Monday, October 28, 2013

Tis the season...

Tis the season... for the first dip in the ocean after the long winter - it was braved only by the three middle boys who were egging each other on to see who would be the first to go in.



Tis the season... for tasting sand for the first time.



Tis the season... for snakes. The first snake of the season was sighted, a large Lowland Copperhead found sun-baking between the Cubby House and the Veggie Patch. We don't do anything about snakes on our farm unless they are in the house paddock. It's just too risky to expect the Kids to be vigilant while they're playing as opposed to going for walks outside the house paddock where we are always on the look out for them. There are only 3 types of snakes in Tasmania and the Tiger snake and Lowland Copperhead are a couple of the most venomous snakes in the world. A quick call was made to Reptile Rescue who came out within 20 minutes and caught this big beauty, which will re-located to a safer (for us) area.



Tis the season... for the infamous Spring winds that knocked some trees down and made me wield a chainsaw for the first time.




Tis the season... for the Welcome Swallows to hatch above the front door, under the eaves again.




Tis the season... for Echidna sightings on the farm. The mention of Echidnas and Swallows reminded me of this Post from a year ago. My goodness, can you believe Flynn will be one next month?



Tis the season... for baby chicks to hatch. These two Silkie chicks are very special as they were the only 2 chicks to successfully hatch after the previous 10 failed. Silkies are like that. Either they weren't fertilised to begin with or they just didn't progress. They are named Chirpy and Senator Carol Brown after the lovely lady who gave us the dozen Silkie Eggs after Daniel was telling her how much Eleanor wanted some Silkies. These two will be kept as pets. You can see Senator Brown hatching here on the little Instagram video I made. Have you ever seen a chick actually hatch out of an egg? It is really quite special.




Tis the season... for friends coming over for Sunday lunch and staying until after 10pm on a school night because losing track of time is what happens when you are having so much fun and having friends in the Hospitality industry means you have to make the most of any time they can get away from work, even though it will mean a shaky start to the week as a result.




Tis the season... for embracing good, simple food for entertaining and resorting to some Jamie Oliver recipes from the Jamie's Dinners Book. We made Jamie's Roast Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary with the optional bacon and his Apple Pie. The salad was all home grown from the Veggie Patch and the Corn was roasted on the fire. Toasted Marshmallows are obligatory on such occasions.





Tis the season... for realising there are only 8 weekends left before Christmas and all the handmade and knitted things you were going to make for presents just ain't going to happen!!!

All of the above has happened in just the last 7 days. Lots of good things, season "firsts" and nature showing us its beauty. There's never a dull moment around here!

What's the current season bringing you right now? Or are you still thinking about that snake???

Have a lovely week ahead :-)

Mel xxx


36 comments :

  1. I am! He was a beauty. I love fun filled weeks like these. Odd to see your spring into summer photos, while we are Autumn into Winter here. It is raining and blowing at the moment. It's half term, so me and the boys are hunkering down - crafting, baking, sleepovers, windswept walks - it's all good.

    Oh and your foodie spread looks delicious!

    Leanne xx

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  2. I am thinking how grateful I am that snakes are not something we have to worry about in the UK.

    Tis the season for strong winds and rain here and feeling overwhelmed by all I'm trying to do. And that's not counting Christmas!

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  3. What a wonderful week you've had and boy I don't miss having snakes around. Ibises to get then in my bedroom and under my bed and in the pool when I was young so I'm not their biggest fan. You live in such a beautiful place and how lovely for the kids to brace their first swim if the season. I so remember those days. Here it's grey, very wet and cold abc the thought that Christmas is only 8 weeks away is pretty scary but also good. Sikebkivwuybgood enjoyed in good company it seems. Have a lovely week xoxo

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  4. Hopebit makes sense my phone has a life of its own ;-) xx

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  5. What beautiful photographs Mel - it's funny to think that your weather is warming up while we are preparing for the long dark Winter ahead. Even stranger to think that despite this we are both on the run up to Christmas and yes - I too am downsizing my Christmas gifts from jumpers down to socks then one step further down to dishcloths! Have a lovely week x Jane

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  6. I love that first image but have to say I'm glad it's not the season for snakes over here! :) x

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  7. Aggghhhhh only 8 weekends scary! I have done precisely.... nothing for Christmas. Glad that it is the season for spring things where you are, as it is getting into the season for wintery things here, which I do not enjoy - I will come and look at your spring instead! Glad too not to have to deal with snakes here!! xx

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  8. It looks wonderful seeing most of the delights of spring although I wouldn't like the snake! We have had a few trees down locally during last nights storm.
    Sarah x

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  9. oh just love this post. I love spring and all of its magic. I also love that you did not dispose of the snake by killing him, but rather had him removed to a "safer" place for all! What magic! xo

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  10. Gorgeous happy happenings in the new season ... not so sure about the snake though ... Bee xx

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  11. Love everything in this post...well, maybe not the snake! That first photo is breathtaking.

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  12. Snake season here too. We saw a snake in the house paddock last week, thought he was a brown!!! deadly! however on closer inspection it was a whip snake. Oh and saw an echidna the other night too:)
    http://sevenlittleaustralians.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/australian-native-wildlife-on-our.html
    and this week we saw our second koala!
    http://sevenlittleaustralians.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/a-portrait-week-october-28th-edition.html
    You're looking very green down there!! So dry here the grass is brown.

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  13. Ha yes I'm still thinking about the snake! We have some things to be thankful for in the UK I guess.
    It's all wet and windy here and the days of quick dips in the sea are gone for another year, it'll get colder towards Christmas, which I'm sure is still many months away yet!!

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  14. What an action packed week at yours, we've had two snake encounters this season and hoping that's our share!

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  15. Only 8 weekends until Christmas! That makes me a bit anxious as I like to get all of my shopping and things organised by Dec 1 so I can sit back and relax in the lead up to Christmas.
    At our house it is the season for Grey Fantails - in the last few days I have noticed that these little birds are back in our garden again after being absent since Autumn. I love them.
    It is also the season for Spring babies - our baby was born 2 weeks ago so we're having a lovely time with a newborn in the house again.
    I love those Silkie chicks - I've been trying to convince my husband that a few chooks are a really good idea but alas he hates chooks.
    That photo of the Copperhead is fantastic! I've been meaning to take my daughter to get a few tadpoles up at Knocklofty but since seeing a few Copperheads hanging around the tadpole ponds a few years ago, I'm not that keen to venture in!

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    1. Congratulations Stella - such lovely, wonderful news! I had been wondering.....enjoy every second, that newborn phase goes way too fast as you know x

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    2. Thanks Mel! Charles Victor John - born 4 weeks early to everyone's surprise. He was however 9lb10oz so if he'd have gone the full 40 weeks Dr S may have got himself a record! I love the newborn phase and it is a lovely time of year to have a newborn with warmer weather and longer days. Tassie is beautiful this time of year. xx

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  16. Sure is the season.
    The swallows look rather squished in their nest.
    I can't believe that Christmas is so near. x

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  17. I love reading your posts, Mel: both entertaining and comforting :-)

    Hugs from autumnal France where it's the season for sunny walks, cups of vanilla tea and apple crumble!

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  18. I was just thinking how lovely this post is and then I read the bit about only 8 weekends until Christmas and I just had a mini panic :-) x

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  19. Oh goodness, so much great stuff here Mel! I am now picturing you as this hardy, fearless homesteader who must tackle snakes and fallen trees on a daily basis. I've never seen a Echidna before. They are a bit like our hedgehogs i think. And those chicks! Gorgeous. Your meal with friends looked so good, who cares if you were all late to bed, it was worth it I'm sure. xx

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  20. That snake has made it impossible to think of a single, coherent thing to say. :-)

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  21. Yup! It's the snake I'm afraid! That was a splendid specimen but I'd rather not see it in the flesh just thanking you very much!

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  22. Hi Mel, loved your post and my children were well impressed with the snake! Not sure I'd want to find one in my garden though. Dark evenings and bad weather on my island in North Wales, in total contrast to yours! Karla xxx

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  23. What a lovely blog ! Loved seeing your swallow babies in among all the great photos . X

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  24. Great photos Mel, and yes I'm still thinking about the snake! Can't believe little Flynn is nearly one. Time does fly. I'm sure you can't imagine a time now when you didn't have 5!! cheers Wendy

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  25. Those chicks are so so cute and that snake is striking and horrifying at the same time. At least there is a professional to deal with it and good on you with a chainsaw! mel x

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  26. Looks like a seriously good season to me! And your Silkie chicks are so crazy cute. I really want to get a couple of Silkies but everyone keeps telling me not to, because they are so fragile and prone to dying, but I think I will anyway. I just can't resist those little walking fluff balls!

    Katie xx

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  27. I'd been meaning to tell you that the night I saw that snake photo of yours posted on Instagram, I had a nightmare about snakes that night :) Perhaps I shouldn't be on the computer so close to bed time :) I love seeing these snippets from your week. The nest of sweet little birds is adorable. Our jasmine bush which normally is home to several nests of doves each year, didn't have any feathered visitors this year sadly. I love the photo of the two chicks too... SOOOO cute!! x

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  28. Beautiful images - and that's a crazy wildlife collection!
    I really appreciated your comment on my blog, and I'm adding you to my blogroll so I can spot when you post something new.
    Blessing for the "season" x

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  29. I'm finding it hard to get past the snake!!!
    Its a season of plenty for you - enjoy
    x

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  30. The snake, the snake. I'm sorry but those things give me the willies. I sort of fast scrolled to get the picture out of my sight. :) Love the post though. It's hard to believe that Christmas is only 6 weeks away and then the start of a new year. Stay safe down there. :)

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  31. Lovely wildlife down your way, we have all birds at the moment, galahs, kookaburra, lorikeets, maggies etc. no snakes thankfully. Go you with the chainsaw, ha. Have a lovely week.

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  32. Such an amazing adventure living where you do!! Venomous snakes are not something I would care to have around. I used to watch a show of some Australian guy going on these wonderful adventures (mostly in Australia), and he got a huge thrill on finding these most venomous snakes ... they would terrify me! We only have rattlesnakes here, and personally, I've never come across one (thank goodness). I go into heebie-jeebies mode when there's a snake suddenly in the path. Love the baby chicks (& their names!), and your dinner looks amazing. Today it's brilliant sunshine here with scudding silvery white clouds and 8C made colder with a brisk cold wind. Winter's on its way! Wendy x

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