My poor baby chickens.

My poor baby chickens have been looking rather out of sorts during the past few days.  On closer inspection, I found little wart like lumps on their eyelids and beaks.  With a lot patience and a lot more research, I now know they have Fowl Pox.  This is transmitted by mozzies and open wounds.  If they get through this and don't suffer any secondary infections, it will mean immunity for life.  There are two strains of the Foul Pox,  Dry and Wet.  Sadly my babies have what I suspect is Wet.  The lesions are also showing inside their tiny beaks, so constant vigilance is now important to get them through.  The Wet Pox strain can cause problems drinking and eating.  If this occurs I will have to then feed t 

myself and give them fluids via a syringe.  In the long run they will be worth it as they will be a much stronger bird.  One Eye has no lesions showing and I feel it is possible she had this infliction herself as a chick.  I actually got her when she was 3 months old, so can't track her history.  Meanwhile I have returned the babies to the big bird cage in our house yard to provide special care.  Thankgod for the internet and all the wonderful information we can derive from it.

Back 2 Basics Expo in Kyabram 2011

Well, my life became quite a whirlwind starting on Tuesday night.  I had been emailing back and forth with WWOOF Australia about the possibility of them having a booth at the Back 2 Basics Expo here in Kyabram.  The biggest issue for them was the distance they would need to travel.  My solution was to offer my services in setting up and manning the booth for the 2 day event.  They were pleased to accept and sent me the official pamphlets, bookmarks(giveaways) and a banner for the backdrop.  I then spent the next 3 nights at the laptop arranging 4 photos to a page, totalling 4 pages. After printing them, I cut them into individual pictures and on a poster sized sheet of card layed them out, along with the names of the WWOOFers in them and their country of origin. I also made a third poster with some handy hosting hints, set up a display using a glass head, hat, fly veil, mozzie repelent and sunscreen to show we need protect those we host from our harsh elements. I organised a small, basic first aid kit  and a display of organic produce to add to the look of the booth.  Once all was in place, there was little to do but wait for the crowds to roll in.  I then found myself busy answering people's enquiries and sharing my hosting experienc from the last 4 years(almost).  This has been a great opportunity for me to give a little something back to the WWOOF association for all the support, encouragement and time they give to managing this fantastic set up.
I will keep hosting as long as I am able to put shovel to dirt, for all the joy it brings through cultural exchanges and the lovely people I get to meet.



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A nifty use of an old bookcase.

After tripping over my garden tools for months, having marauding moggies knock them down and finding that my beloved sons were leaving them lay around the property, I took things into hand.  A few days ago while fossicking at the op shop in Echuca, I came across a bookcase that had no shelves.  Now, being the bilateral thinker that I am, my mind went into overdrive.  So after parting with $7.50 for the book case, Number 2 son and I squeezed said book case into my rice bubble car and made our way home.  It has been on the verandah waiting for me to finish the project for the few days since, so today while in town, I bought a hole saw and measured out the spacing to drill holes for my garden tool handles to slide through.  Allowing 10cm between each of the holes to allow room for hands and no cuts or grazes while getting tools out.  Then after attaching the hole saw to my lovely big impact drill, I set to drilling out the holes.  The old book case now has two rows of 9 holes and sits proudly on my verandah with most of the tools in place.  Next week I intend to buy a couple of hooks to put one end and hang the pruning shears and secatuers, as well as a bigger hook for the other end to hold the spade and garden fork.  Another job done and less mess to look at.