Mischa

it's been a long time...

well the drought last summer was a bit of a killer, all watering was banned...although like many others I did sneak out for a bit of moonlit watering,
this summer I gave the gardening a miss and grew just one sunflower.

It may have also had something to do with the fact that I had a new job doing 12hr shifts and the time or energy for garden was GONE!! However that doesnt mean that there's been nothing going on in the garden.

The kittens have all grown up. Sadly one has died, but the rest are thriving and all the mice that were plaging us for ages have been dealt to. No more problems there.

And I talked in my last blog about animals and chickens, and that's now a reality. We aquired two young goats that do a wonderful job of mowing the back section, and are proud owners and 7 chickens. (two of whom have turned out to be roosters!)

The chickens aren't laying yet, just about old enough now, and the roosters have just started crowing. But a dream I've had for years is finally being realised.
Over the summer we built a coop. After a settling in period, the cat's goats and chickens all get on really well in their own way and live very harmoniously together...which is cool

Mischa

Mischa was still very young when she became a mum, but she handles it like a pro. I think she looks very regal in this photo.

Animals are cool

For me animals are as much part of the pleasure I get from my garden as the plants. I enjoy just watching them play, seeing them so full of life and energy, their natural exuberance is inspiring, and the garden is a lovely place to sit and watch nature doing its thing. I hope someday we will have more animals in our garden, chickens especially, even a sheep or a pig.

Hide 'n Seek

The Kittens have been enjoying playing in the tyre gardens. They love to play hide and seek in the nastursiums

It's been RAINING!!!! and the now sun's come out :-)

The word "drought" has been used a lot lately, but the last couple of nights it's rained just enough to take the edge off, and today it rained lightly for most of the day. The garden has sprung back to life and the sunflowers especially look stunning.

Life in the garden

It's been over a month since my last post. Everythings been growing, but a water shortage has meant that water has to be rationed and were recycling water for the garden. There shouldnt ever be a water shortage here, because when it rains it pours, and the current dry spell has reminded me that we need our own water tank to collect water when it does rain so that the garden isn't dependant on town supply. We've had visitors since I last blogged, my sister and her kids camped in the garden, and the kittens have been venturing outside and enjoying their new playground outside. My sons 21 yr old brother has been staying, (his half brother same dad, different mum) and he's bought his dog, so lately the garden has been a more social place, wih lots of people and animals. The extra dog has meant I've had to install a fence and gated the back yard to keep the animals in. what I didnt count on was my cats becoming attack cats and chasing Mr Dog, (the 'fierce' pitbull) whenever he tried to pass their family to get to the back yard. So the dogs havent been able to enjoy the backyard as much as I'd have liked. While the kittens are having a fantastic time exploring and climbing everything and anything.