Wednesday, October 31, 2012

OPEN GARDEN, TRUCK, CROPS

Open Garden...................small selection of plants that were available for purchase...........very pleased with the number of plants that were donated.

Prime Mover..................going to town to get the blinkers adjusted.................not working...................

Chick peas.................end of October.........not ready as yet.

Wheat,.......................lots of green heads ............a way to go yet.

Peas..................drying off...............tops still green............

Barley..............looks closer to being ready.
Decided to take some photo's of crops as the end of October..............Today was quite hot..............need more days like this.........................things will start moving then.
The photo's are not very clear,................only used a small camera...............if you look closely you can see the pods on the two different peas crops.......................note that the barley heads are starting to curve down........................filling up with seeds..................Wheat has beards................not like the older varieties they looked different.
Bye.
Lots of Love.
NANA ON THE FARM 

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

STRAWBERRIES, UGH LAWN,CACTUS FLOWER

YUM,  strawberries from the patch.......still lots there.

Results of ROUND UP applied during the winter......................................this beautiful South African couch grass
looked dormant.................I sprayed to get rid of the weeds...............now very patchy...............hopefully it will come back green as ever....

More affected lawn...........watering............soon will be beautiful.........I hope...........................Can only be better than the weeds.

CACTUS..............I can't wait till these flowers open..............they will be a real show.............the strappy leaves are not the most beautiful during the year.................but.................wait.....till the display starts then it will be a real eye stopper. Must be at least 50 flowers..............they look like they will all open at the same time.
Bye take care.
Love from
NANA ON THE FARM
 

HEADER COMB PREPARTIONS. FLOWERS

 
It's nearly time..............comb for header is out of the shed............being inspected for necessary repairs before going onto the header...........Today the temperature is going to be in the low 30's..................crops will start to dry out and be ready for the harvester.
 

 
Our OPEN GARDEN DAY has been held.......................the Ladies Hospital Auxillary very happy with results................raised $4,751.00.............and I am happy to say the plants above that I took...................all sold........... as they had flowers..............................The plant stall made $612.00..........will do the same again next year.
Now I must get together some plants .........................for a bit of colour for Christmas............which is.sneeking up very fast.
Bye for now, take care.\
Love from
NANA ON THE FARM
 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

SPRAY RIG,STRAWBERRY THIEF,WOOD SWALLOW RETURNS

Grandies, Pa is back from the paddock.................very hard to see.........but the spray booms are folded behind the tractor.............the yellow tank is for the water and chemical.............Pa will have many early mornings now.................keeping down the weeds ................they all have their cycle and grow at different times..............especially milk thistles after a rain.

.............THE STRAWBERRY THIEF....................
.when I went out to the strawberry patch today..................quess who was just making a getaway...............this stumpy tail lizard!!!!!!!!!!!!............just loves eating strawberries.

looks quilty.....................

Return of the swallows.................I went outside to see what birds were making very excited noises............they are back................most years they return late spring early summer...........spending the winter up north where it is warm.............come back here to build a nest and have a family in summer.......................

I can't get close enough for a good photo ,........................out comes my bird book................... tells me all about them...............They are mainly a dark grey..................with a very white brow...............and a beautiful chestnut tummy.............
There are other birds coming for the summer...................but it is hard to get a picture............the bee eaters - Rainbow Birds.............can be heard around the farm.................
Bye for now..............will keep my eyes open ................hopefully something else will come by.
Love to all.
NANA ON THE FARM

Friday, October 26, 2012

BAS done,HARVEST PREPARATIONS


Back to reality............paper work was waiting for me when I came home from UK......... I had prepared lots before going away............keeping the tax man happy..............has been delivered to accountant..............comes around so quickly.....................every three months....... flies around very fast.....

Finally we have joined the rest of Australia..................................we now have our new smart meter installed...yeh!!!...................was done very quickly.

Pa is busy with his machinery.....................making sure everything will work for the coming harvest.......The fork lift makes a great work bench!!

Header is out of shed!!!.................................now to make sure everything is okay............Don't want to have a major stoppage.......................when the crops ready................the front is yet to be collected and attached....................in another shed.
Oil drums come in very handy when you require some seating...............
Weather has been very cool lately....................no hot winds to ripen the barley..................but won't be long.
Nana will be picking some strawberries.....................there a some waiting to be made into jam.
Bye for now.
Lots of Love to you all out there.
NANA ON THE FARM

y.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN

On arriving at town today.........there was a line up of vehicles waiting to cross over the bridge..........I didn't take any notice as sometimes they are working and closed for traffic...............BUT today was....................... different............the lift span WAS STUCK and people had to be diverted .................a trip of 60 kilometers .............Will get the paper to see how long this will be happening...........Hopefully they will be able to fix the problem tomorrow...........Will have to wait further news.
Along the way I stopped to take a photo of the new cafe at the Riverside Caravan Park..........next to the playground............just the spot for a cuppa..........Love the colour.
Next thing.........there are things going on at the Pioneer Settlement...........looks like a pier looking over the Gem..............Should be a nice addition..........will be able to see this from Spoons Cafe.

Something also being built next to the road.............will just have to wait and see!!...........what the plans are here.

The Rose Garden has
had  these beautiful gates erected ...................Pa and I recognize them............they have been kept in storage for many years..........A long time past... they were the GATES to the old Hospital..............I am so glad they have been saved...........now have a new life at the Pioneer Settlement...............really beautiful..  

The town has had a face lift lately..................newly renovated streets................clock tower has been clad............................ and it has been done very skillfully .................lots of interesting pictures and paintings............Will try to get a day and night photo sometime. .................At night some of the scenes are back lit......The town is looking a million dollars now.
Today Pa went spraying weeds................has to been done,...........not so exciting as the town renovations.
Bye for Now.
Love to everybody.
\NANA ON THE FARM

Monday, October 22, 2012

NEW SILO BIN, WILLY WAGTAIL

Hi Grandies... Just outside the kitchen window we have this willy wagtail mum sitting on her eggs...Pa and Nana are watching to see when the little birds hatch.....Birds have built this nest on a branch that we hope the cats are unable to climb on and disturb the birds....Father bird is around shooing all the birds that come to close..
Today is Monday 22nd Oct '12......................  Pa and Nana were out of bed at 5am..............we were off to a town ....Nhill..................where they make all types of silo's.... We wanted a field bin for harvest..............this is the one...........Because we had to keep off the main roads, and travel no faster than 40 kilometers per hour.............it took us ages............we arrived home at quarter to 6pm........A long day.

If you look very hard........you will see smooth on the back of the ute.........looking through the window.
WOW it has been a long day so now off to bed.
Love to you all.
NANA ON THE FARM.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

VETCH COVERED, NEW TRACTOR,XMAS BAUBLES

More things on the farm...............vetch is covered with white plastic.................there are two very long piles...........will now be silage ...............for the dairy farmers to come and collect when needed.

Pa has been to a clearing sale.................. now have a tractor to put onto a field bin...................for the harvest that is nearly here............pretty happy with the purchase .................looks good.

Inspection by Pa ..............and smooth the dog..........'................


 Kids this hare is coming most days..........................if Smooth see him.............the hare had better watch out.......!!

Nana learnt how to make Xmas Bauble bead covers......................top picture(not Nana working)..........this is what we had to copy........the red bauble on stand.................Nana's are green and gold...........had lots of fun doing this craft...........and still have some beads left over for another day....
Days are warming up......and the crops are filling up with lots of grains...............won't be much longer and we will be harvesting.
Everybody busy with school and sporting activities?????....................lots of play.........some of you will be going to parties...............others will be waiting...........for their birthday's to arrive.
Pa went to golf on Saturday...........didn't have a brilliant score...........however had lots of fun................
Bye for now............
Lots of Love to all.                             NANA ON THE FARM.

Monday, October 15, 2012

NANA'S FLOWERS.POTTING UP

Only been away for 3 weeks................however the plants have been busy .................lots of flowers......

Bev and Ray..................many thanks for this orchid...............I love the tiny flowers............Singapore had some beautiful orchids on display at the airport............Home of Orchids...

Banksia Rose......................Such a cheery site to see...................really glowed.

Even .. Gold Bunny Rose is starting to put on its own display............love the purple iris as a contrast.

Cuttings for Hospital Auxillary Open Garden.......................have started to come into bloom....................hope more come out by the end of the month...............visitors to the gardens want to buy plants......If this is a success will try to grow a larger display for 2013.

Potting up.....................visited a garden at Natya............come home with some cuttings...........

finished...............now to keep them moist ..............hope that some grow............The big one on the left is a ...........one sided Net Bush - RED........ just loved it..................Come the autumn will plant out............that is if I have success........here's hoping.
Sunday was a beautiful day for visiting gardens. At Natya there is a Emu Bush collection..................a very hardy plant of the arid places in Australia......................such a varied display....................from ground covers ...to quite large shrubs...................some a mass of colour..............................Many are mauve to purple flowers................spectacular sight.......No pictures to show.....sorry.
Take care, love from
NANA ON THE FARM

Saturday, October 13, 2012

VETCH BEING CUT AND STORED

Cut vetch being pushed up into a pile. ..................then this vehicle will drive over and over it..................to compress and get the air out..................vetch will keep for ages.

Load being tipped ready for compressing............

Rake on the tractor that will push the vetch into the pile............
Home again and catching up on the happenings........................This pile of vetch will be put under a tarp and left till needed to feed out to cows...........................
We had a lovely rain last week,...............................Barley is starting to turn a beautiful golden colour.....................................HARVEST TIME..................is nearly here..................
Love from
NANA ON THE FARM

NANA AT TULLAMARINE AIRPORT.... SINGAPORE

Nana leaving for the UK.........................big hug from Takara

Singapore.................picture from bus.....................flats and apartments..................they are built in self contained small communities............have own shops. pools, play grounds etc..................You can have one car per family..........................and that car has to be replaced every TEN years........................no old vehicles allowed....

I DIDN'T GO HERE...................................Squat toilet........................I was lucky that they had the normal toilet to use.........................but couldn't resist taking this photo to share..................my knees wouldn't have bent ......................................
This is a section of the Buddist Temple..........................very big........................this is amazing the decoration's on the roof.............They have a BUDDA in the temple that cost 1 Million Singapore Dollars.......................
Trip to family in UK was wonderful................Miss them already.
Love
NANA ON THE FARM
 

LONDON-SINGAPORE

Terrace Houses, ..saw stone cottages, went on winding country roads, ...roit of flowering baskets....it was amazing....wonderful....with family in UK.

As it happened it was Zayne's 6th Birthday, a very special moment, .............baking up cake.

Going to School.................if the Parent's didn't drive the students to school..........................this was the way to travel.......Great Scooters.

Now these are the special scooter racks at the school......................but some of the children prefered to hang them on the fence.......

At the entrance to school.

Nana and Gran gave this Hero's Factory for Zayne's Birthday

Sorry about the picture being on it's side, ..................haven't learn't how to adjust. At Gatwick Airport ......................................................on my way home. ....The Welcome received made my trip one to treasure..............................for a long, long time.

Family  I am leaving behind in UK>>>>> will miss you all very much...

Arrived at Singapore........................Tiger Balm car.......................two brothers made up this very popular balm in the 1930's ............................This is the car which they used to advertise with............A beautiful theme park. ................Mansion demolished ..................but all the garden is still there  to visit.

What a great TIGER...................at the entrance.

SINGAPORE.....
Went to the Changi War Cementary..............................loving tended by gardeners...............I felt so sad to read the names .......................and the ages..........all young men in their 20's..................Hopefully ................it will never again happen.........
SINGAPORE ..................a city of highrise flats and apartments.........................Over 5 Million people live on this island..............................Everywhere you go there's places to have a meal........................people like to come out in the evening and eat.........................
Visited the Zoo at night..................saw many animals that only come out to browse and eat at night...........Then tripped around the island  on a bus tour ....................They only have one dairy farm.............grow orchids for sale to the rest of the world............Vegies are growing in greenhouses.....................but not with hydophonics........................just a spray of nutrients..........AMAZING.......Always hot and humid....................Great accommodation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,near bus stop..............always a taxi if needed............................They have the 2nd largest container port in the world........................it went for miles around the coast...................some cranes are operated from a computer....................do four at a time................turn around is very fast....................Most of the time there are up to 500 ships waiting to dock........................lovely deep water,...............calm because of the protection from islands...............
Back home............and ugh it was so cold..............
Love to everybody.
NANA ON THE FARM..