Finally.... Back to Paradise.

All I can say today is that I am pleased it is Friday and that coming home the 20 minute drive through the Orara Vally to the farm was a real pleasure. Its been a full on week with a large mix of clients but along with some good sales, it was one of those weeks where I was mostly doing things that needed my attention but wasn't making enough money.

Well, I am now enjoying a glass of wine, having had a lovely dinner up at Mum & Larry's place and then came home and before the light faded, dug a little more of the base of Jasper's Sandpit and then covered it with shade cloth to be pegged down in preparation for tomorrow, the Inaugural Official Sand Pouring. (Smooth White Bush Sand free of salt or chemicals........a kids dream)....... one thing I did learn in the process of building this sandpit was that it will definitely need a cover, as before I had even finished the cats had obviously thought to themselves "Wow a big kitty litter"..... boy are they wrong. So I have this vision for a 2 door lid that is securly hinged to each side and when they open up they will make 2 great ramps for playing on as well as making sure that there are some air gaps to allow sand to dry out.....beautiful.

This weekend is also set to be a busy one with a fair bit of mowing on the tractor and the ride on, working my way around the large dam and the fence lines around the centre of the property. I must say that those times out there in the breeze with the sun I really enjoy the time to think and also the privilege of being able to get to know every square metre of the property personally.

I checked on the trees planted in the orchard this afternoon and about 80% of the Tagasaste that we planted is doing well which is good. They will grow into great big bushes 3-5m tall and they both bring bees in because of white fragrant flowers but also make wonderful forage for cows, pigs, chickens, goats and so on as well as being great for coppicing as firewood. The tree seedlings we planted a few weeks ago have virtually all come up now, including much more of the Tagasaste, Carob, Pidgeon Pea and some Acacia which will mostly all be ready to plant as we get closer to Autumn when it will be cooler and the little trees will manage to get settled better in the "Big World" of the orchard. I also saw some Red Cedar and Silky Oaks that someone was selling along the Pacific Highway for $1.5o each for developed seedlings about 50cm tall so I have some of those to plant this weekend as they are ready to go in. One of the things that I really must do is have the gentleman that helps in planning irrigation systems come round so I can consult with him about all the different systems I want to put in because hand watering has now become too big a job. (I had to build a makeshift mobile watering mobile with a tank on the back of the ute and a 5m hose coming off that gravity feeding and driving around the orchard) however because the trees are planted fairly close together in sun pockets facing north it is hard to get in and around them....... however..... anything for the trees. ( I have a vision of the future where instead of when we arrived to cleared paddocks, we will soon be walking around our own private food forest and sitting under the trees in our espaliered apple tree circle or walking along the pathway to the large dam, over to duck island and then casting a line into our dam filled with fish while sitting under the shade of a big old tree.)

I am also going around to see a friend who is a great excavator and run through the planning I have done for the completion of the roadway running from Orara Way right through to the house and around the driveway and then along to the stables as well as doing inside the large farm shed. Its a major project that also involved electrician putting lights down the driveway and out to the road where the farm sign is and then lighting in the large shed. Another bloke is going to install 3 automatic shed roller doors.... I can see it now...... all machinery, tractor, tools, wood and all manner of paraphernalia perfectly stored to enable maximum productivity and access. I also have a plan to build a 10 metre workbench using railway sleepers as heavy set legs and a large wide benchtop that will mean we can really lay out the projects we are working on and I will have enough space to set power tools permanently in place.....and now to dream (I can imagine one day having a second level built into the shed and the upstairs area being turned into the farm office and library complete with fridge and pool table and windows looking out over the farm, couches and air conditioning...... oh yeah)

Ok.... I think its time to settle into a good movie...... Speak Soon.