Bee Happy ....

Today we took delievery of our first ever bee hive.  Our friends whom happen to be neighbours, were the inspiration we needed to take the plunge.  It was a visit to their farm and seeing everything set up and operating that helped us decide, plus the fact that they are only a phone call away should we run into trouble.



Checking to make sure the box will sit height enough on the stand

Under instruction - removing the tape

The bees are released - Welcome to your new home

Welcome home new little bees, and like proud parents we have spent the better part of the morning watching them and then invited our friends in for a coffee and extracted more information from them (and they thought we were just being neighbourly.....;)

Solar hot water update ....  Yesterday it was overcast and raining so we flicked the switch back on but just for the day (the 1st time since installing it), it is off again now.   The water heats up during the day so come night time there is oddles of hot water, the mornings are not quite the same.  Up till last Friday during the morning I thought you could get one shower and have enough water for washing up, ok well that's all we need, can live with that. 

The test came when it was a shopping day and us girls wanted to pretty ourselves up as well, which included hair washing.    So what happened?  Did anyone blame the other for using all the hot water?  Who was the sucker that drew the shortest straw and had to go last???? As it turns out we had enough hot water for all, still needed to mix in cold water. This actually surprised me.

A milking update ....  A couple of you lovely ladies have asked what I do with all the milk I am getting from our heifer.  Well to be truthful, I only milk her once in the morning and then only milk the front two quarters (as this is about 2 to 3 litres) and then put the calf on her.  In the pm the calf is allowed to have it all and then is let out in the paddock for a time to run and eat. 

The bales and the calf are still in the yards which has worked quiet well to date, But it is now time for change and a calf paddock is right up there on the list.

Garden update ... The net over the strawberries is working and I have been able to make one jar of strawberry jam and have almost enough berries to make another jar.

The tomato plants now have small tomatoes forming so I will be making the covers to go over these beds as well, although this time I will not be so lousy and add a little extra length making it easier to secure down with the bricks.

On the farm we are busy harvesting ginger, sorting and soon will be planting.  It is hot and dusty work but at least we have no trouble falling to sleep at night  .......... LOL

We flicked the switch .... the trial begins

Our last shopping trip, prior to the fires, was something that we both enjoyed (surprised??).   We were like two kids at Christmas, excited and happy.  You see we have had two goals in mind for a while and this trip we were able to go ahead and purchase the things needed to implement our goals, it was a remarkable day (mark that one on the calendar!)

Goal number 1 - After relocating our house and surviving an inside and out reno, once we received our final approval it was tools down.  So after alot of figuring, we were able to get everything we needed to collect our storm water.  (probably inspired by our DSIL whom DH helped to set up their water pipes for the shed about 2 weeks before) Anyway the day before DS headed back the boys got it all done.  We will now be able to collect all the rain water from the house, yeh!!!  (A major step)



Getting ready to lay the pipe. 

In goes the pipe.



Goal number 2 - (Its a big one) After setting up solar panels to feed back into the grid, the next step was to go solar for our hot water.  Presently our hot water is contributing to more than half our power bill. 

So we took the plunge.  We got the kit from here www.runonsun.com.au and by going this way we could incorporate our existing hot water tank.  There is however, two things that I would like to add before you all run off and buy one!  Firstly we thought that the kit would include everything needed, not so.  Add another couple of hundred for the extras.  Second, don't even attempt doing this yourself if you haven't any know how about plumbing (took DH a few days to get up and running)

Now having said that, (drum roll....) we turned the mains power off to the hot water system a few days ago.  Just like when we had the solar panels installed we needed to review how to best utilize the system and changed our ways accordingly, the same for the solar hot water system.  If needed we can always flick the switch back on again, no drama.   So the trial begins .................................................  I'll keep you posted.

  

 

 

A smokin' week......

 

This was the view from my back yard on Monday.  So once again our house was thrown into kaos as we stepped into fire fighter mode.  DS (the recent fledgling) took time off work (without pay) to come home and lend a hand. (God bless him)

 

 

Although we (personally) weren't in real danger the fire did come close through the course of the week, that's our fence line you can see.

 

 The great bunch of guys and gals that make up our local brigade gave it their all and battled the wildfire, burning back to save dwellings and structures.  There were a few early mornings and a lot of late nights where conditions were more favourable to burn back into the wildfire.

 

 

Rural Firies on the job.

 

 

Back burning from Mooney road

 

 

Burning back into the wildfire. DS with the drip torch getting ready to burn in another line.

 

After a full week of hard yakka in mountainous country they were able to get it under control and mother nature lent a hand by sending in the rain to dose it out completely.

 

On ya guys!