ALS members Blogs

The chicks that Big Black Hen left behind are thriving.. they are oblivious to their biological mothers demise or at least it seems so. I say biological mother, but she could be one of approximately 7 others that could claim that title. I will say, for the sake of argument (from whom you might say ?? .. lol) .. the other mothers, hehe.. that she was the hen that sat diligently on those eggs until hatching time.. so she earnt the right to be called their Mama. The Araucana babies.. love the hand. The hand feeds them, waters them.. and also removes the poopy litter (not they have a real care about that) .. they?re main concern is where the next feed is coming from. In the morning, every couple of days I pull out from the ground a fresh clump of grass that I ?plant? in the corner of there...

I had been late to harvest my garlic this year, I was actually late getting it into the garden bed also, so I didn?t think it would mind an extra few weeks in the ground. As it turns out, the recently dug up garlic bed became functional for another use. I dug deeper into the bed base and made the final resting place for one of my favorite hens.. a large, black Araucana. Very sad!Sprinkling some lime around the hole I had dug, I gently put her in position. I covered her in a thicker layer of lime before adding the dirt, as this will deter those foxes from digging her up, as well as help with breaking her decompsing body down quicker.This situation made even sadder for the fact that in her death, she orphaned 6 babies, these chicks being only 24 hours old. Another sad fact is...

Another indication that Spring is here is being able to eat one of my favorite breakfasts ever. It is very simple, but extremely tasty.. If I am not indulging in one of my glorious green, kefir, fruit smoothies, then I am feeding my face with tomatoes!  Yes, tomatoes on toast.. yum.. yum.. yum! I can just see some of you rolling your eyes and saying, ?How boring!? ? but no, you couldn?t be further from the truth! Toasted pieces of rye sourdough, smothered with butter and top with red slabs of sliced tommy?s, NO salt & pepper thanks.. OMG.. thats what I will be doing within the next few minutes.. add to that a large cup of green & nettle tea with raw honey and I am in heaven.It is way to early to be picking them from my own tomato bushes, as the seedlings are only 3 inches...

Whats not to love about it ? New life everywhere.. chicks hatching.. self sown seedlings popping up all over the place.. frogs are spawning.. it all happens in Spring I have been a little lax with my writing of late, I wish to apologise to my wonderfully, faithful followers? Thank you & welcome to my humble blog. Spring brings on a busyness all of its own, without what had already been occupying my life prior.. life changing career aspects, as well as study and my other full-time occupation motherhood I hope to be back writing in a more regular fashion from now on, although, as we know, there are no garuntee?s in life. There has been a new addition of 6 Araucana babies to The Araucana Gypsy clan. Marmalade went broody a couple of weeks before the close of Winter (very early), it was certainly the earliest broody hen for...

Whats not to love about it ? New life everywhere.. chicks hatching.. self sown seedlings popping up all over the place.. frogs are spawning.. it all happens in Spring I have been a little lax with my writing of late, I wish to apologise to my wonderfully, faithful followers.. & this list is growing I might add. Thank you & welcome to my humble blog. Spring brings on a busyness all of its own, without what had already been occupying my life prior.. life changing career aspects, as well as study and my other full-time occupation motherhood I hope to be back writing in a more regular fashion from now on, although, as we know, there are no garruntee?s in life. There has been a new addition of 6 Araucana babies to The Araucana Gypsy clan. Marmalade went broody a couple of weeks before the close of Winter (very early),...

I would like to say a big thank you to those of you who have commented on my first few attempts at blogging. Your encouragement is received graciously and as some have asked.. yes, I am happy to blog about any topic .. actually, I should say most topic?s, I guess.Just bear in mind that what I write about are my views entirely and they aren?t always going to sit well with all individuals that read them. But feel free to suggest away.. you can send me a pm or email at  thearaucanagypsy@yahoo.com.au I do have to say, it is funny though.. the way some people react to the written word. It can be elating for some to realise they are not alone with a particular thought or way of doing a particular deed, where as, the very same words can be like waving a red rag in front of...

I have been known to bend a few rules in the garden, from time to time. For instance having tomatoes in by Cup weekend is a rule of thumb most go by and planting garlic on or before the Winter Solstice..  well, I am still harvesting Sweet Bites, that were planted last December, from a couple of faithful tomato plants, still clinging to life.. and it is almost 2 weeks on the other side of the shortest day. So I?m guessing 2 weeks won?t make much difference to the end result of my garlic that I planted this morning. I only put in around 35 bulbs.. but that will be 35 bulbs less that I will have to buy.. I LOVE my garlic!The green tomatoes will of course take a few weeks to go red, but they will do so eventually. I also noticed that I have many little...

I would like to say a big thank you to those of you who have commented on my first few attempts at blogging. Your encouragement is received graciously and as some have asked.. yes, I am happy to blog about any topic .. actually, I should say most topic's, I guess.Just bear in mind that what I write about are my views entirely and they aren't always going to sit well with all individuals that read them. But feel free to suggest away.. you can send me a pm or email at I do have to say, it is funny though.. the way some people react to the written word. It can be elating for some to realise they are not alone with a particular thought or way of doing a particular deed, where as, the very same words can be like waving a red rag in front of a bull...

After a very pleasant morning of lazing around in bed, I decided I should get up and do something constructive.. dontchya just love school holidays, all you Mums out there.. and I guess there?s a few Dad?s as well ?! I ummed.. and I ahhed.. housework or garden work ?? Well.. silly question really, although I know housework is necessary at times, It is not something I waste too much time with.. I have entertained the thought of indulging and paying someone else to do it, but the thought of someone else going about my personal and very private corners of living, just grates against the very core of my being, besides, it doesn?t take long.. I do a little bit everyday.. well todays little bit might get done tomorrow or later.. whichever comes first The henhouse needed some attention first up.. I threw down some lime on all the...

After a very pleasant morning of lazing around in bed, I decided I should get up and do something constructive.. dontchya just love school holidays, all you Mums out there.. and I guess there's a few Dad's as well ?   I ummed.. and I ahhed.. housework or garden work ?? Well.. silly question really, although I know housework is necessary at times, It is not something I waste too much time with.. I have entertained the thought of indulging and paying someone else to do it, but the thought of someone else going about my personal and very private corners of living, just grates against the very core of my being, besides, it doesn't take long.. I do a little bit everyday.. well todays little bit might get done tomorrow or later.. whichever comes first :) The henhouse needed some attention first up.. I threw down some lime on all...

I have been known to bend a few rules in the garden, from time to time. For instance having tomatoes in by Cup weekend is a rule of thumb most go by and planting garlic on or before the Winter Solstice..  well, I am still harvesting Sweet Bites, that were planted last December, from a couple of faithful tomato plants, still clinging to life.. and it is almost 2 weeks on the other side of the shortest day. So I'm guessing 2 weeks won't make much difference to the end result of my garlic that I planted this morning. I only put in around 35 bulbs.. but that will be 35 bulbs less that I will have to buy.. I LOVE my garlic! The green tomatoes will of course take a few weeks to go red, but they will do so eventually.  I also noticed that I have many little flat...

I was going about my business this morning.. actually I was unloading chook feed from the car. I buy some locally made mixed poultry feed.. $18 a bag, tis good tucker.. the chooks love it. But hey.. I digress.. For a couple of weeks now I have been aware of the Blood plum with buds forming.. This plum normally doesn?t bear fruit until February Each day it seems, the buds would appear more swollen than the previous day.. I found this intriguing as the Winter Solstice came and went.. with this shortest day behind me now, I am eagerly been awaiting the lengthening days with extra sunlight.. not that I dislike cold Winters, quite the contrary actually.. but I do enjoy more natural visibility throughout my days. .. Wheeling the barrow past the plum tree I noticed one solitary white blossom flower.. it is cold today and raining, but the previous...

I was going about my business this morning.. actually I was unloading chook feed from the car. I buy some locally made mixed poultry feed.. $18 a bag, tis good tucker.. the chooks love it. Anyway.. I digress..   For a couple of weeks now I have been aware of the Sanderosa plum with buds forming.. This plum normally doesn't bear fruit until February Each day it seems, the buds would appear more swollen than the previous day.. I found this intriguing as the Winter Solstice came and went.. with this shortest day behind me now, I am eagerly been awaiting the lengthening days with extra sunlight.. not that I dislike cold Winters, quite the contrary actually.. but I do enjoy more natural visibility throughout my days. .. Wheeling the barrow past the plum tree I noticed one solitary white blossom flower.. it is cold today and raining, but the previous week...