And So It Begins

The yearly gathering of our garlic has begun. This blog is a bit late this week as I have been busy mowing the couple of acres our home is sitting on. We are expecting rain soon and it needs to be cut before it gets completely out of control.

Rob shows off one of the bulbs he has just processed. They are looking beautiful and white in the late afternoon sun.

They will be ready for sale in a couple of months as they need to dry out first and develop their delicious Russian Garlic flavour. This is going to keep up busy for quite a while now as we estimate that we have at least a ton of garlic in the ground here.

Speaking of dogs, I am relieved to say Maggie is fully recovered from her brush with tick paralysis. Here she is back to her old self, smiling for the camera.

According to the vet, for the next six weeks she isn't allowed to go up the back paddock with Rob and Molly to ensure no more ticks latch on during this vulnerable stage. We check both her and Molly every day anyway, but I am happier to have Maggie sitting with me.

I rescued this guy below from the side of the road last week. He didn't hesitate to run over to me and to jump in the back of the car. After 5 days of 5 star luxury and much advertising about the place we find out he is in fact a working dog off a farm. He had gone walkabout and obviously had no idea why he was being pampered at a strangers house! We found the owners in the end and they were very pleased to see him again. Apparently he is a particularly talented working dog and worth thousands.

He was a really lovely boy and to be honest I was a little disappointed when he had to go home. I even named him....yes I know.... I had decided to foster him though with a local shelter until a new home could be found if his current owners weren't discovered.

Here we have Molly modelling one of the Liquid Ambar trees I planted last Autumn. They are growing beautifully showing plenty of healthy growth. 
During the week I went to Daleys Nursery to look at some shade trees for the paddock. I came home with six White Gums, three Claret Ash and one Mango tree for the fruit orchard.

Here is a group shot of all the newbies. The 3 Claret Ash are the tall ones at the back, the Mango on the left and the smaller White Gums at the front. Traditionally the Ash tree is considered to represent the feminine principle and is called 'sister', 'granny' or 'mother'. In old folklore it is known as 'The Lady of the Woods'.

It is time I got back to peeling garlic so I will leave you with this photo of my Mandala painting.

Have a terrific weekend and be sure to do what you love the best.

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