We started shearing last week. We always start on the shipper wethers. We will finish those tomorrow and then have a week off before starting the rest of the sheep.
So it has been all go here.
The weather has been very pleasant. Not too hot, in fact quite chilly in the mornings and evenings, necessitating thick coats for motorbike travel.
I don’t mind, I actually dread the really hot weather.
But at least we have no daylight saving this year. (Yah!)
I have been running the dogs fairly hard to keep them fit, except for Pixel who is still a bit small to keep up.
She has started working but is very full on and not happy in a small area so I have been working her in a bigger yard with Driftz as backup. However as she is so full on she tends to chase the sheep everywhere and of course I have no stop so things are a bit hectic.
So I have decided to leave here for a couple of months and then try her in a small area again.
She is going through a fearful period at present. Most things are scary, which means she barks at a lot at things (most of the night too) so I think she needs to grow up a bit more.
This lovely shot was taken by Sam.
Yindi is shaping into a very good paddock dog and had a go in the yard at jetting time and has no fear of diving underneath the sheep and getting in to shift them.
She is too full on to trial yet so will do a year of farm work first then perhaps she will have learned to settle.
Balto has fired up now after going through a softish period where he didn’t want to take pressure and I’m having to get firmer with him, although he doesn’t do a lot wrong. He is showing a fair bit of force but has done no real yard work yet. Soon I hope to try him on a big mob as I think he is ready to do some driving work.
Leena is a great flock dog and I will do some trialing with her but try to make it fun with no pressure at all and see how she goes. She has brilliant natural talent but switches off under pressure. This may change as she gets older. She is a very smart dog and knows how to get away with things so we are working each other out.
My chickens are thriving, Sam spends a lot of time hand feeding them so they are getting very tame. Fascinating creatures chickens, but like sheep, will find a way to get into trouble, or get out or get stuck anywhere, so we have to rescue them from time to time.
The peacocks have started the mating calls, all day and most of the night.
I am used to them so it does not bother me much.
The peahens are not laying yet, a bit late this year but shouldn’t be long and we can start nest hunting.
The grass is drying off fast, and grasseeds are appearing. So whenever we run the dogs we have to check them all for seed, particularly in the ears and between the toes.
Driftz and Balto have both had a haircut. Driftz is no trouble but Balto was none to happy about it.
After he tried to bite the clippers a couple of times, I got a bit firm with him and to his credit he stood like a rock with his tail between his legs and allowed me to tidy him up.
He drew the line however at me trimming his tail too much so I let it go. I usually give a follow up trim when the weather gets really hot.
The wildflowers were not the best this year, but we did get a few spider orchids and roo paws among the blue lechanaultia.
One trial left this year, At Albany. We will be shearing so hopefully I can make it. Will wait and see.
| 
