It has been a bit hotter lately and I’m obviously concerned about snakes about the place.

Most weekends now involve at least an hour on Penfold (the ride on mower) as I try and keep the grass down and the ground visible for when we are walking around.

Of particular importance is the vegetable garden, as the pond in the middle provides a water source and the variety of lizards and small animals provide a potential meal for the snakes.

Tonight Meg rang as she arrived home to find a brown snake on the concrete outside the roller door of the shed, “looking for a way in”.

After advising Meg to keep an eye on it, I quickly packed up and headed home.

Arriving home in a cloud of dust, I saw Meg standing under the pergola at the end of the shed. The snake had left and she had been following it to where it disappeared, under some rocks on the corner of the concrete slab.

After making sure that it wasn’t still visible and turning a large rock over, we revealed what looked suspiciously like a snake hole…

Meg wasn’t all that fussed though, and we’ll just look carefully when we enter the shed and try to ensure that we don’t have mice. As well as this, Meg taped up a small gap at the bottom of the roller door of the shed.

While this excitement was going on, the very small, male mistletoe bird was twittering around us, landing on the car antenna and also on one of the small blue gums next to where we park.

I grabbed the camera and the 100-400mm lens and snapped him a few times in the approaching twilight.

Before packing the camera away again, I thought I’d capture the new flock of sheep that we have grazing in the paddock. Hopefully they’ll eat their way through our bushfire risk in the next month or so and won’t keep me too awake at night.

Check out more in the gallery.

Plans for the house have been coming along well and Meg and I have been working hard on decisions for the house; what to build, where to build it, how am I going to be able to do it etc etc.

Raph came up to visit and as part of his Uni holidays, he spent a while on the spade and crowbar.

A couple of “lightening strikes” saw some trees fall over near the proposed house site, so we thought that we should get rid of the stumps.

How hard could it be? Surely we could just dig them out?

The Blue gums around here tend to grow with multiple trunks sprouting from a base and trimming the trunks down was easy enough. The plan was to dig around the base and hopefully under some roots before lighting a decent bonfire to burn the rest away.

This sounds great in theory, but the first fire that we lit went for three days…

The end of the first stump was the second burning and coincided with the first camp oven chook. After burning for a few hours, the monster chook (over 3Kg) was stuffed with lemons and onions, seasoned with pepper, salt, garlic and chilli and placed on a bed of lemon peel in the camp oven.

Raph dug a huge hole, about a foot and a half deep next to the fire for the camp oven. We backfilled with red hot coals from the base of the stump to about the halfway mark before putting the camp oven in and completely covering it over the handle – even though the handle was pointing straight up.

Three hours later, we hooked out the camp over and had the juiciest roast chicken with gravy and steamed veg picked from the garden.

With the first stump pretty much finished, Raph and I started on the second after a night of a neighbour’s great cleanskin Cab Savs. (Maybe a mistake?)

The blisters came thick and fast as we tackled the second stump and consumed what felt like our bodyweight in cool rainwater.

Pa came over in time to lend a hand and we dug up to a metre down around the stump. Not a bad effort for three hours on the spade.

The fire was big, but safe as the hole was surrounded with dirt, stopping the wind from blowing embers across the ground.

A heap of wood and days later the stump had taken a battering. Maybe one more burning and it will be gone.

It sometimes seems like we are taking small steps in the process of building the house, but each step gets us closer.

With considerable rainfall in the last month or two, it seems that we have had a good winter in the mid-North this year. If the look of our cars are anything to go by, you’d have to agree that we’ve had some decent rainfall.

July was above average, making up a little for a poor June, while August saw the average fall – around 81mm. See more at the BOM site. 

Living out of town with only dirt roads connecting us is enough to keep cars dirty, but the council have decided to run some full scale repairs on a large section of one of these roads and have been interrupted many times by heavy rainfall. Therefore the road is regularly a quagmire with six inch deep slosh to wade through. Sometimes I think I should wear a Captain’s hat as the Patrol steers like a boat!

I’m glad that Meg has a 4WD now as she’s had to use it a number of times just heading to and from work. It would have been touch and go in her old car. 

My car has seen even more of this, due to my work with farmers around the district. Some of the roads to the farms can be very waterlogged after heavy rain and I feel that I am justified in running a “proper” 4WD. Its funny watching clods of mud fly out the front of the vehicle, only to land back on the windscreen as you drive through them and I’m now used to keeping a finger on the wipers to wash away the muddy water that seems to jump out in front of me whenever there is a puddle about.

In talking with locals, it seems that this year is a return to Clare winters of old, where it rains regularly from June through to August. Some have been saying that we haven’t had a winter like this for ten years. 

The garden has definitely taken a turn for the better with longer days and sunshine triggering lush vegetation. We’re eating broccoli every day and have an occasional feed of potatoes, leeks, English spinach, spring onions, bok choi, radishes, parsley, coriander and Chinese cabbages. The broad beans are coming along, as are the peas and garlic.I’m busy planting as many spuds as I can to try and keep up with strong demand! Each meal I try to cut at least one eye from each spud and have been storing them in egg cartons until I get a moment to plant. Hopefully this will result in at least two plants to harvest all year around when things really get going and that will make us self sufficient in potatoes.  

One of the chores that has come back with the end of winter is mowing the weeds and grass around our living areas in preparation for snake season. I’ve mowed the last couple of weekends and the grass seems to be taking this as a challenge, jumping back out of the ground.

In tight spaces where the ride on mower has a bit of trouble, I mowed with the standard garden mower and collected a trailer load of clippings that went straight to the open compost area. The differed aspects of the garden are slowly taking shape, with the compost and soil creation area (dirt, manure, organic matter) at the top of the hill above the vegie garden as most of the ingredients are delivered by trailer and it is easier to carry things downhill with a wheelbarrow. The other advantage is that any nutrients that wash away will wash towards the vegie garden and not away from it.

There are always things to do, but I feel that the vegie garden is now supporting us to a fair degree and I get a great sense of accomplishment from that.

View the photo gallery for more pics.

A week or so ago on a calm, dark night, I went outside for some reason and heard the rustle of leaves in the blue gums along the path between the shed and the toilet.

Being a curious bloke, I grabbed the torch and crept slowly to about where I’d heard the noise and pointed up to see a furry little fellow. It looked like we have Common Brushtail Possums on our property, which are listed as “rare” by the Department for Environment and Heritage.

Tonight I heard the distinctive rustle again and quietly returned to the shed to put the camera together.

Using the Canon 28-70mm f2.8L lens with the Speedlite 550EX flash for starters, I used the torch to identify the general area that the possums were in before clicking off a few shots. Shooting directly up into the branches was a bit of a stretch for me, and after using the torch I couldn’t see anything through the view finder as my eyes didn’t adjust in time to the pitch black, moonless sky.

It must have looked quite interesting from the neighbours place across the hillside, with the trees occasionally lighting up from the powerful flash!

I changed to the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L to try and get a bit closer and this greatly increased the level of difficulty of getting the possum in frame, but the shots that I did get were much better.

I think that it is interesting that the possums were eating the blue gum blossoms and not the box mistletoe that I’ve been told is their food source. There is plenty of mistletoe around, although we have been slowly reducing it by selectively pruning with both chainsaw and rope saw.

Possums are meant to be quite rare in the Clare Valley area. I’ve read that the average is down to one per hectare, the lowest in the area including the Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North and I’d wondered where and when we would see one – we should have more than 40 on our property.

While many people don’t like them, I haven’t seen evidence of them in the vegie garden yet, so as long as they stay in the trees then maybe we can just get along together.

Check more info with the Dept of Environment and Heritage Fact Sheet

In mid-July last year, Meg and her Mum worked very hard with rock, clay and straw to build the cob oven.

It worked well and we used it to cook roasts, pizza and damper as well as baking dishes of tasty potatoes and more. But the oven was made of natural products and not sealed against the elements, so it was decided that we needed to build a shelter to protect it.

After a day of other work in October, Raph and I were inspired to dig the footings and hurriedly concrete them in fading darkness. It was a dodgy job without stringlines or measuring tape – sighted by eye and dug with teamwork. Concrete was mixed by the barrow load using our own secret mix of cement and various gravel, sand and road base variants.

Considering the huge amount of gum trees covering the property, I thought that maybe we could build something from the natural resources. (It would also be significantly cheaper!) I’d cut some lengths of gum that needed clearing and laid them near the footings, and that is where work stopped.

Three months later, the urgent jobs were out of the way and motivation came upon us with certain conditions; this was to be an entirely dodgy construction. We decided that this meant building without measuring tape, level or string line and using brute force tools such as the chainsaw, sledge hammer and axe and only materials that were already on the property.

Of course, a dodgy construction couldn’t be tacked together without an afternoon of Goon or suitable other drinks and Raph had just bought a cask of the cheapest white wine on offer!

Saturday morning started with the cutting the base of the posts to fit with the chainsaw and fitting them to the pergola feet with coach bolts. I’d started to trim the base to size with hammer and chisel, but Raph had a better idea – use the axe.

Much laughter later, we placed a cross member across the first two posts. The shelter was underway!

The next posts were soon in place and we had a square of cross members sitting on top. The solution to strengthening and bracing the structure? Why fencing wire tensioned with wire strainers, of course!

Raph had started on the goon by now, but I had to follow my own rules and only had a drink after the chainsaw was put away and there were still two posts to go.

By the time the last two posts were in, Meg appeared from over the hill with a blender full of Margaritas, some cocktail glasses as well as salsa and corn chips. It was time for a break and to reflect on our progress so far.

Late Saturday afternoon soon disintegrated as we laughed and wired joints together, hoping that the structure would stand the night.

Sunday morning started suitably late with a few other jobs to be done before we headed back over the hill to the work in progress.

First up was to decide on the method of fixing the roofing. Leftover warped and twisted permapine could be used up in this job, as it wouldn’t be used for any other project and was lying in a deteriorating pile out in the weather.

Supplies were checked and we were lacking in the right length screws to fix the roof purlins to the framework, so Raph and I headed to town. Unfortunately we were running a bit late and both hardware shops were shut.

I’d never considered buying hardware from Cheap as Chips, but they were the only place open. The upshot was that we stumbled over some wheels to suit the new woodbox that Raph had just built and bought a box of various sized screws for $5.

On our return we started with the roof, surprised at how fast it went up. There were a few designs for the roof, and I’m not sure that what ended up is what either of us was thinking, but the hills were soon echoing to the clang of hammer on roofing nails and galvanised iron sheets.

One design that had had serious consideration in the months leading up to the erection was for the external flue through the roof. This was to be the third of the three sections of the wood heater that we bought last winter; the first was used on the heater in the shed, the second was modified to reduce the diameter and forms the flue on the oven and the final section will be placed through the roof.

We considered cutting the hole in the sheet with the angle grinder, but Raph had another brainwave and headed again for the axe and soon we were bending the tin and riveting the flue in place.

Meg added a plaque that her Mum had given us about a year ago and had hung in the trees near the shed. The dodgy shelter and the oven that they created between them will be a much better place for it.

Sunday night was a bit bigger than it should have been, but we’d had a big couple of days of building. Because of this, we only started to climb the ladder and fit the remaining roofing sheets in the afternoon.

There was a nice sense of accomplishment to build something by feel, without planning too much and just taking things as they come. The shelter had taken on a nice, rustic personality. It was a perfect match for the oven and Meg loved it. The dodgy construction was complete.

Click for the complete gallery of photos.

One of the things that I really enjoy about living in the country is the birds.

From the top of the hill where the vegie garden is, you can look back to the north and east and follow the horizon along a ridge. Sunset provides the “Golden Hour” and when it is still you can stand there for ages watching and listening to various birds as they prepare to roost.

The Kookaburras are my favourite. There are a few pairs around and they often call to each other, with the call starting at one end of the road, passing through the pairs of birds to the other and back.

I’ve had a couple of tries at photos, but today was a day where it worked.

Previously I’d heard or seen Kookie about and headed for the camera, changed lenses and the like and come back to the spot to watch him fly away.

Today I was in the shed and heard them in a tree outside. Before heading out, I swapped to the long lens and then quietly opened the shed door.

Rather than going for the perfect shot, I clicked off a couple on the way to where I thought it would be, making sure that I at least got something.

Kookie sat there for a while, letting me take a few shots from about twenty metres before flying off.

Thanks Kookie!

Just a quick post to show some of the effects of the golden hour, a favourite time of the day for me and my camera.

I love the softness of the colours in the light just before sunset. It can be difficult to work with as the light levels drop, and working with a fill in flash can have adverse effects as well. Maybe it is this fine line of low light and harsh flash, the volatility of the situation that makes it good.

I think it is just the results. I love a good sunset and hope to never be too tired or get too bored of it to pick up the camera and walk over the hill.

Sure, it is the same sun on the same distant range, but it always changes.

Check out the gallery for the rest of the pics.

We’ve been very busy lately and haven’t been taking enough time to enjoy what we have.

With the “Shed Raising” party a few of weeks ago, Meg and I realised that we hadn’t walked the property enough and should be doing it more regularly, noticing changes and getting fitter.

The days are almost getting longer and there is some good sunshine now so we really should make time to do it.

We started last weekend with a Saturday afternoon wander. I had an ulterior motive and had taken the mattock to do battle with some artichokes that have been rapidly spreading across the property. We walked and talked about life and plans and views and trees.

Today was also a nice day and I’d taken the camera instead of the mattock.

First stop was the bore. The tank hasn’t been filled for a few months (a testament to our water saving lifestyle) and it was time to fill up.

This would also be a test of water pressure to the shower as I’d installed the instant LPG water heater in a tree and wanted to see what it could do. As the tank is on the hill above, I was wondering whether adding a metre or two in height to the water level in the tank would increase the pressure noticeably.

The late afternoon sun was broken by the trees as we wandered down the valley away from the bore. The valley was peaceful, with no wind or traffic noise – just the sounds of birds playing in the trees.

As we came to the main creek I saw a slight movement on the opposite hillside and watched as a couple of kangaroos looked back. (Sure, they might not be “kangaroos”, but Euros or something similar, but until I find out which is which anything that hops and looks like a kangaroo will be a kangaroo.)

I clicked off a couple of shots, but I was using the 28-70mm lens. If I’d had the 100-400mm lens we could have seen what they were thinking but I’d only taken the camera and not the entire camera bag.

Walking a few steps further on spooked the kangaroos and they were off.

We walked the creek line and stopped to check on the artichokes that I’d had a go at last weekend. I’d dug a fair bit  of them out but had heard from others that spraying or using pellets is really the only way to get them. We’ll see what happens.

I saw a photo opportunity in the creek and entered. The tree on the left side of the creek had roots that had been exposed by the bank and with the late afternoon sun and a little bit of flash, I thought I could get an interesting perspective.

Meanwhile, Meg was being creative on her own, creating a monster out of an ant hole, some bark and moss. Arrrggghh! The monster!

The artichoke population increased dramatically as we reached the western boundary of the property. This is turning into much, much more of a priority.

We took some time to take it all in, sitting around a huge, old gum tree that must have some stories to tell. It must be at least a metre across – how old does that make it?

Wandering up the step climb I spotted a different type of thistle. It has a purple flower and reminded me of Scotland for some reason.

A storm was heading our way over the Blyth plains and we watched the changes for a while as it moved before heading back along the road and checking out the neighbours sheep.

It was a pretty good walk and taking the camera really made me look for things and take notice.

All wasn’t right when we returned, as the tank wasn’t full or even noticeably better off!

I raced to the bore and after a while discovered that a switch had tripped inside the control panel. Fears met worries and frustrations as they bounced around my mind. Had we run out of water? Had I blown up the expensive submersible pump? Had we hooked up the tank without the right valves and done some damage?

I reset the switch and turned the pump back on. A short while later, the switch clicked off and the pipe moved – it was off again.

The questions went around my head again as I failed to learn anything from the process and was left with the realisation that things are always going to break and go wrong and it was up to me to deal with them.