Days like this
We are having a weirdly wet winter here in Central Queensland at the moment.
Not epic, flooding wet, just drizzling, mizzling weather that is enough to prevent most of the serious cattle work being done. Usually our seasons give us damp summers and dry winters.
It’s preg-testing time, now that our weaners are all off their Mamas and settled into their new paddocks – where Mr Incredible dons a singlet and a long plastic glove (well a series of long plastic gloves) and checks to see which of our cows is ‘in calf’ (or ‘pregnant’ or ‘up the duff bovine-style’.)
But instead, he is doing some ‘shed work’ (this is a term used by most bush men when asked what their rainy day chores might be – in my husband’s case, he is ACTUALLY building a shed. Luckily he is up to internal walls, so it is a dry job!)
I am trying to complete my end-of-year financial work for our business (the least appealing chore), getting the mountain of washing done (post-visitor and post-machine breaking down for three days), keeping three holidaying kids amused with inside activities, and FINALLY doing the photobook from our American trip (I know – I admit there is some googling of place names!). I decided none of this appealed yesterday, so I gathered the kids (including Jeanie’s Salina) went to town.
Over a red dirt/mud road.
Yup. Ticked off groceries, vet supplies, rum stores and video borrowing. Added ‘wash car’ to ‘to do’ list!
Then I decided (seeing as how none of the other stuff on my list had been started anyway) I’d try to find something pretty and wet.
Our houseyard fence. Kinda like a music sheet, no?
A branch on the Flame Tree (last featured here in its autumnal splendour) – now almost devoid of leaves, but sporting many drips instead!
How I yearn for a macro lens at moments like this.
(On second thoughts, maybe not. My book-keeping jobs might NEVER get done.)
A very wet wither belonging to Holly, a sweet black mare who snuck into the house paddock yesterday.
Some of the little weaner bulls whom I have yet to ‘handle’. (They are usually brought into the yards and encouraged to eat sheafs of hay from my hand – in this case the dude on the left had already been in with the first mob of 15 and knew the drill. He was waiting for sight of a human to put on his best ‘forlorn wet baby bovine’ face to encourage me to bring him a treat. I wonder who trains whom sometimes!)
This is one of the boys we took to Beef 2012.
He is quite used to posing for the camera, although I suspect he did wonder what on earth I was doing as it drizzled rain and I failed to bring him any treat. Apparently, that is not in the agreement we had. He looked very disappointed. And wet.
It was before 5pm when these last pics were taken. But the gloomy weather made it seem like an hour later, which was great to provide dark backdrops for drips.
I know. Not the way the majority might look on gloomy weather?
As my husband often says:
‘You see the world a WHOLE different way to most people, y’know.’
Like that’s a bad thing? Heh.
So after that drippy little interlude, I shall focus again on washing and books. Safe in the knowledge that magical things are happening outside…
A couple of questions for you:
Is it drippy in your world?
What do YOU do to avoid the boring tasks in your life? Or at least make them a little more appealing?
🙂
BB
9 Comments
Oopsiemumma
It must of been the day for getting shopping chores done! Not as wet here yesterday, but it is today. Of course, it’s only raining because we’re going camping this weekend. xo
Ellie
I live in Florida SO we are seeing lots of rain, I have emptied our rain gauge 2 times with over 4 inches each time and it is raining now with a tornado watch. We do need the rain but are seeing some flooding now. Love the big bull, he is beautiful.
Pam
Here in the Pacific NW of the USA, we still have not had Summer start, Spring has finally came. Its been wet, but the mud has finally dried up.
I tried to weedeat( whith the gas powered weed eater), the pasture along the highway today. The machine fell apart, literally! The carburetor came loose. Just when I was going good!!! Still have another 300 feet to go!!
Now I have to wait for the husband unit to fix it! LOL Which he said he would work on on his day off. sigh….
Colin (HB)
Hi
Very interesting report. The weather is bizzare, same here in virus ridden Brisbane. Buy shares in “tissues” the dividends are on the sky rocket market.
Still with all the mud and slush, the paddocks will have plenty of the “good stuff”. Should end up a bumper year for the cattle producers, barring stupidity from the present Federal Minister, who couldn’t know the difference between a cow and a bull! ( Sorry couldn’t help that outburst!)
Funny last photo: Looks like a bloody Joe Blake is about to attack!!!
Cheers, between wheezes, sniffles and coughs.
Colin
norma in alabama
Sunny, hot days with temps over 95f, A/C running full time, mosquitoes working overtime. I’m a cool weather girl so maybe I should move down under in April and back up in October. Loved all the photos, it’s a whole different way of life and I like reading about it.
Jayne
Nope, not dripping here – for a change!
Although it’s certainly not a sweltering heatwave, either.
Chores?
No idea what you mean!
Jayne´s last blog post ..June 26 with spleen ventage +
Kelly
I’m in south Arkansas and we are HOT and DRY! (but it isn’t a dry heat – we’ve got the humidity to go with it) The airport reading was 104 (40c) yesterday, but my home weather station registered higher than that.
We need rain for our pasture and pond – wish I could take some off of Florida’s hands!
Kelly´s last blog post ..iPod Roulette – June 2012
Nancy in Iowa
I’d love to have some of your winter weather! We have had some rain, but it’s dry today. Temp = 85F, but 2 shockers – it’s only 70 down south in Savannah where my daughter lives, and tomorrow it’s supposed to reach 103 HERE!! I’d rather have snow.
quincy's keeper
I love the rain but despise the mud.
It’s summer time here in Northern California. At least that’s what they tell us. Normally we would be mid to upper 90’s with a nice hot breeze. It’s been upper 70’s to mid 80’s. We rarely get rain after May here so our pastures are a dried baked brown. Supplement the cattle with mineral tubs and they do just fine.