03 January 2019
It seems having some time off is good for me. Resting over the Xmas period and New Year has brought some exciting developments. Like finding a 2m long Eastern Brown snake skin outside our back door to farmhouse this morning. This is only extraordinary as the snake skin has the eye sockets pealed over and was still damp, meaning it was probably shed last night. Seems the snake used the rough branches of a bush to wrap itself around and pull itself out of the skin. We've had a few baby browns found around the house, but this one was definitely the largest. Ok here's the photos.
And following on from that the next animal exploit is that Ruby is in heat. Yes we have a 10 month old Labrador that wants to have babies. But she's not allowed to yet as she is way too young. So cooped up inside her large steel cage, with Rex on other side, has been the method of separation for them for last 3 weeks. Then yesterday I let them both off out for a walk together, something they have every 3 hours or so at the moment.
Yikes - coitus interruptus - just in time too. Ruby's bleeding (heat) will stop after about 21 days with which she will then become receptive. Which I believe has started. And doesn't Rex know it! A near miss it was yesterday with catching Rex in the act, almost. Frothing at the mouth he was, such not a pretty sight that was.
Anyway, once she goes into her next heat, at approximately 16 months of age, she and Rex can go for it. The plan will be to breed her and donate 2 puppies out; one for Guide Dogs Australia and one for RSL Veterans Assistance Dogs. Of course it will depend on how many puppies she has and their health, but so far its looking promising. They absolutely adore each other, and puppies will be amazingly beautiful. So for puppies to be bred they must be registered here in Queensland and also be DNA tested too. Both Ruby and Rex will go in to see Vet in 8 weeks time to have their hips and elbows checked. Here’s hoping for perfect 0-0 scoring for both of them.
Being the new year also means we are getting close to the next harvest starting, which means my favourite pest is soon to arrive back on the farm. And before I could get out of bed and dressed yesterday - they arrived. The Black Cockatoos are back. Stupid me didn’t have the drone charged up so we had to resort to the good old fashioned shouting and pot lid banging method - very effective as it turned out. Quite a silly sight too in my pyjamas though - running across orchard, bare foot.
But it worked. This time.
Now another two days have gone by and with relief we have got the dogs away to the kennels so a good five days away from the farm can be enjoyed. Last year at this time I was off to visit Hawaii.
That was at the time that false missile alert went off. Yes, for any new readers, I got that famous text message for a “this is not a drill” come through on my phone! Sitting here now in my hotel room overlooking the ocean of Moreton Bay, east of Brisbane, I definitely don’t think that will happen again. I think I put the photo of that message up on a previous blog entry - oh well you can always
scroll back through if you’re really keen.
So now with a cup of tea in hand, ( non alcoholic as yet) the world is just going to roll on by for next week, just like the surf I can hear from my balcony haven, missile alerts not withstanding.
It seems having some time off is good for me. Resting over the Xmas period and New Year has brought some exciting developments. Like finding a 2m long Eastern Brown snake skin outside our back door to farmhouse this morning. This is only extraordinary as the snake skin has the eye sockets pealed over and was still damp, meaning it was probably shed last night. Seems the snake used the rough branches of a bush to wrap itself around and pull itself out of the skin. We've had a few baby browns found around the house, but this one was definitely the largest. Ok here's the photos.
 |
| I'm 1.7m tall and this one is over 2m. |
And following on from that the next animal exploit is that Ruby is in heat. Yes we have a 10 month old Labrador that wants to have babies. But she's not allowed to yet as she is way too young. So cooped up inside her large steel cage, with Rex on other side, has been the method of separation for them for last 3 weeks. Then yesterday I let them both off out for a walk together, something they have every 3 hours or so at the moment.
Yikes - coitus interruptus - just in time too. Ruby's bleeding (heat) will stop after about 21 days with which she will then become receptive. Which I believe has started. And doesn't Rex know it! A near miss it was yesterday with catching Rex in the act, almost. Frothing at the mouth he was, such not a pretty sight that was.
Anyway, once she goes into her next heat, at approximately 16 months of age, she and Rex can go for it. The plan will be to breed her and donate 2 puppies out; one for Guide Dogs Australia and one for RSL Veterans Assistance Dogs. Of course it will depend on how many puppies she has and their health, but so far its looking promising. They absolutely adore each other, and puppies will be amazingly beautiful. So for puppies to be bred they must be registered here in Queensland and also be DNA tested too. Both Ruby and Rex will go in to see Vet in 8 weeks time to have their hips and elbows checked. Here’s hoping for perfect 0-0 scoring for both of them.
Being the new year also means we are getting close to the next harvest starting, which means my favourite pest is soon to arrive back on the farm. And before I could get out of bed and dressed yesterday - they arrived. The Black Cockatoos are back. Stupid me didn’t have the drone charged up so we had to resort to the good old fashioned shouting and pot lid banging method - very effective as it turned out. Quite a silly sight too in my pyjamas though - running across orchard, bare foot.
But it worked. This time.
Now another two days have gone by and with relief we have got the dogs away to the kennels so a good five days away from the farm can be enjoyed. Last year at this time I was off to visit Hawaii.
That was at the time that false missile alert went off. Yes, for any new readers, I got that famous text message for a “this is not a drill” come through on my phone! Sitting here now in my hotel room overlooking the ocean of Moreton Bay, east of Brisbane, I definitely don’t think that will happen again. I think I put the photo of that message up on a previous blog entry - oh well you can always
scroll back through if you’re really keen.
So now with a cup of tea in hand, ( non alcoholic as yet) the world is just going to roll on by for next week, just like the surf I can hear from my balcony haven, missile alerts not withstanding.
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