More pruning....

More pruning...block 4 is done, though in this pic I'm only halfway with it It took me 3 days :-( The rain chased me out on day 2 so I couldn't finish it. I had to climb the mountain the third time...good exercise...not that I need any more extra...I'm walking the rows all year long.
Block 3 has some left to prune and we are nearly finished with Block 1 and 2. Any system to why here a bit and there a bit? you ask...yes, they are at different growing ages, different varieties and I try to influence budburst with the timing of the pruning.
It's not officially Spring yet :-) Not here at St Imre. To be official we need:
1. The Apricots to open their pink and the Wattles their yellow blossoms.
2. The Red Robin to start singing. (this he already started)
3. The Swallows to arrive. (this is expected around the 3-rd of September)
4. Us to finish pruning. (who knows when that will happen this year...)
Now we are off to go under the knife again. The Master will see... (No, he will not really SEE while operated on)...the surgeon to get his new left lens.

Will this rain ever stop?

Today I've been pruning in the rain :-(( I can't wait with the job until the rain will stop. It's not warmer yet but spring is around the corner and I'm about halfway through the pruning.
The younger plum already started to flower and the tulips are out As you can see, the weeds are flourishing too :-) No way you can do anything in this MUD!
Lucky, Paul finished putting half of upstairs under roof. In no rain:

In rain:
Looks funny boarded in with no windows and only the front done yet but we are getting there....
The Master is working on the stairs 12 steps will lead to the upper level. Some modification needed...he miscalculated something (yes, it happens to the best of us) :-)))...the young males in our family are over 1.86 m, he doesn't want them to bow their head going to the bathroom.
We went to give the herd their 'biscuits' this morning and the bulls were very reluctant to come. This was VERY unusual. They used to thunder down the hill first...count...10, 11, 12...who is mooing there? Everybody is here. Lizi IS thinner...tits empty...backside swollen...run around the fence...there it was !!!!! New baby calf :-), another little brown teddy-bear wobbling on very new, long legs, looking for mum :-))))

The Herd

Eszter ask to see the Herd :-)
Here they are, the 12 of them. They are doing well this winter, there is enough food to graze but they are getting "biscuits" too :-)) They love to eat the hay when it is cold. When they hear the ute coming, we get a few mooo-s signaling that they see us and they are THINKING :-) It takes a few minutes to process the information :-)) then everybody come running down the hill. It's impressive -and mildly frightening- how this several hundred kg thunders down on you. I always think... what if the brake will fail one day? :-)) but they inevitably put on the brakes... all 4 of it... and just centimeters from the thin, white line (the electric fence distancing us from them)... they skid to a knee-deep, muddy halt.
Sometime the bulls play-fight a bit on the way down :-) then around the hay bales there is some jostling, head pushing, horn pocking, [Only Fergus has horns. Interestingly -I expected the horn to be a dominant trait- none of his babies has it. We might be breading the Poll Highland :-) ] shoulder toss to establish ranks and decide who eats at what spot.
Here Peter has his curly head, Ibi hiding behind mum Ili.
Peter, the young bull
Fergus of Lachlan Mohr
Jazmin of St Imre :-)
and a more model photo
Lizi and the last baby,
Lenke De Sheep :-))

Pruning and house building

Paul started building the house. We have to move up there ASAP. Hardly wait....Here are some pics on the progress:
Old roof coming off:
First section of the master bedroom:
View from the master bedroom :-)) it's a bit (very) dirty at the moment but...this window will be a Gothic one, like the ones at the front. other window here:
bathroom and corridor: going down to the other 2 bedrooms. Skylight for lounge and my secret storage space:
New roof structure started:
It was variable weather today so don't expect artistic photos from me :-)) I've been pruning all day, couldn't get bothered to look for right angles for the pics. My hand is still holding up, no pain yet...Chris and Candy helping pre-prune the old ones
they are doing a very good job! Thanks! Look how much they've done already...here block 1 with mama ducky who ALWAYS can get out: and here's DONE:

Paul's eyes are a bit sensitive still, he has to wear the sunglasses while working, but so far so good.
Finished another paper on OH+S. Not quiet...still 2 more pages to go but at least I know where I'm going with it and done all the research. Geeezzzz, I HATE essay writing! Did I tell you before? :-))) 3 more to do soon :-(( just the ones we know about yet...I'm not complaining though. I really love school! Pat me on the back, because I didn't have to resubmit the Communication one and I'm a veritable expert now on fire hazards and even done an evacuation plan for the business :-))
It's time to put some food on the table. Bon appetite! And Anica and Craig...yes we are thinking of you when we'll rise the glasses tonight :-)