Well done. Hands down. (If your hand WASN’T up, please check out the site linked above and from the logo in my sidebar – I’m an ‘official’ supporter!)

Now how many of you know a farmer?

I hope all your hands are up… because although I don’t think I’m the most experienced, knowledgable or cutting-edge farmer on the block in the paddock, I consider my whole family FARMERS.  So that means I must be one too…  a farmer of cows and bulls and steers. A farmer of enormous enthusiasm for the land.  A farmer who spends much of her time doing the mountains of bookwork required of farming businesses.  And a farmer who still gets a thrill out of the hands-on chores required by HER brand of farming.

Namely: Mustering.

I thought you might all enjoy coming for a ride with me – and take in the view from between the horses ears (in this case, Jill, mother of him).  Without having to worry about falling off (I did that for you – riding and taking photos and actually helping are a bit of a juggling act sometimes!).

Here is the gang – unloaded from the truck, mostly-mounted-up and rearing for action.  Well, in the case of the kids’ horses, eating for action.  From left we have Salina, Lachy, A, Violet and Dash.

As we rein-up and head into the paddock being mustered, we get last-minute instructions from the ‘bosses’.

i.e. Pagi (my Dad) and Mr Incredible (husband, not pictured for once).

Then we ride in our allocated areas and push the cattle towards a predetermined fence, and into a mob.

Salina shows us how its done… I thought I’d throw in a gratuitous granite glimpse. (Say THAT quickly).  Mustering the cattle into a mob can take between half to two hours, depending on the paddock.

And then we take the mob along the fenceline towards the yards …

This is usually a slow task, with cows and calves not wanting to get faster than a walk (nor do we!) and can take an hour or so.

There is time for conversation and father-son bonding time (as they sit wide on the ‘wing’ or side of the mob).

I usually end up at the tail – or rear – because I am slow.  And sometimes distracted with a certain Nikon.

See Jill is flicking her ears listening to me – probably saying “WHEN is that clicking sound EVER going to stop?”

Violet takes her ‘keeping them tidy’ role quite seriously.  She loves it.

This is a section of path that was almost totally washed away in last year’s floods.  (For those wondering, we are not in the path of any floodwater this year.  And while we’d love some more rain, our hearts are with those around Charleville, Roma and St George at the moment).

The steep descent into the creek can sometimes prove tricky – some cows like to try and balk here.

We don’t let ‘em.  The yards are right across the creek… nearly there!

Once down, we need to keep them on the fence and not wandering down the creek…

And then UP the other side!

You need your horse in Four Wheel Drive for this part. Heh.

It’s always great to see the yards come into view.

The cows know that a big drink of water awaits there.  So their step quickens a little.  The humans are all anticipating the cup of tea and snack awaiting them here too.

Of course sometimes, little ones get a bit turned around, and think WE are their mothers…

No, sweet-pea.  Wrong four-legged creature!

They eventually sort themselves out.  Ready for branding.  But that’s another story, for another day, for another post…

Hope you aren’t too sore after that little ride…

Did you enjoy your mustering experience?

BB

PS I also wanted to thank all who link to me from all over the world, mustering in all my wonderful visitors to my little bush blog.  Among these I note the MLA (Meat and Livestock Australia) who encourage producers to take part in the ‘real conversation‘ growing between producers and the wider community.

It’s wonderful to be encouraged, to be connected and to be recognised.  (It’s why I started this page too. )

In the end I kept it simple…

I adore semi-dried tomatoes, so I used Smitten Kitchen’s recipe  for achieving a decadent, fabulous slow roasted tomato. As Deb says:

Prepare to have your mind blown!

It was simple – halving my Roma tomatoes, drizzling olive oil and sprinkling some dried herbs.

Not forgetting unpeeled garlic cloves dotted amongst the tomato halves…

Not all the tomatoes were perfect enough for the roasting, so I chopped them and cooked them on the stove (in my much-loved, one-handled Bessemer pot) with olive oil, garlic and some Italian herbs into a tomato sauce…

Mmmmmmm….

The smell in my kitchen was superb.  The oven was only at 100C and on for about 4 hours.  I left it  a little longer than Deb recommended cause I love the intensity of a well-reduced tomato!

The result?

Bloody scrumptious. I had trouble keeping Mr Incredible AWAY from the cooling trays.

We have already used some of the slow-roasted tomatoes on pizza (with paper-thin salami, fetta, chicken and a TINY sprinkling of melting cheese).  The garlic bread topped with a tomato piece melted in our mouths too!

The tomato sauce was used almost immediately on a simple pasta yesterday…

I added slivers of ham and some extra herbs. And fresh-grated parmesan.

Lunch on the deck…

The whole family loves this weekend lunchtime treat.  And the best taste-enhancer of all?

Eating with loved ones…

BB

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How bout you? 

Favourite tomato recipes, or ways of using semi-dried/slow-roasted tomatoes? 

Please share…

My veggie garden overfloweth with these little delights…

Roma tomatoes.

Which apparently thrive on neglect.

I have a small mountain of them.

Even after neighbours have been handed a dozen or so.

What to do?

Seeing as how I don’t actually eat raw tomato… I know. I’m weird. I don’t eat banana either. Long story. (Vile things). I do adore tomatoes in cooking though. So versatile. And the flavour from home-grown veggies is always amazing.

So I am visiting THIS blogger and of course, THIS blogger for some inspiration this morning.

Stay tuned, and I might even show you what I come up with.

I know. Who the heck AM I again?

BB

However you got here – through other bloggers, through friends, through googling something about Australia or The Bush, or through knowing me In Real Life – I appreciate having your presence here (whether chatting in my comments section or lurking – I know you are there!).

And I adore having all those wonderful avatars of yours in my sidebar.  Makes me feel like there is a fabulous party going on at all times!

So I am celebrating today by drawing the winner of this little giveaway (and I shall treasure the comments left there for a VERY long time)…

*drum roll *

You each get an 8″ x 12″ metallic print (of your choice) from this blog.  Contact me via email with mailing details and your choice of image.

I am also giving away a bonus print to TARA (blogger from South Africa) – for her fantastic support in the tweeting department! Thanks so much to everyone for entering.

I love my sidebar posse.  I love seeing when new faces/avatars pop up there – like someone just walked in my virtual door for a cuppa. I love seeing faces I have had there for over three years.  Familiar, kind, happy, quirky, wonderful faces. Love, love, love.

I hate two things about losing GFC.

1. Those subscribed could well be suddenly UNsubscribed to my blog.  (That’s almost 200 of you).  And that would be tragic (for me, and hopefully it’d make you a little sad too!).

2. My sidebar party will vanish. *sob*

I cannot see any tool that replaces GFC properly.  Google is encouraging its users to send subscribers through to Google Plus pages.  I am in Google + but rarely use it – I don’t just have the time!  And I cannot see it as a direct replacement – just ANOTHER thing to expect you all subscribe to… and without the avatar-party benefit - unfair!

If anyone knows of another blog tool that shares avatars like this (besides Facebook, which I am ALL OVER) please let me know. In the meantime, can I gently encourage you to subscribe here.

Thanks (in hope).

♥

BB

PS This post is terribly short on images – can’t have that!!

A little teaser for my next post…

But really…

Sometimes …

I just need to shut up…

And let the photos…

Do the talkin’…

……..

Wishing you lots of expressions of love, however you find it today!

♥

BB

Like the hard work is over and it’s time give your horse a drink and then relax.

Like all you can think about is some yummy chocolate cake for smoko, a cool drink and a maybe a well-earned swim…

Well my Dash knows that feeling…

And he also knows the very rude awakening from that daydream when you realise your horse has simply been plotting the whole time to TRY AND GET THE SADDLE OFF. (And you with it).

Should have noted that when asked when he noticed his horse was rolling, he said: when my boots hit the sand!!!

Thanks Lachy for diving in and helping out.

No children or saddles were harmed in the making of this slideshow.

BB

PS Don’t forget to pop your name down in the giveaway going on here this week…

I have even met a few of you, and each fellow blogger has been amazing.  Writers, bushies, city slickers, Aussies, Yanks… all in all, the internet has been a really welcoming place for me.  And the world truly is a smaller place through this incredible tool.

So when I noted that my Facebook page for this blog (which is here) had hit 200 likes/followers this week (and my Friends Connect is also climbing towards the same milestone) I decided I HAD to celebrate. With you lot. Cause knowing you guys are there and reading my ramblings makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

So here is what I am doing…

I am giving away FOUR prints to readers this week – 8″ x 12″ professionally printed on the gorgeous metallic paper I have fallen in love with (and use for my own prints).

And the winners can choose ANY photo from this blog. Maybe it’s a calendar shot from the 2012 edition, or a rainy road photo or a romantic river image…

The metallic paper really makes the colours and details of each image ‘pop’ – almost making the photo appear three-dimensional…

Imagine THIS guys looking out from your wall… or maybe not.

Heh.

Some ideas from the last couple of weeks…

Sweet native blossoms…

Fiery sunsets…

Soft garden moments…

A little inspirational bokeh…

Wild rodeo images…

Or serene orange sunrises

Or even New York streets!

You can check pretty much ALL my images across at my Flickr account.

Anyway, to enter please leave a comment below sharing how you found this little bush blog (and how long ago, if you can remember).

I love rediscovering how you found me… just as I love it whenever you take the precious time out of your day to leave a message.

You can enter as often as you like, and if you retweet my Twitter message, you get extra entries.

And by the way…

THANKS.

BB

PS If you are brand spanking new here, I’d love to hear from you too. Everyone is welcome!!!

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I spent much of today on the road. Not driving long distances, as I sometimes do. But taking a while to drive where I needed to be.  Or getting vehicles to where THEY needed to be.

This is part of living on the land – sort of like a giant rubic cube, getting all the colours aligned/all the tractors where they need to be.

I got to drive one of these this morning…

The RED one.

The yellow one is my Dad’s domain… I am NO grader driver!!

It was actually the very first time I had ever driven the red tractor – it’s my husband’s pride and joy so I took it steady.

(There will be doubters amongst you, those who have been in a vehicle with me… so just HUSH you lot!).

Twas kinda fun (although I did give myself a couple of palpatations lining up the siderails of the grids – those things could be a TAD wider for us novice tractor drivers, y’know!).

And once I had safely gotten the tractor back to the shed at home, I whipped into some (non-tractor-grimy) town clothes for a quick trip to town for supplies.

And those clouds that had been threatening all morning FINALLY came good on their promise…

There is SOMETHING about wet gravel roads. They keep you on your toes, but they are kinda romantic at the same time…

I played THIS song REALLY loud.

I didn’t even know who sang it before I googled just now. Great song, Emerson Drive!

I love this feeling of freedom running through my veins
Been too long at the crossroads
waiting for the light to change
Even if it takes forever and I never find out where it goes
Heaven knows…

I love this road.

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Please note, I will be holding a giveaway here shortly, to celebrate the magic milestone of Bush Babe receiving 200 Facebook ‘likes’.  Thanks so much for sticking with this little bush blog through thick and thin.  I’m not one to profess undying love to people I have never met… but it makes me a bit emotional when I look at all those wonderful faces in my sidebar (my Friends Connect and FB peeps).

And I just want to say THANKS.  You lot make my day.

We had a couple of really special people here last night and today – a friend from school whom I have not seen for many years, and her adorable son.

Jacque is one of those people you can go years without speaking to, and take up EXACTLY where you left off. I love low-maintenance friends… Lord knows I am hopeless at phone calls these days. Ask any of my friends, they will tell you. Hopeless.

Last night we tried to cram a decade of not talking into an evening. I am a wee bit weary today as a result – Oz Day celebrations were therefore reasonably sedate. We cooked pikelets and branded a few calves in morning (as you do on a day off in the bush) and then Did Lunch.

I found these burger patties in Woolies – how gorgeously kitsch are they? I know, I know – Tassie is not there. I made some beetroot into our Island State instead…

Mmmmm. Burgers Oz-style must have beetroot.

My friends have never been here to Granite Glen before – even though Jacque and I were pretty good mates when we went to boarding school together. Flynn is a special little man, energetic and inquisitive and affectionate, who just adored some of our four-legged family members.

Axel (the goofy Great Dane) got a LOT of special attention, and enjoyed every second of their bonding time.

But the one who really stole Flynn’s heart (besides Mr Incredible, who was showered with hugs and “I’ll Miss YOU’s”) was Bay Leaf, our orphan half-dairy, half-Brangus calf.

Or as Flynn likes to call her: The Cow That Sucks My Hand.

Nothing like some calf slobber to seal a friendship.

We also spent some time down by the river. Throwing sticks into the water (the kids) and photographing kids throwing sticks into the water (the mothers).

As I never have photos of me, I then asked Dash to take some pics of Jacque and I … the results shocked me senseless. I suspect all those iced coffees are sticking to my ribs a little TOO well.

In the end, I decided this is the one I liked most…

DEAR LORD, I need to lose weight. Immediately.

Or at least right after I finish that leftover burger.

Wishing everyone a VERY Happy Australia Day. And before I go, a couple of quick questions…

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How did you spend Oz Day?

How do YOU eat your burgers? (Talking condiments, not mastication here)

Are you a high or low-maintenance friend?

And we cannot do it without our crew. So I thought I’d begin this little Branding Series with a Meet the Cast post.  Comfy?  Then let’s begin…

First there is Bruiser, my father.

He has been mustering these paddocks for 60 years now. Knows them all like the back of his work-weathered hands. He has seen many thousands of calves through this process. Like the rest of us, he loves casting his eye over all the little newcomers to the place.

Then we have Lila. Our Swiss neighbour.

An ex-dressage type, Lila has grown used to our ‘Man from Snowy River’ antics over the past couple of years (her interpretation of anything OTHER than riding in a manicured, rectangular arena, I suspect). While she may never quite acclimatize to the heat and the dust and the flies, she still gets all romantic about the landscapes and gushes at length about the ‘pretty-headed babies’. We suspect there may be some Italian and French mixed into her Swiss-ness.

Then there are the kids – we had four of them. Well, we have two of our own and a couple of ‘ring-ins’ … most of you already know Salina (Jeanie‘s beautiful ‘big girl’).

Salina is always a branding-time visitor…

She is at that age where she is not really a kid. At age 12 she’s officially a tween. But considering the potential combustible brew of long hours, energetic and demanding younger cousins, and imminent adolescence, we had a really lovely time with her. Always do.

The other ‘borrowed’ jilleroo is Ay, who belongs to Lila-from-next-door (above).

She rides our old horse Tradesman and loves being in the mustering gang.

Mr Incredible refers to the kids collectively as ‘the wall’. A mooving wall (sorry, bad pun, had to be done) to keep bovines in check. (Of course, when he mentioned the term, my first thought went to a certain Seinfeld episode: Make a wall, A WALL!!).

The cows didn’t see enough daylight between them to even consider breaking out…

Of course there is the keenest little jilleroo of them all – Violet…

She is hugely disappointed that the six days of weaning/mustering/excuses to ride are over.

School/schmool, according to Violet!

Dash is keener for school to begin on Monday, but had a blast working the gates during branding…

(He does own numerous belts, that all seem to hide when needed at 6am!)

He is also a champion daydreamer – seen here between bouts of activity, no doubt contemplating Creation or why the clouds have flat bottoms today. Please note the Holiday Haircut – he has been nicknamed Pineapple Head by his loving father…

We also had the fabulous Lachlan back for the week…

…pictured at left here, shootin’ the breeze with Dash. After working here for most of 2011, Lachy slotted back into the scene like he had never abandoned us gone home.

He also brought his brother Cal.

Cal (as you can see here) has a haircut known to most as a ‘mullet‘. It was the very first thing I noticed about him…

Apparently I am a hair snob. (Although my sister and I DID have a ‘lioness’ haircuts in the 70s that may have looked suspiciously similar… I am sure there was a subtle difference though. Jeanie help me here!)

I have to say, that after almost a week working beside Cal, I think I can forgive him his haircut of choice…

At just 16 years of age, Cal (like his brother) is a credit to his parents. Conscientious, hardworking, easy to have around. Dash and Violet adored having two ‘big brothers’ around, and the calves worked well with these patient young men.

For a bloke who wants to ride bulls professionally, Cal sure is gentle with the little ones…

And (providing they don’t go imitating any hairstyles) I was more than happy for our two to have these pair as role models.

And of course there was the big ol’ role model of mine, Mr Incredible.

Showing those young ‘uns how to wheel a rambunctious cow (no, I am NOT talking about me) back into the mob.

(I am not quite sure why the boys have no hats on here – perhaps they were doffing them in wonder at my husband’s incredible cow-wrangling skills? Or perhaps they didn’t have them jammed on their mullets hard enough while doing their own wrangling?). For the record, the cow thought her calf had gone with another mob.  Mr Incredible convinced her to rejoin her own mob, in the yards. Where her calf really was. Silly cow.)

And not content with being chief cow-wrangler, calf-catcher, brander and tag-re-applier… my husband also patiently helped me ‘mother up’ some of the newly numbered calves with their mammas at the end of the day.

And in bush parlance, this illustrates the sensitive side of My Guy.  The one with the sensible haircut.

So that makes nine. Quite the gang really.  The Nefarious Nine.

They worked, they ate, they worked some more.

A big old heartfelt THANKS to them all.

BB

PS I guess you could count the chief cook and bottle-washer (and computer tag-reader and slide-gate operator*).  But that would make ten.  And that’s NOT what it says in the title here…

PPS You know I meant me there*, didn’t you? Just checking!