Sunday, December 19, 2010

Dirty Men


Andrew Scott MacKenzie and Callvm using the quads to get dirty...


Going


Going


Gone!
Swimming that is...
tm x

Alpaca Prep


Esther from Stanmore Park Alpacas has now been to inspect our island for noxious weeds, potentially harming our pure bred alpacas, Anzac Jack and Joshee, when they come to live with us this week! 
AJ is mine, he is so dark as you can see below on the left and his fleece is so fine, micron count at 18.7 which is very high and makes him very valuable! Joshee's baby photo is on the right though he is much more caramel now and his micron is 16.7! So another good choice! 2 males, remember, with a future stud program going on once we are settled. Cameron thinks Joshee is the man for the job but we will see won't we?!
We now have their pedigree folders and all their details, certificates and the like so we even feel like we know what we are doing! Alpaca breeders though not officially until we get the Alpaca Association to sign off our memberships! Dune Road Alpacas is the name we are applying for as we already own the registered business name. Wicked cocktail sauce sales happening slowly awaiting our online appearance soon!
Esther is madly working on halter training our baby boys so we can manage them easier. The above pen is actually the cattle crush as built by our predecessors and will work well Esther said except for 1 thing! 

Alpacas roll! 

They actually get down on the ground and roll under the fence to escape! Now, where they are going to go on our 168 acres is anyone's guess, the concept of an island being that they can only get so far! Water all around and not keen swimmers either! Yet we don't want them to get injured or bogged, of course, so control is the key and it seems we need to chain mail these timber fences so that's this coming week's job!
Hey, if you want to talk to Esther, here she is! http://www.stanmoreparkalpacas.com.au/contact_us.html
tm x


How to Move Barge in Post Rain Sog Bog


Incredibly, amidst all this incessant rain, we have had a few dry spells and we actively grasp the opportunity to move things from the mainland to our island (supposed) paradise via our barge. 
However, it's stinking heavy and gets bogged!
So the boys' ingenious way to avoid digging her out of the mud is to amortize the massive weight of the Freight Train barge from all weight on 2 trolley wheels and tyres to it spread along thick timbers. They walk along to the sides but between the tractor and FT and place hardwood timbers under the wheels and this spreads the point of contact of 3 tonnes from onto the 2 trolley wheels to over 2.5 metres. Effectively staying on top of the mudholes and using up more surface area. Then, once the tractor has dragged FT over the timber they move it again. Slow going but very successful and easy with 3 men!
Great thinking, Rome was perhaps water logged as well? A yes, the aqua viaduct!
tm x

Sugar for my Sweetheart


Well it's true, Cameron knows and loves me so much, despite all behaviour to the obvious contrary, when he bought me a sweet gift - sugar cane mulch - SUPERSIZED!
Ken, our caretaker, thought Cameron was kidding when he asked him to help out delivering me a gift and was then completely shocked as to how thrilled I was. Ken has never seen my now sold Apex St vegetable garden and the serious produce we enjoyed nightly for dinner. My organic augergines or eggplants to some, were the best you have ever tasted, we even weighed and recorded them they were so shiny and heavy - just like a bought one!
My latest LOCAL NEWS is also that the BEST vegetable seedlings in Brisbane Metro has got to be the Underwood Bunnings garden centre. We decided to exit the wicked peak hour Gold Coast highway traffic the other night and spend an amazing hour amongst and awesome array of established veges including black tomatoes and purple carrots, nice strong roots, shiny green leaves, WOW! 
Now all this rain had a purpose, mulch and melt my sugar cane and grow my sweet veges!
Thank you Bish love toni x


600gms!!
OK so we need to get out more!





Magic 4


Well, Queen of flat pack has been shopping again, proving that whilst I am thinking of 4 fun items for boys, guests and speed freak friends, I am also thinking of my sisters, cocktails, striped towels and lounging! Fantastic 4's rule my life I think. 
These fabulous Adirondack styled loungers are in fact beige, poly 2 pack and aluminum, put together by moi, dreaming of tanning while using my allen key. They are so light too, both to get into the car and barge as well as to carry outside for a lovely day on our seaside lawn. They even have a stripey black and white cushion and a black fitted sheet kind of plastic cover for their own little bit of sun protection. Harvey Norman has seriously tricky outdoor gear like this, I am amazed! AND went along to Bunnings to find a totally matching beige Gazebo to really keep the ice from melting in my Mojito.
Bulla!
tm x

Quad Quads


4 Quad bikes delivered to Horizon Shores marina by awesome Paul of Gold Coast Quads! Why is Paul so awesome? He delivered the 4 quads in that back of his cool Holden ute, put them together onsite, gave us a lesson in the marina car park then helped us drive them onto our "Freight Train" barge. Thank you so much Paul, such service is unheard of in the bike industry, I discovered over the past few months trying to buy these dirty babies. No one wanted to answer any total girl questions, nor had 4 black ones available for Christmas! Paul has spare parks too, safe helmets and so helpful.
Only at Helensvale too!
Here's he who thought it was too excessive for island living, beaming with excitement!
tm x


Callvm, Bish, Ken, our caretaker and Paul, owner of Gold Coast Quads


Lovely Day


Our first sailing visitors, on their way to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race no less. Tony Love and his new baby "Patriot" crew called as they were approaching Tabby Tabby island with a wonderful invitation to enjoy a cold sparkling Shiraz if we sped out in our tinnie and tethered ourselves behind - so we did not lose them any precious time of course! The crew sailed its way to the starting line to the famous race just last week. Here is Stuey, left of Tony, eating mudcrab and Rowan steering below. Cameron supervising whilst sharing our first ever muddie and a delicious sparkling Shiraz. 
We were happily present for "Patriot's" Brisbane launch a few months ago hence our lovely invitation
Thank you Tony, Stuey and Rowan - Good Luck!
tm and cameron

Monday, December 6, 2010

Callvm Cooling off

Last night after mowing, tractoring, jetskiing, lugging, unpacking, boating, yabby pump fixing, grocery shopping and diesel refuelling our generator, Callvm finally got to cool off at our little beach in between downpours!
We love you Cal,
mama x

Airlifting Last Night


After using the jet skiis we lift them with the tractor and store them up in the cattle yards. Cameron rigged up these very tricky lifting jigs and they snap on and off so easily with Callvm on the ground AND in the air helping. 
Boys and their toys? or is it fathers and their sons?
tm x

Where's Dad gone?

Cameron went off to work and Dolce has not moved front the front deck wistfully looking out to the pier! Poor sweetie, he'll be 10 hours including travel time.
tm x

Maxi Movers


How to get everything from the boathouse to the sheds, with many hands on deck as well including Lucky, our butler, and Dolce the best dog in the world. Yes its still raining hence the jackets.
tm x

Hand mowing 168 acres

Callvm arrived late after partying all night prior and offered to mow the lawn, no one thought to tell him that it is 168 acres... OK so after a while anyway! Perhaps it looked like our lawn was just the front bit like it was at Apex St, suburban upbringing.
The tractor is in such rotten condition that even though we did run over the grass with its mower attachment first, the lawn got even worse not better. The mower fitting arms are different lengths so one side digs up the dirt and the other side leaves the grass long! Seriously murdered so Callvm's hand mowing really did make all the difference including his mowing a path for me to not get so dirty on the way to the boat.
Thanks Cal!
mama x

Bucket of Breakkie

What a blast catching this here muddie for breakkie, Cameron's prized screen saver now on phone! Brian Davies, where are you to share? Come on over...
tm x

Breakfast Surprise!

Ecstactic Cameron with our first mudcrab that is not a "jenny" hence edible! Cameron is googling how to tie it up, cook and eat of course as we speak...I wonder how you post a video, better google that too!
Weather not too dry but fun all the same.
tm x

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Our New Baby

Another weekend has gone by and we have added to our island family by buying 2 alpacas on Friday, BEFORE the "wet season" here in Moreton Bay. Meet "Jack" our cria (meaning baby), huacaya (fro style) alpaca. Check out his gorgeous fro, black with a smidge of brown on the top! Jack and I loved each other onsite and happily Cameron got to choose his own new baby as well. He chose a caramel jersey coloured cria called Joshee and he is even smaller than Jack. So cute! Sorry no photo of Joshee here as Cameron was wielding the camera whilst I was cooing hopelessly. No hard nosed negotiation going on here at Stanmore Park Alpacas at Yatala, simply fall in love and pay your money. Actually, Esther the owner of Stanmore, is the most knowledgeable breeder of anything I have struck and one who is also so keen for you to share in her alpaca love that she spills all the beans on how to raise the best alpacas, best pen/fence type, best training tips, best snacks for the most cuddles...this is where I tuned back in to the conversation. Cameron asked all the relevant questions and I honestly did take notes, it was just that I was kind of day dreaming at the same time. 
Finally, my multitasking put to good use!
tm x