Hello, hello, hello, how is everyone going? I really like the new forum, thank you cb88. I havnt been around much and it has been a really busy few months for me.

We have upgraded to 10 acres, but we are not living there yet, hopefully we will start to build early in the new year. So for now we content ourselves by planting trees and fixing up the lean-to.We kinda stopped gardening with gusto on the the small property, I cant bring myself to plant anything long term as we know we will be leaving it.

I have been potting like mad and taking cuttings of everything in sight. Im driving Ms. B crazy as I have a pair of secatures in the car and will come to a screeching halt, even on the highway, jump out and nick bits from other peoples plants. LOL.

Ive been collecting animals as well. We now have 1 dog, 2 cats, 4 chooks, 4 ducks, 2 turkeys and a goat. I had to be restrained from getting any pigs. We orginally had 3 drakes and I put 2 in the freezer, then I went and got 3 hens for my remaining boy (he had an unnatural attreaction to the chickens), but it turns out that I have another 2 drakes. Good thing I like duck meat.

The turkeys were susposed to be for Christmas dinner, but one of them thinks he is my boyfriend and I have him trained to come to his name. He is really friendly but other people are a bit wary of him. Only house on the block with a guard turkey. I also am loath to pen them up, so any meat I get on their bones gets run off chasing the ducks. The turkeys think they are members of the duck family.

I havnt had any eggs for myself yet, I keep giving them to the little old lady next door as a bribe. The chooks keep escapeing into her yard and digging up her garden beds. I have almost got their pen sorted out, just have to be vigilant about wing trimming to stop them flying out.

My goats name is Chocolate. She is a beautiful brown coloured boer and lives across the road with a small herd, she is only four months old and we have her very tame now. Am hoping to train her to follow and come to her name, that way we will set her up as the herd boss and all the others (as yet dont exist) will follow her lead.

Havnt spoken much about gardening, I know, but Im getting a couple of acres cleared soon and can start on some really huge vegie beds. Hoping to be up and running for a winter crop.

Hi Shell—well I guess they will all die of old age—now—?? I hope

Not likely Grassy, I am particular about the quality of life of food animals. Thats kinda why I bought such a large property.

Im a huge sook though, they get about half an hour of cuddles before I can do the deed and then I cry all the way through. My animals have a great life, I treat them like pets and dote on them hand and foot.

I’m going to grow my own stock feed soon, just have to get the ride-on working. You gotta see this old thing, the gears are a couple of disks that sit under the mower and when you change gears the whole motor slips sideways onto a gear disk. First crop in will be wheat, corn and sunflowers. Oats will go in when it gets a bit cooler.

I cant bring myself to plant anything long term as we know we will be leaving it.
—————————
Gee I know that feeling.

Hello, hello, hello, how is everyone going? I really like the new forum, thank you cb88. I havnt been around much and it has been a really busy few months for me
—————————
On ya Shell Belle. Sounds as though it’s full steam ahead at your place. Would love to see some pics when you’re more settled.

I cant bring myself to plant anything long term as we know we will be leaving it.
—————————
Gee I know that feeling.

————————
I will still be living here for at least another year so I have to get enthused to keep the vegies going. With all the rain I am having trouble finding it for the weeds.

Rain has been good hasn’t it. We haven’t reached the flooding stage yet and I hope we don’t .

pom said:

Rain has been good hasn’t it. We haven’t reached the flooding stage yet and I hope we don’t .

Rain is fantastic, finally have a full house tank. Just wish I built the dams on the block before Christmas.

Testing

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/ShellBellphoto/The%20block/theblock2.jpg

Oh I am so happy you made it over to here Shell Bell:D

Sounds like you have a slice of heaven at your place now:)

Smart turkey too…..ROTFL

Duck heaven with all the rain lately.

Chocolate the goat.
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/ShellBellphoto/fur%20and%20feather%20babies/DSCF3069.jpg

Chicken playground

Boyfriend and Christmas.

You gotta see this old thing, the gears are a couple of disks that sit under the mower and when you change gears the whole motor slips sideways onto a gear disk
———
I look forward to your reports Shell Bell. As a matter of interest (when site planning) if Zone 0 is the house and Zone 1 is the vege patch – which zone do goats and pigs inhabit ?

there u go shell bell

shell bell said:

Hello, hello, hello, how is everyone going? I really like the new forum, thank you cb88. I havnt been around much and it has been a really busy few months for me.

We have upgraded to 10 acres, but we are not living there yet, hopefully we will start to build early in the new year. So for now we content ourselves by planting trees and fixing up the lean-to.We kinda stopped gardening with gusto on the the small property, I cant bring myself to plant anything long term as we know we will be leaving it.

I have been potting like mad and taking cuttings of everything in sight. Im driving Ms. B crazy as I have a pair of secatures in the car and will come to a screeching halt, even on the highway, jump out and nick bits from other peoples plants. LOL.

Ive been collecting animals as well. We now have 1 dog, 2 cats, 4 chooks, 4 ducks, 2 turkeys and a goat. I had to be restrained from getting any pigs. We orginally had 3 drakes and I put 2 in the freezer, then I went and got 3 hens for my remaining boy (he had an unnatural attreaction to the chickens), but it turns out that I have another 2 drakes. Good thing I like duck meat.

The turkeys were susposed to be for Christmas dinner, but one of them thinks he is my boyfriend and I have him trained to come to his name. He is really friendly but other people are a bit wary of him. Only house on the block with a guard turkey. I also am loath to pen them up, so any meat I get on their bones gets run off chasing the ducks. The turkeys think they are members of the duck family.

I havnt had any eggs for myself yet, I keep giving them to the little old lady next door as a bribe. The chooks keep escapeing into her yard and digging up her garden beds. I have almost got their pen sorted out, just have to be vigilant about wing trimming to stop them flying out.

My goats name is Chocolate. She is a beautiful brown coloured boer and lives across the road with a small herd, she is only four months old and we have her very tame now. Am hoping to train her to follow and come to her name, that way we will set her up as the herd boss and all the others (as yet dont exist) will follow her lead.

Havnt spoken much about gardening, I know, but Im getting a couple of acres cleared soon and can start on some really huge vegie beds. Hoping to be up and running for a winter crop.

we have boer goats as well SB

aaawwww how cute are your animals.

I do so love the duck photo:D

shell bell said:

Chicken playground

Looks like the cat is in an enclosure inside the chook playground….lol

Boyfriend and Christmas.
—————————————————-
LOL

With all that area, will you be branching out into open compost bins and maybe worm farms????

I really do hope you’ll keep us update as thing move along.:)

Hi Shell bell, love all your photos :)

shell bell said:

Chocolate the goat.

so sweet :)

my sister has goats at her place near Bega.

One day when I have a bit of land I want some goats too, they have so much character.

pepper said:

As a matter of interest (when site planning) if Zone 0 is the house and Zone 1 is the vege patch – which zone do goats and pigs inhabit ?

As the block is skinny and long we have planned things to suit the site. Zone 0 and 1 is house vegies and chooks. Zone 5 trees and timber runs from in front of the house and up the whole length on one side, as it gets towards the back Ill be planting fodder trees. Zone 2 is the orchard and starts directly after vegies. Zones 3 and 4 are stock animals and feed paddocks, these will alternate over the years.

Lucky1 said:

<
Looks like the cat is in an enclosure inside the chook playground….lol

They all get along like family, I have seen her lying there while the girls walk all over her.

shell bell said:

Lucky1 said:

<
Looks like the cat is in an enclosure inside the chook playground….lol

They all get along like family, I have seen her lying there while the girls walk all over her.

Oh that is just so cue

Zones 3 and 4 are stock animals and feed paddocks, these will alternate over the years.
————-
thats a clear description thanks shell bell (i’m having trouble with the quote button)

pepper said:

thats a clear description thanks shell bell (i’m having trouble with the quote button)

and I have trouble with the submit button LOL

shell bell said:

Duck heaven with all the rain lately.

Your ducks look happy with their pond. I see you have a Kalanchoe beharensis in the background. I have it as well. Strange plant.

shell bell said:

Chocolate the goat.
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/ShellBellphoto/fur%20and%20feather%20babies/DSCF3069.jpg

That should be Chocolate the chubby goat.

pom said:

That should be Chocolate the chubby goat.

This photo was taken the day we got her and she had just come off her mother. She is a little bit thinner now, but not by much.

>Chocolate the goat.

Isn’t currying them more traditional?

CollieWA said:

>Chocolate the goat.

Isn’t currying them more traditional?

I was watching a River Cottage episode and the correct term, according to the reportedly best Carribean goat chef in England, is CURRY GOAT. My little girl wont be on the menu, Im thinking more along the lines of feta.

CollieWA said:

>Chocolate the goat.
Isn’t currying them more traditional?

I much prefer roast leg of goat or a nice brisket of goat :)

Turkey for dinner tonight.

Creamed Turkey en Croute

350g cooked turkey, chopped
75g smoked bacon, finely chopped
25g butter
1 medium onion, chopped
75g mushrooms, quartered
25g plain flour
350mls turkey stock
2 tablespoons brandy
75mls cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper
350g frozen puff pastry, thawed
beaten egg to glaze

Melt butter in a large saucepan and gently sauté the onion for 5 minutes, then add mushrooms and let these soften, keeping them on the move, for a further 5 minutes.

After that remove the onion and mushrooms to a plate with a draining spoon. Next add the bacon to the pan and fry it till it turns a pale gold at the edges, at which point return the mushrooms and onion then sprinkle in the flour. Stir till the flour has soaked up all the buttery juices and ignore its unpromising appearance.

Next add the stock, little by little, still stirring until you have a smooth thick sauce. Lastly add the parsley, cream and brandy. Season to taste. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
When you are ready to cook the pie, roll out the pastry to a 30cm square, trimming if necessary. Lift the square on to a greased baking sheet. Now mix the turkey pieces into the cold sauce, and then place this mixture in the centre of the pastry.

Glaze round the edge of the pastry with beaten egg, and then pull the opposite corners of the pasty to the centre and pinch all the edges firmly together, so you have a square with pinched edges in the shape of an X. Glaze all over with beaten egg and decorate with any pasty trimming. Glaze these too and then bake
the pie for about 30 minutes or until the pastry is well risen and golden.

Serve the pie cut into squares with a plain green salad.

Creamed Turkey en Croute
——
don’t you know when xmas is over ? LOL
i joked yesterday that the holidays have finished when you turn off the drinks fridge. all the food and drinks fit into the one fridge for the first time in a month.

pepper said:

Creamed Turkey en Croute
——
don’t you know when xmas is over ? LOL
i joked yesterday that the holidays have finished when you turn off the drinks fridge. all the food and drinks fit into the one fridge for the first time in a month.

Christmas is not over, he is still running around the front yard, lol.

Picking up the freezer today. Stoopid thing was 5 weeks old when it broke down, lost a couple hundred dollars worth of meat.
Can start restocking at last.

For any left over meat –

Christmas ploughman’s

1 1/4 cups (200g) shredded cold cooked chicken or turkey
1 cup (180g) chopped ham
125g cream cheese
1 tbsp chopped chives
275ml chicken consomme*
2 gelatine leaves*
8 pink peppercorns*
Wedge of cheddar, good quality chutney, watercress leaves and crusty bread, to serve

Place the chicken or turkey, ham, cream cheese, chives and 100ml chicken consomme in a food processor, and process until smooth. Spoon into small serving dishes or one larger dish and smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.

Place the remaining 175ml consomme in a saucepan over a medium heat until just below simmering point. Meanwhile, soak the gelatine leaves in cold water for 5 minutes to soften, then squeeze out excess water. Remove the consomme pan from the heat, add the gelatine and stir to dissolve. Allow to cool slightly.

Uncover the pate and press the peppercorns onto the surface, then cover with a thin layer of the consomme mixture. Cover again and chill for 1 hour, or until jelly is firm.

Serve the pate (it will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days) as part of a ploughman’s lunch with cheddar, chutney, watercress and crusty bread.

*Tetra packs of chicken consomme are available from selected supermarkets.
Gelatine leaves are available from gourmet food shops. Always check the packet for setting instructions. Pink peppercorns in brine are available from gourmet food and spice shops; substitute dried black peppercorns.

Christmas is not over, he is still running around the front yard, lol.
——
chuckle.
the recipes sound good.
we went to a japanese restaurant to celebrate the end of my wifes holidays last night. interesting dish was soya beans served with saki. the beans look like peas – but steamed in some sort of spice they are very yummy and healthy.

Had a busy morning so far.

The new vegie patch

The spud trench

The back paddock

Putting the rainforest here

Putting the orchard here

And if interest rates keep rising Im moving here

Got bogged about 2 weeks ago, this is my bog hole

The twin cab that came to get me did this

The landcruiser that came to get him did this

Then a little tractor came to help and nearly stayed put as well. In the end it took an electric winch, a block and tacle and a four wheel drive tractor to get the boys out. I used a little piece of carpet and a shovel. Men and thier big toys :)

And the best news of all, I became a grandmother last night

The two proud mothers

PS.
Anyone know what kind of chook this is?

the soil looks alright – can see why you are keen to get on site.

your place looks lovely shell bell. hope to have something like it myself one day :D

Wow what cool photos and a blank canvas to work on….

Oh babies, crongrats mum…….

Love the big vege patch and the block Shell Bell :)
You could fit Sir Petes patch in there no worries !
Drool !

Thanks for the kind words guys :)

Hi Shell Bell :)

I contacted a lady on BYP thinking it was you – mentioning meeting at Roma St Parklands and GE etc – says she must be someone else! Never mind. The username is almost the same…and her chickens have just hatched too!

http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4388 – lol

shell bell said:

PS.
Anyone know what kind of chook this is?

Gold Laced Wyandotte ? Link to some pics of them :D

Might help if I paste it!

http://www.backyardpoultry.com/index.php?page=./breeds/dot.html

cackles said:

shell bell said:

PS.
Anyone know what kind of chook this is?

Gold Laced Wyandotte ? Link to some pics of them :D

Well done Cackles, I had a mind blank on her breed. I do so love the lacy look about her feather colourings.

cackles said:

Hi Shell Bell :)

I contacted a lady on BYP thinking it was you – mentioning meeting at Roma St Parklands and GE etc – says she must be someone else! Never mind. The username is almost the same…and her chickens have just hatched too!

http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4388 – lol

Giggles at Cackles, she must have thought you were a nutter. I havnt been over there for awhile and must have been dumped, my login dosnt work.

cackles said:

shell bell said:

PS.
Anyone know what kind of chook this is?

Gold Laced Wyandotte ? Link to some pics of them :D

Very nice indeed, she was so yellow when she was a bubby, then she went completely black. The lacing is new, thanks Cackles.

Lovely photos, Shell bell. Your block looks great, so nice to have a blank canvas to start on!

shell bell said:

Had a busy morning so far.

The new vegie patch

The spud trench

The back paddock

Putting the rainforest here

Putting the orchard here

And if interest rates keep rising Im moving here

Couldn’t you allow a bit more space for your vegie patch. Only joshing! The land looks lovely and all level too. Lucky you.

PS.
Anyone know what kind of chook this is?
—————————
One with sexy yellow legs and very pretty coloured feathers.

Can’t Barnevelders have the lacing too?

Bubba Louie said:

Can’t Barnevelders have the lacing too?

Yes but they have a single comb, unlike Shell Bell’s hen
http://www.backyardpoultry.com/index.php?page=./breeds/bar.html

pomolo said:

shell bell said:

Had a busy morning so far.

The new vegie patch

The spud trench

The back paddock

Putting the rainforest here

Putting the orchard here

And if interest rates keep rising Im moving here

Couldn’t you allow a bit more space for your vegie patch. Only joshing! The land looks lovely and all level too. Lucky you.

I’m soooooo envious.

cackles said:

Bubba Louie said:

Can’t Barnevelders have the lacing too?

Yes but they have a single comb, unlike Shell Bell’s hen
http://www.backyardpoultry.com/index.php?page=./breeds/bar.html

OK

Hey Pomolo, you try mowing and chipping ten acres by hand :)

When we turned up with the push mower the neighbour nearly spat his cup of tea all over himself,

Forgot to say. The block has a slight incline to one side, we have two good spots for dams. Also have a small spot with reeds on it and we think there could be a spring underneath, we are going to get a water diviner out before we contract to a bore driller.

The soil itself holds water like crazy, as you can see from the bog holes. There hadnt been any rain for over a week and we could see the water pooling where the tyres went down.

shell bell said:

Hey Pomolo, you try mowing and chipping ten acres by hand :)

When we turned up with the push mower the neighbour nearly spat his cup of tea all over himself,

No thankyou. I’ve done enough around here to last me a lifetime.