Bailey - Kewmarnic High Society

At the top at 3 years old,  in the centre with her sire Hamish and at the bottom at 4 months old. 

My shadow for so many years, my right arm, with me night and day, my Bailey Bubbles, wise, loyal, irreplaceable.  I didn’t know how I would survive the day we inevitably had to part but somehow I did. It would be true to say she took an enormous piece of my heart with her….

The last two verses of Winifred Mary Lett's wonderful poem about her Irish Terrier "Tim" always reminds me of Bailey.

Tim,  An Irish Terrier

It's wonderful dogs they're breeding now:
Small as a flea or large as a cow;
But my old lad Tim he'll never be bet
By any dog that he  ever met,
Come on 'says he'for I'm not kilt yet!

No matter the size of the dog he'll meet,
Tim trails his coat the length o'the street.
D'ye mind his scar an'his ragged ear,
The like of a Dublin Fusilier?
He's a massacree dog that knows no fear.

But he'd stick to me till his lastest breath;
An'he'd go with me to the gates of death.
He'd wait a thousand years maybe,
Scratching the door an'whining for me
If myself were inside in Purgatory.

So I laugh when I hear them make it plain
That dogs and men never meet again
For all their talk who'd listen to them
With the light in the shining eyes of him?
Would God be wasting a dog like Tim?

The Joys Of Spring

It is the first week of October and Spring is - as the old joke goes - really springing.  The cherry blossoms which line the streets of Southbridge are bursting forth in all their glory.  Below are some photos of the cherry blossom outside our house and some other snapshots from our place.

 

Daffodil Time

Spring brings it's cascade of gorgeous flowers and blossoms, none more lovely than the daffodils. Here's Andrew after paying a visit to the farm stand of the local daffodil growers. 

 

Of Hens And Blossoms

Spring has turned dull and grey for several days but we still managed to get a few shots of the pullets and blossoms.

Oregon Joe

Another picture from the past - Oregon Joe out in the paddock in the Spring.

An Early Garden

Looking back through a box of old photos the other day I came across some snapshots I had taken of a garden I had planted around my sleepout when I was in my early twenties some thirty or so years ago.  It amused me to see how well fenced off it was then to keep horses and dogs off it! 

Still I think it had quite a nice cottage garden like effect and I'm surprised by how quickly that ivy had grown up the wire archway which I had placed over the brick path to the door.  Ivy seems to like our place and wild ivy will rapidly grow anywhere it can get a hold, particularly around the old oak tree.

The Darling Buds Of September

It's mid September and Spring is springing.  Down in the new orchard area the gorgeous pink blossom of the young apricot tree and the white of one of the plum trees have begun to appear.

Feeding The Chooks

Looking back through some old photo files I found this picture from 2011 of "Tiny", our Border Collie bitch (now sadly passed on) helping Dad feed the chooks.

Of Cats And Flowers

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't do the cute cat with flowers in a basket thing?" Crabapple is less than impressed with the daffodils on Dad's mobility scooter.

Spring Flowers

As we approach the first official day of Spring the early daffodils begin to flower, Andrew gives me three beautiful roses and there's a new snapshot of me wearing my favourite antique aurora borealis brooch (also a gift from Andrew).

Winter Fades With Promises Of Spring

The young fruit trees have come through the Winter well - all still alive and thriving. We think we have room to squeeze another half dozen or so in so in the end we will have around 25 fruit trees, young and old.

Agria, Red Rascal and Jersey Benne seed potatoes have been laid out to sprout for planting in September and meanwhile we have been working on some new planter boxes. It's always an exciting time planning the new Spring garden! 
 

Shelters For Lemon Trees

We have been putting frost cloth over the young lemon trees.   The young trees are looking very healthy and we have already had some lemons off them over the past year.  I can't wait till there is a lemon glut!

Snow On The Alps

Lots of snow on the Southern Alps today. Andrew took these photos.

A Baker Boy & A Birthday

Andrew's lovely mother Verna turns 81 years old today so last night we baked her a big batch of chocolate chip cookies to give her in a special ANZAC biscuit tin.  This will go with the chocolates, necklace, coffee liquer and other gifts we will give her.

Here's my adorable "baker boy" with some of the cookies fresh out of the oven.

Children Of The 60's

Our old family photos record the innocent, carefree days of our childhood.  Here we are in the 1960's at K. Cottage.  On the left is my brother Allan who died when he was 14 years old from a brain tumour.  In the middle is my little blonde haired, blue eyed sister Shirley, who passed on in 2015 at the age of 52 years from cancer.  Now only I remain - the red haired, green eyed girl on the right.  How quickly the years roll by.

The brevity of life is it’s biggest surprise.

-      Jim Rohn