My Neighbours and Other Animals

Well we are just back from a quick break in Melbourne. The purpose of which was to do nothing, but have a look at civilisation. We ate at restaurants and didn't clean up, or kill any animals. It was great! - but I also missed making my own food etc.

We are blessed to have some neighbours who looked after the property while we were away and who also  came across a few new 'friends' on the farm. XXXX called us on day one of the break to inform us that he had mowed the lawn and watered the plants. We of course commented that we should go away more often so more work would be completed! We were also told that a large green tree snake is living near the front door - freak out! Lily has chased it away a couple of times but it seems to have made a home. Now a Green Tree Snake is not a bad snake to have around the house - they kill mice and rats - BUT IT IS STILL A SNAKE! I think the snake has made a home between the tin roof and ceiling near the garage - the hole will be filled very soon. I've course Vera (just named her) the snake isn't the only animal around the house, so I thought I would introduce to you some of them.

FRITZ, AKA SUPER FRITZ, FRISKY, or BAD DOG
Fritz is one of those dogs that comes around once in your lifetime - well for me as he is my first dog. Not only is he handsome but he also has tons of character, and seems to have several lives. In the middle of last year Fritz hurt his back while staying with friends. We were told it was going to cost thousands of dollars to save him and - against logic - we paid that money. He was one of the main reasons for moving away from the city and really a family member.


After a bumpy start to life up here Fritz manages to keep up with our other dog, and is almost back to normal. He confidence is not always the best thing for him though, as the many scratches and bumps prove. After 1 month living on the farm he got attacked by ticks and was again paralysed. It was his own fault for going bush and chasing Kangaroos - another nice vet bill saved him. Last week he tried to escape and twist his little front leg so much that he was bedridden for 3 days and suffered the indignity of these humans taking him to the toilet. And I guess that is why he is sometimes called Super Fritz - he keeps coming back for more punishment.

                                         LILY - named after Lily Allen

We love Lily Allen - so it was only natural when we got a girl dog to call her Lily. And boy does this dog fit her namesake! Rushing in with not thought in her head.  Fritz is the brain and she is the brawn - she is beautiful, but dumb - blindly following Fritz into danger. We rescued Lily from the RSPCA after a ad hoc shopping trip. Lily loves to be around people, and be loved, but she is a huge puppy that thinks she is a small dog. Glasses are smashed and tables dragged away by her huge tail and body. She is part Mastiff and part Staffy. While most people would be scared of her little do they realise that she was scared of people due to her mistreatment at the hands of the last owner. She has the scars to prove it and is still a little wary of spades and bricks. A real sweetie with big teeth!

 The Kookies
We have two clans on the property that fight each other for the women - much like the men at the Ivy Hotel minus the date rape drugs. We were feeding them at one time but have stopped as they should be killing snakes etc.

Koala
Haven't given this fella a name. But he pops around every so often spying on the dogs. The dogs, thankfully, haven't see him yet.

 Turtles
Our front dam is teaming with water animals but these are the only one's we can take photos of. Apparently turtles can walk 2kms between water holes. So take that those people who complain about walking long distances! Actually the neigbour found one of our turtles 300 metres away - it had trekked through some of our forest.

 Leaf Tailed Gecko 
He lives in the garage and gave me quite a scare. Brilliant at eating all the insects and cute in a way...

 The Goats
Natures lawnmower - they are not low maintenance people! In this photo is Rogan, Josh, the late Vinda, and Loo.

The Sheep
Or as we called them - future dinner!
We have got Dorper Sheep because the wool falls out and we were told they are low maintenance - FAIL! In this photo is Chop, Leg, Cutlet, and Chop.

Cream of Curried Cauliflower Soup

Tonight we will eat Cauliflower Soup with Japanese Radish - my brother planted them while he was up here. Unfortunately the soil is a bit clayey so they come out looking weird. My rule for cooking is that at least one ingredient must come from our land - maybe I should hi-light those ingredient because normally there is more than just one

Cream of Curried Cauliflower Soup

Dan's radish

1 medium onion, diced
1 clove of Garlic, finely chopped
1-2 dried Chillies
1 tspn of Curry Powder - add more to taste
1/2 tspn of Ginger
1/2 tspn of Coriander Seed, ground
2 stalks of Corriander
1 tspn Salt - more to taste
1 head of Cauliflower, chopped
1 Carrot, chopped
1 Japanese Radish, chopped
100ml of Cream

Fry the onion, garlic, and chilli in a pot. After the onion is translucent add all the other ingredients and pour in water. Let simmer for 30mins or until vegetables are soft.

Then blend the mixture into a soup like substance - add the cream and serve with a sprig of coriander.

Tuesday Was Not a Good Day

Turkey Drumstick with Preserved Lemon

Well last night's dinner was only a partial success - it would have been way better with chicken and couscous. The real success was the preserved lemons that I had bottled 6 weeks ago - very tasty, and so easy to do. The bottle of red wine was a little overkill though - at least that is what my head is saying.

It rained most of today with some extreme wind - all weather orientated!

Before lunch my partner and I visited the goats to check on Vinda (goat) who had been looking a little weak. We found her lying on her side and not looking at all well. Goats and sheep can not lie on their side apparently - they can not burp and will die of gas. With some prompting she managed to get up and eat some hay. I pumped some glucose into her, and in my mind gave her until the afternoon to get better - she has been sick since Saturday. To our delight Vinda walked around a little during the day.

But by 3pm I noticed Vinda was standing in the same spot and not doing anything. I spoke with my partner and said we have to do something because it was unfair to leave her in this situation. No-one wanted to say it - but we both knew what needed to happen. I went to the kitchen and sharpened the knife. I know Myles is a little softy, and I couldn't allow him the emotional pain of 'helping' the goat to die - especially after seeing his reaction when a sheep died. He kept popping downstairs to see how I was going and convinced me to check Vinda before doing anything. He also suggested that we call a neighbour who had a gun. I was going to check out our properly anyway and decided against calling the neighbour - she was our responsibility.

Vinda was not aware of her surroundings - only after I push her a little did she even move. Although she could stand I noticed the she was very thin - way to thin - past the point of no return. She had continuous diarrhoea and it was confirmed in my mind that it was unfair to keep her going.

Upon returning the house I grabbed the sharpest knife we had and mentally detached myself from what I was about to do - power-walking, knife in hand, thinking this was nothing - other people do it! Vinda was in the shed and fell on her side as I walked in. I dragged her out of the shed to ensure the deed was not performed where the goats ate and slept. I saw Myles looking down from the balcony - I needed him not to be watching. I blocked him out of my vision and performed an act so foreign to me and something I had only seen done once and person, but many times on TV.

Vinda's the one on the right

I think she knew what was going to happen - but that didn't make it any easier - I had to walk away. I went back after 10 seconds to ensure she had died. To my relief I saw Myles walking down the pasture with a spade and he offered to bury her. He dug the hole and I dragged her down to the burial spot. I covered her and walked away.

"I'm going up to the neighbours for a drink, if that's alright?" was all I could muster and Myles just nodded.

After many drinks and cigarettes I came home and found that Fritz (daschund) had injured himself trying to escape - he is still on his bed now. If anything happens to him he will be getting a visit to the vet.

Turkey Drumsticks with Preserved Lemons

Ok well firstly weather wise it has been pretty crappy. It started raining at 1am this morning - and thank goodness! Although the bedroom has air conditioning it was still very warm - Fritz slept at the bedroom door to steal some of that cool air.

There have been having a few issues with some of our other animals. We naively thought that the goats and sheep would keep our grass down - it is now scratching at our nipples in some places and snakes would be all over the place. The grass is so long that there is little nourishment for the poor girls, and 2 boys. Because of this we have lost two sheep in one day! Sad. My solution has been to brush cut the banks and hope the new grass will feed the animals - plus we have been giving special grain and hay to the animals to build their health up. After 3 days I have cut 2% of the grass - I wasn't slack it just takes that long. I can't keep this up so a man with a tractor is going to cut all the grass in 3 hours for just $250 - that might be cheaper than all the fuel I'm using?

On the cooking front I baked a loaf of bread that should last the rest of the week.

STEVE'S BASIC WHITE LOAF

3 1/2 cups of Bakers Flour
2 Tablespoons of Bread Improver
300ml Warm Water
2 Tablespoons of Oil
1 1/2 tspn of Dry Yeast


Add the Dry Yeast to the water and let it sit for 5 minutes, or until it gets frothy.

Put all the dry ingredients into a bowl, and add oil and the yeast formula. Mix well with your hand - I use my hand because it is easier to squeeze the mixture together. I also find that it helps if you have washed your hands - especially after mucking out the goat's shed.

Then tip the mixture onto a bench top and add a little water if too dry, Then knead for about 5 minutes. When the mixture smooth place the ball into the bow and cover somewhere warm until the mixture has doubled. I normally go about my business and suddenly remember I was baking so there is no set time limit.

When it has doubled knead it a little getting rid of the air pockets. Then place in an oiled bread tray, or mould it on a flat tray. Again let it double while your oven heats up to 190 degrees. Then spray some water on the top and chuck it in the oven. 40 minutes later the loaf should be cooked! But slap the bottom of the bread and if it sounds hollow it is really ready.

Cool on a tray or eat it hot and with butter!

You can also add salt to the mixture.


Dinner tonight is this

TURKEY DRUMSTICKS with Preserved lemon

This is it marinating

2 Turkey Drumsticks
1 Preserved Lemon
1 tspn cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped Mint, finely chopped
1/2 cup of Parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup Oil
1 TBSN of Thyme, dry
2 sprigs of Coriander, finely chopped
1/2 cup of Verjuice
2 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped

Marinate the Drumsticks for an hour with all the above ingredients - apart from the verjuice.

Then bron the drumsticks and place them in an oven dish. Pour over the verjuice and chuck in the oven until ready. No idea of the timing of this baby because it is in the oven at the moment.

I should also warn you that I just made this recipe up and it could taste really bad! My partner better comment on it later!

Then add your fav vegies and serve.