Another day in the life...

Poor Rupert - we turned on the fluorescent lights in the sun room (essentially a huge long room which was a verandah and was covered in a few years back) - and they fizzled. Five hours later he had found the fried mouse which had nibbled through a wire, and rewired new lights. So glad he is multi talented!

We took Sunday morning off and went to the Winter Olympics - a fundraiser for Flemington School which Grace will attend from next year. Met a few of her classmates to be, met some lovely horses, and had a nice time. Then back home and I spent the afternoon in the orchard (to be) continuing to clear and chainsaw. I've put in my order for the trees, and am just waiting on the quote from the nursery.

Murray, Tracey and Ben popped by on Saturday for a quick visit - was so nice to see them, and show them around our wee patch. I tell everyone to wear rose tinted glasses as there is such a lot to do!

Then, on Monday morning we went to pick up these two - Berkshire cross 11 week old weaner piglets. Their first job is clearing the vegetable garden and they've already made a good start today, digging merrily and finding all sorts of tasty morsels! They are not tame at all, so the second they hear us approach they run and hide. Once the garden is mostly clear, we will move them to the pig sty which will be their true home.

There is always an interesting discussion around stock when you have a lifestyle block or farm. For me, it all comes down to knowing where your food comes from. That means knowing that when I plant an orchard, or a vegetable garden, or raise chickens for eggs and meat, or pigs, or milk a cow, or raise a beef animal - I know what each of those has been fed. I know what sprays/chemicals (if any) have been used. I know that while those animals were in our care, they were treated well and allowed to live a natural life rather than being crammed into a small crate or factory farmed. However, I do NOT intend to be anywhere near here when the deed is done!

Am currently stripping the spare room (ugh!) and Rupert is sorting out the workshop so we can find things easily (yay!) while Grace is having dance parties or long long games of pretend with us! Mum arrives next week so will be a busy few days getting her settled in town and starting to find her a place to buy or rent. Will be great having her down here though, not quite sure she knows she is booked for babysitting for the next ten years :-)

The weather has turned wet and cold, but we are warm inside and we have plenty of firewood to get us through winter, with more being sawed up all the time. The almost outside toilet is probably the worst part of the house - very cold! I lay in bed and argue with myself for ten minutes before making the dash! That will be sorted out in the next few months when the new bathroom goes in.

The funniest thing about living down here is whenever we meet someone new, and start chatting, they already know about us. "Oh you're the family who bought the dog lady's house?" or even better from the rural delivery man "I used to bring her 4 or 5 cases of wine at a time and I would have to hold my breath when I went inside!". Small communities, where everyone knows everyone else - I love it - and the people we have met are so nice. Most of them are "real" farmer so they are inclined to tease a bit, but they are very helpful and free with their advice. It's a great community and we are looking forward to being more and more involved over the years to come.