UK Grandparents visit Tassie #2

A visit to 'steamfest' in Sheffield (Tasmania) was the only day it decided to rain!

With his parents over from the UK, Hubby and I did lots of traveling around the most scenic spots in Tassie.  Of course, 3y old grandson thoroughly enjoyed the days out!

UK Grandparents visit Tassie #1

 

In Hobart

Sorry that I have been MIA over the last few weeks, we were enjoying a visit from Hubby's parents from Leicestershire UK.  We did as much (day) travels as we could manage over three weeks with a 3y old in tow.  Little man certainly enjoyed all the attention and the spoils (hot chips and chocolates).

Boys of all species

Not very 'summery' weather here, and only a few hot and humid days so far! We had a few days of gorgeous sunshine (and sweltering temperatures) so we headed for the beach to take a break from the farm.

Deep breath and into the ring I go... Royal Hobart Show

No photos sadly - but I did it!!!!

Well, I did it!! I ended up in the ring at Royal Hobart Show, showing some beautiful Suri's for Lori of Spring Rise Alpacas.

Royal Launceston Show 2013

Hello, sorry that my blogging is a little sporadic lately - with shows, birthdays and mini-breaks to Melbourne I haven't had too much time.  Firstly I have to say that the weather has been diabolical! Apparently following the driest summer every recorded for Tasmania, has been the wettest winter! Until today we still had the wood fire burning all day, and it has not...stopped...raining!!

Lots to do...and doing lots...

The worst paddock

Well..I know..but I've been busy! We had soil samples taken of the paddock and received the results back a couple of days later.

WooHoo! Spring in Tassie :)

Magnolia in the rain

Flowering apple tree

Yay...although we still have the fire on mornings and night (will I ever get used to being cold?)...it is WARM during the day! I'm not the only one who just wanted to enjoy the sun either...

Easter/birthday post

As well as it being Easter, it was my birthday :)  2y.old was very happy this weekend, although he had trouble understanding that it wasn't his 'Happy', it was mine! He soon cheered up with his Easter eggs!

STILL dry - halter training begins

Tegan- lead for first time.

Some of our girls are re-mating, and although it is quite late, I am wondering if it is the drought is affecting them?  We manage to get some of them to a third spit-off, and then they decide to sit for the stud!  One of two girls is a maiden, and after researching, I am wondering if she is just confused (i.e follows the girls who are spitting him off, then follows suit with another female who obliges)?

HOT (dry) and bothered!

Husband feeding hay to Hamish and Sherman

We STILL haven't had any decent rain - just 5ml in the last month puts us at the driest February since whenever and I am over it!  The farm looks like Perth (WA), all dry and crispy, maybe we brought the weather with us?  We have gone through half of our hay bales already, so I am worried about what we will do for winter, and there still isn't any rain on the radar!

UK Granddad and beautiful Tasmania #2

Pademelon (wallaby)

We didn't get photos of everywhere we went over the last two weeks, but here are some more of Granddad and lovely Tasmania...

UK Granddad, stud manicures and beautiful Tasmania #1

Granddad Pat taking Hamish for a walk

We have had Husband's Dad staying with us for two weeks, he sadly left us to return to Leicester UK on Saturday.  We visited lots of places around Tasmania, but we also got the Alpaca's manicures completed with his help! Granddad learnt a lot about Alpacas, but the cows and chickens were his favourite, they don't have the attitude problems that our pregnant girls have!

Where there is smoke...

Hills obscured by bushfire smoke

Although we are out of the way of the 'uncontrolled' fires, we still have several fires burning close to us.  Today was very bad for haze and then smoke.  So bad, we had to close up the house.  If you usually read the blog, you will usually see the clear view around the property.  Today, everything had a yellow tinge and the view to the mountains and hills was obscured by smoke.

Bush fires - sweltering temps

Oh dear! Just a quick one...we have four HUGE raging bushfires across Tasmania at the moment.  Thousands of poor people have evacuated to nearby beaches, and my heart goes out to those who have lost everything, including livestock. Tasmania is mainly World Heritage wilderness, and is one of the three largest remaining temperate wilderness areas in the Southern hemisphere.

Views of Launceston, Tasmania

First Basin at Cataract Gorge Launceston, Tasmania

Thought I would just show you all some pictures of what we got up to between Christmas and New Year...this is beautiful Launceston, Tasmania.

Baby wombats (joeys)

First thing in the morning...

We were able to go to Playgroup before 2y.o came down with his latest cold (and has cut all four molars at the same time - not much sleep to be had in our house!).  Our friend at playgroup comes with his Grandma, who also takes in and assists native animals in trouble.

A visit to the museum/art gallery Launceston

Cast - Me (Mum), 18y.o Daughter, 15y.o Son, 23mth old Son

Starring - Grandma and Granddad

Granddad and 23mths at the Museum

School holidays warranted a trip to the local museum and art gallery, and we were able to entice the grandparents along.  We drove into town (Launceston), armed with 23mth's pram and not much confidence that he would stay in it very long!

A visit to Weymouth beach

Cast - Me (Mum), Husband, 18y.o Daughter, 15y.o Son, 23mth old Son.

Daughter & 23mths - Weymouth Beach

It is school holidays, and I thought we would take a trip to the beach.  You can imagine that this is not very exciting for the older two kids, they have been bought up by the beach, but I wanted to see what Weymouth was like and to show 23mths.

A long weekend in Hobart - Day 2

Cast - Me (Mum), Husband, 18y.o Daughter, 15y.o Son & 23mth old Son

Day two - began with a leisurely breakfast (well as leisurely as it can be with a toddler who, like a time bomb, could go off at any moment).

A long weekend in Hobart Day 1

Cast - Me (Mum), Husband, 18y.o Daughter, 15y.o Son & 23mth old Son

(As I have lots of photos to share, I will write this blog over a few 'days')

"Some' of Hobart - the view from Mt Wellington

Well, we made it and the weather was beautiful!  Warm sunny days allowed us to spend most of our time outside :)  It takes 2.5 hours to cross Tasmania, from Launceston to Hobart, and 23mths made it all the way without napping OR stopping.  We did take the laptop and have 'Happy Feet' and of course 'Thomas' on the way which helped!