 minutes.

Geelong fun

In February this year when my boyfriend and I went to Geelong, Victoria for him to attend a management course, we went down to the bay. They have these funky Bollard things. We had a lot of fun spotting them as we were driving around the water front.

I have no idea what these things are, my guess is they represent the waves? lol If anyone can inform me I would love to know.

Michael with the Buoys

Around the Farm

I don't have my license, and there really is nothing to do outhere anyhow lol. Occassionally I have been out with Michael, on the 4 wheelers. The farm that we live on is pretty huge, I have lived out here for about 4 years and I still haven't been every where on it. There isn't that much of interest on the farm to look at, sometimes there is a nice sunset or sunrise, and although there are roos around, they are hard to get a good photo of. There used to be Emus in one section of the farm, where we lived when we first moved on farm. That is about 20kms from where we live now, so needless to say that I haven't been over that way for quiet a while. I might have to do a mission over there to see if there is any around that aren't camera shy.
These are a few photos I have taken while out and about on the 4 wheelers.

I really love this tree. I have always loved trees with big holes in the centre, lol I have no idea why. As a kid I always thought about people hiding out in them in storms, in later years I realised that probably wouldn't be a good idea as there would be a greater risk of electrocution.
This is the Lachlin river, not much water was passing through there at the time of the photo, I am not sure how much is running at the moment either. In November there was a huge rise in the river, the most water I had seen in all my time here.

This is a pretty sunset, the water is actually Campbells dam. The water that is stored there goes down the channels and is eventually sucked up by the laterals (sorta like mechanical soaker hoses on legs). Each Lateral is 1km long, these water the crops.