What was Cyclone Oswald became a monsoonal event...

The resident weather man advising of the impending arrival of the monsoons had me motivated to be organised, a day in advance to make it to our planned 3 day trip to Caloundra.

He was flat out finishing dry weather jobs and I was thinking all this rushing would chase the monsoons away, of course I was wrong. By Wednesday afternoon the rain had set in and I was trying to secure what I could, including my new much loved hen house or the "Taj Mahen".

Thursday morning, after measuring 84mm, the chooks and dog were sorted, car fuelled, threw the bags in the car and journeyed down the road, notorious in our region for being a terrible road, I was pleased to have my companion with me in the drivers seat.

The trip was fortunately uneventful but over the next 24 hours we decided to cancel our trip south due to wild weather and an early morning phone call from a family suggesting we "abort, abort". At times I think they forget we are adults, but obviously they had our best interests at heart. A couple of nights and Mum & Dad's...a kind of resort in itself!

We also promised the kids we would go somewhere for a couple of nights and the fact that we were unable to get home made that possible. Seaspray Resort at Zilzie Beach is a favourite of ours...

5 days later we made our way home.

We missed all the big water, another blessing and so pleased at how well the road has held up...perhaps my complaining to the council has been effective.

Only to arrive home to find one of my garden trees asunder. As it fell it has avoided the tap and the tractor sprinkler...and most importantly the house!

A venture out to the steer paddocks has seen how big it got, see the line of trash.

The steers will now spend a few weeks up in the timber but they will poke back out when they are ready...

And as for the breeder paddocks, a bit of a rethink on grazing management has enabled us to run the cows in the timber and rest the plain.

And now we have to make a call on the weaning....discussions are impending but calves are looking happy and healthy.

Approximately 300mm, give or take some was the end tally. Very pleased and grateful to receive the rain, better late than never!

Branding has begun...

The boys stepped into their first round of mustering, going out with husband and contractors to muster breeders and brand their calves.

The front of our branding shed is also shaded very well by the big fig trees in the yards.

It has always been practice to muster one day and brand the next morning early in the cool but we have noticed that it is actually cooler come 3/4pm with sea breezes kicking in.

I sent first son off to get some photos while I manned the race,

aren't the colour and texture of the leaves lovely....I assume that is what we are looking at here!

 

This little one came right up so close she dirtied the back of my phone...inquisitive little girl!

 

Their mothers waiting patiently...as we all do.

He has captured this calf beautifully....

Still looking for #summer rain, the powers that be have not co-operated yet!

Bella (beautiful) Italian pasta

With husband and I busy cleaning the house from top to bottom, I deviated slightly to teach Rohan how to make pasta. I did an Italian cooking school many years ago and rarely do I find the time to make pasta but oh let me tell you when I do, I really wonder why I don't make the effort.

A good handful of flour (or 5 in my case),

make a well and crack eggs into centre,

Gently draw the flour into the eggs, mixing with a fork,

Knead adding more flour as you go, until dough has elasticity. You cannot over do the kneading but you can over do adding more flour.

My new pasta maker makes life easy,

He made the mince earlier and the best tip to tasty tomato mince is cook it for a long time and always add sugar to neutralise the acid.

The best Lasagna we have ever had.

Fun in the Sun.....

A quick mow,

an even quicker clean up,

the beach was calling, cowboy hats of course an absolute necessity in our part of the world,

but they didn't last long...

looking like an ironman,

there was plenty of motion on the ocean, not at all good for boating or beach fishing,

 Rubbish from the ocean, always disappointing, but a quick collection,

then saw us heading for home....

love the big blue!