It's sprung!

So...in the last few days we have had some rain. Overall we got over 30 mls. The tank at the back of Frogknot fills up quickly as it is fed by part of the roof on Frogknot and the shed roof. As this tank was overflowing we pumped half its water up to one of the tanks at the back of Blue Moon House. Now both the tanks up there are three quarters full which is about 7000 litres in all. A little more rain is forecast over the coming days but we still need a lot more to bring the dam up to normal. The garden is enjoying the water...

The 'Book Cave' Book of the Week.

'Chook' news.

So...here is our flock as it stands at the moment... 

...but there is another...Sheng- Mu, daugther of Mu, raised by Hecate and born and bred here at Frogknot, who is currently sitting on seven eggs which, if Thor has done his job, should hatch round about the 16th October.It's egg-citing!

Spotted Quail Thrush.

So...as well as the snake I also bumped into one of these today, (picture from Pinterest) a Spotted Quail Thrush. I was chasing the flippin' Guinea Fowl back from our neighbours garden when I saw it running along the ground. Later, Will and I saw a pair of them on the hillside. We have never seen them here before. I hope they stay.

'Go in! Go in! Wherever you are!'

So...we have been home about 4 weeks and it is still early spring and already we have seen 6 snakes which is more than we saw all last summer. Will saw one yesterday, as he came home, slithering down towards the dam and I encountered one today as I was out gathering wood for the fire. I was about 2 metres from it before I saw it and it was very agitated so I backed off slowly and ran back for my camera. It had disappeared when I returned.All these snakes have been Red Bellied Black Snakes, highly poisonous, but, if there is a silver lining, they predate on the more deadly Eastern Brown Snakes.It all makes you very wary as you wander about around here. You know they are out there.Heading off to the 'Book Cave' the other day I saw 6 piglets down in the Kiwi Fruit orchard...