Hellebores

Eff. We're approaching four months with Matilda and I'm only just getting another pic up on here. I'll get there eventually. I am obsessed with my child. I still can not stop looking at her... It could be worse. My garden (which I also look at all the time but weep) is hanging in there despite its current neglect. I thought I'd break the baby trend and include a picture of the garden in winter - the hellebores are flowering like no ones business under the Manchurian Pear tree and have created a little pocket of heaven amongst the rambling mess.
I bought the hellebores from a gorgeously presented company called The Post Office Farm Nursery, and they arrived in a box in the mail looking lovely and healthy.

Right now, the roses are absolutely covered in little buds of promise, and among them are self-sown sweet peas and delphiniums. The may bushes are out in full bloom looking so lovely with their crisp white flowers against the young green growth of the garden in spring. There are still many holes to fill, but for now there are little moments of wonderfulness to keep me happy. One day they'll all come together and make a collective picture of a garden. Here's hoping.

Matilda 4 weeks old

Time flies. I now work to a 24-hour cycle. My 'day' is day and night mooshed together and if I know what day of the week it is, that's a bonus. The month? Well, then I'm on fire. Someone hose me down. Pics of Matilda around the four week mark.

Matilda

This is our bundle of cuteness. Little Matilda keeps The Farmer and I smiling (and guessing) everyday. Even at 3am when she beams a smile at you from her moses basket, you can't help but laugh with her. Such an inappropriate time to think something funny - there in the dark, half asleep and you think you have her out for the count... when she'll slowly open her eyes and smile a smile big enough to make you melt.

Beef Bonanza

We've made a little history at Pine Hill recently. The inaugural cow carve-up happened in April where we slaughtered and butchered one of our own just in time for tasty winter dinners. We have SO much meat. From the 225kg cold weight carcass, our friends at Flint Street Butchers, top, carved 180kg of delicious grass-fed Pine Hill Angus beef for the fridge. Needless to say we have lots of sausages and mince. I had a lot of fun chatting to Mick and John (pictured) and Chris about different beef cuts, and the old fashioned way of butchering versus the quick-cuts of the modern market. The carcass was hung for a fortnight before butchering, so the meat is lovely and tender. I don't think I'm biased - my foodie aunt has confirmed its superior quality after cooking a 4kg whole piece of rump. If The Shaz is happy, then it must be good.

Cropping 2010/11

The wheat crop from sowing to harvest in the front paddock better known as "Scrubby". Molly, Huckleberry and I would often visit Scrubby on our morning walk to see Gregory's progress (Gregory is the variety of wheat).

Springtime Reflections

The garden in spring 2010. A hard winter prune and grey clouds as sprinklers made for a very happy garden. Mild temperatures saw the roses hold their colour and fragrance much more than past springtimes, and most of the flowers between them are self-sowers from last year.

Summertime

Top picture shows Gibba Hill in November 2010 - one year on (to the day, thanks G!), looking a little different to the view twelve months earlier.

Middle pic is of the chooks leaping a metre into the air to eat a fig temptingly dangling from its branch.

Bottom pic introduces The Duckies - this is as close as they'll get at the moment. With some more bread feeding sessions, I hope they'll eventually eat out of our hands. It took them ages to pluck up the courage to even leave the yard.

Hiding Out

To be honest, when life paused in its constant state of nausea last September (yep, baby on its way), I didn't anticipate this much time to slide by between blog entries. But it's true that only now do I feel like I'm able to indulge in the time to write here and collate lovely pictures. Thank you for being patient. I am alarmed at how much can happen in six months.

At the end of September I finished my work and final deadline at the wonderful world of Vogue Living - I miss the office every now and again, but interestingly enjoy reading the magazine so much more. That glossy is pretty spectacular every issue.

October passed with spontaneous chucking and November saw the start of harvest - and rather importantly our first wedding anniversary. December came, and so did the rain. Wheat was franticly taken from paddocks as the flood water chased into the flood course. It was like living by the seaside. Birds were everywhere. Tractors got bogged - headers too. Throw in a Sydney Christmas while rain continued to stop and start. Eventually, harvest was in the bag by the end of January. February was hot, but not for too long - the garden held on well. We introduced some new members to the Pine Hill extended family - five Pekin ducklings - think Jemima Puddleduck. They're quite funny things and have somewhat stolen the limelight from the chooks. They're big now - and its easy to se why they're bred for eating - they look delicious... Kylie Kwong's crispy skinned duck is currently waddling around the garden.

And so here we are in March. The Farmer is preparing the cottage for the arrival of our baby girl due the last days of May (her plasticine-like portrait at 24 weeks, above. Some screw up their faces at such images, but for me, I am completely blown away by what technology can show us). I vow now that this blog wont become a gushing gooey baby fest, but I am learning that hormones are completely out of one's control.

Enough words, now for some pictures. The next few entries are some snap shots from happenings on the farm over the last six or so months.