So much going on in April. Property and pet care has kept me very busy and away from the sewing machine for quilting projects. Nothing like the productivity of last April.
Holidays - swimming in the cold, heated and spa, Armidale, Dorrigo and Coffs Harbour
Quilt Top - Polaroid 9 Patch. Blocks made by Quilt Club Australia Bee #1 members plus a couple of generous other bees - Waverlee and Christie.
Blocks - Dr Seuss, garden fence, party drinks, snip it good and retro clock.
Chooks - moulting, coming into lay, going off lay, convalescing and growing up.
Injuries - double bumble foot, nail injury and swelling.
Reptiles - tree snake, water dragons.
Harvest - limes, pecans, macadamias, lemons, avocados and leeks.
Books - It's been a good month for reading. You can read my reviews on Goodreads. Wombat Stew Book club - Mao's Last Dancer
Living on a semi rural property is new to me and so is taking care of fruit and nut trees. We certainly have inherited a lot. Lemon, lime mandarin, orange, avocado, macadmias and pecans.
I don't really know how to take care of them. They are producing an awful lot and I cannot possibly use it all. I feel sorry for the lemon tree who is overburdened with fruit.
So I am reading all that I can about tree care. I even subscribed to Gardening Australia magazine. I need to know when to prune, and fertilise and how to stop the discolouration of the skins.
My mum and dad spent last week at our property, looking after our chickens, whilst we went on holidays. I was able to send them home with ample produce to thank them.
And so did the hens.
Bumble Foot Update
Poor Washington has had a terrible time of it. My parents took her to the vet three times to have her foot rebandaged. The right foot was much worse and the dressing only came off last Friday. Only 12 hours later it had swollen up considerably. There is a nasty bruise underneath as well. I did some looking through Backyard Chickens Forums and found that bathing the foot in a warm Epsom Salt bath will help. So I started that yesterday.
So today I went back to the vet with my concerns. They prescribed some oral antibiotics in the hope that the swelling will reduce in the next 48 hours. If not she will have to go back for further surgery. I really hope it won't come to that.
And speaking of rescue today I had to rescue a medium sized water dragon who was stuck in the chicken wire - twice!
The chickens were a bit frightened of his open mouthed defiance!
Armed with wire cutters and a hand towel I was not intimidated.
Linking up with Scottish Fiona for the New To Me April linky party.
