The Fox-war!

After some discussion, Nick and I bought a cross-bow last Tuesday.

(We actually set out to buy to make our purchase on Monday but the shop was closed)!

Although we felt rather naughty when buying our prohibited weapon, everything is completely above board. 

As members of the Australian Bowhunters Association, we were exempt from holding a permit for the purchase. (Nick, Vaughan and I become involved in field archery last year and shoot at a local club regularly).  Obviously, proof of membership and photo ID were required - and those details are recorded in a register of sales.

When Nick suggested using a cross-bow rather than a rifle for our fox problem, I envisaged something far more medieval in appearance.  The reality is vastly different.  Ours was at the low end of the range and was fairly basic in comparison with some other varieties.  We explained what we wanted to do though, and what we now own is perfectly suitable.

Once home again, we showed Erin our purchase and muttered about the fox's days being numbered - just as he sauntered past the window!  At this stage the fox is still at large but we know where he lives and have been keeping tabs on his whereabouts.

Vaughan has been blowing the fox whistle so often and loud that the poor fox probably has a head-ache (and he/she isn't the only one sick of the whistle)! 

The quick brown fox ...

has definitely gotta go!

He's far too brazen and becoming bolder on a daily basis.

Last week, I looked out the front door and he was only a few paces away - no doubt attracted by the smell of my excellent Cobb cooker experiments.

The other morning we walked outside to find rubbish strewn over the driveway.


Our evening story-time was interrupted last night by some odd noises. When Nick went out with the spotlight, he surprised the fox quite close to the house. I managed to take photos near the water tank paddock gate, which are those above.

Seemingly much later in the night/very early morning, Nick went out again to investigate other noises.

Our resident possum had taken refuge on the roof, while the fox stalked him/her from the ground.

The fox has been spotted again just now, prowling around the Fox-proof Fowl Fort! It's an overcast day but even so, tis only 5:30pm!

Nick called out to me out and I was able to snap a few quick shots before Nick loosed an arrow toward the intruder. We weren't happy about the possum being harassed but stalking the chookies is really crossing the line. Hamby Home(in)stead has just declared war on the five o'clock fox!

In a moo-d!

Today is Tea's first evening without milk.  She has spent the day in the house paddock (as she keeps getting out of her usual one). 

I heard her calling, so wandered out with a half-measure of pellets, thinking to encourage her into her overnight enclosure and lock her up out of mischief for the night. 

(Yesterday she ate Nick's archery target, pruned one of our garlic plants as well as attempting consumption of various other inappropriate items - and that was during the day)!

When I walked outside, I spotted her already in her pen, pacing up and down, obviously expecting her blue milk bucket!! 

She scoffed the pellets and is now standing by the fence mooing hopefully!  I didn't think she'd be happy about the new milk-less regime!

No more milk for Tea!

Our calf, Tea, was just a few weeks old when she came to live with us on 25 May.  Vaughan had already been visiting her daily to assist with her afternoon feeds. 

From her arrival till early September, Tea received two three-litre milk feeds each day (in all kinds of weather). 

Increasing amounts of calf pellets were added to her diet in July (initially with small amounts of hay and straw also). 

For the past six weeks or so, Tea has received her milk of an evening only - with a larger ration of calf pellets to compensate for the reduced milk.  She drank her last bucket of milk last night and won't be getting the pellets for much longer either.


Tea's a proper big cow now - in more ways than one, proving to be quite the escape artist, which will probably see us purchasing some electric fence over the weekend!

Fencing panels ...

Our initial plan was to build a much boundary fence around the raised garden bed.  Nick had a better idea today.  He made panels to slot into the metal supporting posts - and nailed netting to the panels. 

Each panel can be lifted out individually. At this stage three are finished - and two pieces of lattice are propped up along the unfinished side, which you can see in the pic below.
There are no outside taps at Hamby Home(in)stead, so we fill buckets and/or our watering can in the laundry then carry the water to where it is needed.

We went over to the dump shop this morning, specifically to purchase a 44-gallon drum as a stand for a small water barrel bought a few weeks back.

Fingers crossed for more rain soon!

Smothered in style?!

Since moving into Hamby Home(in)stead I've been pondering a solution for the large front "garden". 

Actually, it's not so much a garden as a ring of rocks around a number of grevillea and rosemary bushes - and one nectarine tree.  You would think the rocks might prevent the grass and weeds from over-running the "garden". 

Nope.  No such luck.

Our landlady visited recently and used round-up on the grass inside the rocks.  It has died off  but some particularly hardy weeds remain.  We were talking to a fellow today who referred to it as marshmallow weed.  I can assure you there is nothing soft and fluffy about it!

Encouraged by yesterday's rain, Erin and I started to clear a section of the front garden today.  We only managed to reclaim a small area but it's a start.  Later in the afternoon, Vaughan dug two holes and helped plant my chosen ground cover, suggested by a Bunnings staff member who assured me it would "smother" the grass and weeds.  Bring on the suffocation, I say! 

Growing walls (and vegies) ...

Not much has happened to our vegie garden since my last report. Nick suggested raising the walls by adding another row of sleepers but was working night-shift, so had limited time for such missions.

He and I made a trip to Bunnings today and purchased the extra wood.  I also bought various vegie seedlings as only a few of my seeds have sprouted. 

Once home, Erin helped me plant many of the new seedlings.

We had to fudge the recommended spacing a little, in order to fit them all in!

We saved some for Vaughan to plant after school.  He was happy to assist in the digging - and wielding the watering can.  So now we wait.  (And keep watering).  Fingers crossed!

El Toro!

Nick's bonus has enabled various equipment purchases this past week. 

High on the wish-list was a serious lawnmower. 

On arrival at Hamby Home(in)stead the cracked ground was bare, so cutting grass wasn't given much thought.  We do have a mower but it's more of your ordinary, garden-variety (hah) style! 

Nick's been pondering a solution.  Of course, while he mulled over the options the grass grew higher - and higher.  He's been tackling sections with the push mower and reclaimed some of the house paddock but really needed a larger, more robust machine.

When funds became available, the eBay watchlist grew (almost as fast as the grass).  Three machines were particularly favoured and the first of those was won at auction by us on Sunday afternoon - hooray! 

Nick and I drove out to collect El Toro today.  Our landlady's cows are currently in the paddocks adjacent to our house.  Negotiating the driveway (and the cows with their calves) necessitates opening and closing three gates at present.  As we drove out this morning with trailer in tow, the herd crowded along the fenceline and eyed off the trailer hopefully.  They moo-ed loudly, obviously hoping we were bringing some food for them! 

It was the same deal this afternoon, even with the "new" mower fully visible and taking up most of the space within the trailer.  We drove into our house paddock and turned around to see the herd had followed us up.  They stood at the gate - calling loudly and then stayed to supervise Nick putting the self-propelled mower through it's paces.  Maybe they liked the look of our new "bull"?!