Getting things done

It wasn't so bad once I got started, but oh boy, I've been putting this off for weeks. Now I'd love it if everyone I know pays us a visit so I can show off the clean windows at that end of the house.
These windows are very high off the ground and requires balancing on our tallest ladder, so this old girl was pretty pleased with herself after completing the job, with no more difficulty that when I did it last time. (Approx a year ago... sshhh don't tell anyone). You will gather by now that cleaning windows is not high on my list of priorities, but Oh how lovely it is now that it's done.

Morning coffee on the side verandah has become an institution here on weekends. A break from our busy day to sit and watch the cows eating from their hay rack in the paddock before they wander off to one of the grassy paddocks for the day. A time for us to refresh, discuss our plans for the remainder of the day and to appreciate all that surrounds us on our patch of paradise.

The summer time shade cloth has been rolled back to allow the sun to shine on the new winter vegetable plantings. Lots of composted manure and straw was layered onto the soil weeks ago, then topped with mushroom compost.
This is the part of the garden that Brian manages. My part of the garden at the other end is not quite so orderly. I tied up some of the raspberry canes today, but have another two rows to complete tomorrow.
Today he planted onions, garlic, peas, lettuce and bok-choi.  During the past couple of weeks he has planted cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, parsnips and beetroot.
Celery, kale and sweet potatoes are still there from the summer garden, and in the glass house are basil, parsley, capsicums and lettuce.
The pineapple plants are still there too...no pineapples yet!

The last of the tomatoes are ripening on the vines in my kitchen garden closer to the house.  These were the plants that I grew from the cuttings of the first tomato plants that Brian planted in early October. Last year I posted about how to grow new tomato plants from the prunings of tomato plants here.
It was so worthwhile planting that second crop to extend our season of fresh tomatoes, as Brian removed all of his plants weeks ago. One of my favorite simple lunch foods is home made sour dough bread slathered with home made butter and slices of fresh tomato with pepper.  There is nothing like the taste of fresh tomatoes grown in our own garden, and I will extend the season for as long as possible if I can. I flatly refuse to buy a tomato from the shops, and would never ever buy a tomato, or any fruit or veg, out of season.
Last year we tried growing a variety of late tomatoes in the glass house to have them almost year round, but were not happy with the results, so we appreciate the season while it's here.
The butternut pumpkins that I planted in October have ended up completely taking over this small garden, not that I mind at all. The rhubarb still managed to grow well, as did the tomatoes and cucumbers.
Now, you may well ask what those stripy looking pumpkins are, and so do I ask the same question!  This is one of the joys of pumpkin growing as the cross pollination of varieties produces some interesting vegetables and I can tell you that the flavor is butternut sweet and the texture is extra creamy smooth.  What a winner! Now my only hope is that they will be good keepers because I think I've harvested almost a year of pumpkins.
The birth of Daisy's new calf is imminent and we are checking the size of her udder frequently, (like every few hours!) so there will be more news on that in the next blog post.
News came today that the calf that we have ordered from our  friend's dairy farm was born early this morning, an Angas x Friesan  bull calf, which will spend the next couple of days with its mother, drinking the colostrum she provides for her newborn, before we can pick him up and bring him home.
The plan is for Daisy to accept him after her own calf is born, but meanwhile we will bottle feed him with some of Lavender's ample milk supply.
I need to come up with a name for this new arrival. Any suggestions?

Thanks for dropping into Jembella Farm dear reader. Like any letter writer, I love getting your comments, so please don't be shy.
Cheers for now, be well and be content.