The front dam.

 It's only taken 19 years but the front dam has finally been dug out. It took two days and there was lots of silt to remove. The eroded overflow creek was also filled in and it all looks so different! Pippa's dam will be much deeper when she can next swim in it. Hopefully it fills this winter.

Sorting the sheep.

Our water is getting low and feed short, so we've made the sad decision to reduce our stock numbers. We brought the flock in to sort out which to keep, a few healthy ewes for the ram and those to skinny to go. One positive from today was Tomas began to show greater interest in the sheep. Even wanting to help. He puzzles me that he's quite keen to confront a single sheep but wary of a flock. One sheep is harder and more likely to stand up to him than a flock!

The spring.

I went to check our spring. I was pleased to see there was still water in it. I did the stone test, listening to the depth of the plop as the stone hit the water. Feeling pleased I was brought to earth when Tomas decided to go for a swim. He sunk into half a metre of green mud and struggled to free himself. I thought I may need to help him out but he pulled himself out. Now I'm glad we don't have any sheep in the spring's field as they'd just get stuck going for a drink. Tomas had a spray to clean the stinking mud out of his fur.

Botanic Gardens.

After travelling a lot to Victoria I've noticed that most of the towns there have a Botanic Garden. From the small cities (Geelong) to the larger towns like Hamilton, Daylesford (beautiful rhododendrons) and down to small towns like Koroit, there's a Botanic Garden of varying sizes.  That got me thinking why did they plant these. Was it civic pride? Was it due to the town coming into money? Was the natural vegetation to alien so they needed plants they recognized? Most of the plants tend to be from North America, Asia and Europe. Cedars are popular. Of the Australian trees Moreton Bay Figs and Queensland gums can be found. Most of the trees would have been small when they were planted which we enjoy in their full adult glory, so some fore thought for future generations did occur. Having seen some photos from the 1800's the settlers did clear most of the natural vegetation so a Botanic Garden provided a shaded, green area for the community. My next thought was why did Victorian towns regularly plant these gardens compared to South Australia. Was the climate better for planting such a garden. Whatever the reason these Gardens provide a quiet and beautiful location for us all.

Top Garden in Koroit. Rhododendrons in Daylesford. Colac.

Dusty work.

It's dusty work hand feeding the sheep at the moment. We're waiting for another round bale to be moved so are giving the sheep a mixture of lucerne chaff, sheep nuts, barley and lupines. I've tried doing this without a dog but the sheep mill around the troughs getting in the way, so a dog is a necessity. Maggie is still the best. Zak and Pippa run barking at them then go of doing anything, while Tomas doesn't like the way the sheep look at him and goes back to the ute!